How to build a tileset.

[Reaper]

OK i have Paint Shop pro 7. Now How do i creat a tileset? Do i need a stincel or how do i draw it or how do i what? If you can help me plz do!

[Violet CLM]

Create an image that is 320 pixels wide by a multiple of 32 pixels high. NOTE A: For better looking tilesets, have it be 256 colors, using a JJ2 compatible palette.
Fill the tileset up with the tiles you want to have, in various ways, but leave the top left tile empty (a tile is 32x32 pixels).
Unless you wish every non-transparent pixel to be solid, create a mask. 0,0 color pixels the player can walk through, everything else is solid. Make sure the mask and main image are the exact same size.
Copy both images into the subfolder "tiles" of your JJ2 directory, go into JCS, click "set", then "add".
Tileset name: What you want your tileset to be called.
Filename: Filename for your tileset.
Image: Select the main image.
Mask: If you made a mask, select the mask image here. Otherwise check the "Automask" box.
NOTE: If your palette was JJ2 compatible, do NOT check "remap tileset palette". Otherwise, do.
Press ok, select your tileset on the list of tilesets, and click the "build" button. Press ok, ok, then view your tileset in JCS.

[Disguise]

Originally posted by Unknown Rabbit
Create an image that is 320 pixels wide by a multiple of 32 pixels high. NOTE A: For better looking tilesets, have it be 256 colors, using a JJ2 compatible palette.
Fill the tileset up with the tiles you want to have, in various ways, but leave the top left tile empty (a tile is 32x32 pixels).Nice explanation, now let me make this easier for Reaper and every other person that ask me the meaning of life in the form of 'How do you make a tileset?' with no background knowledge on the subject or anything in that line. I've realised that you cant ever begin to try and explain all the details and mechanics of tilesets to people all in one go when they start, because that will leave them more confused than they were when they started...

Therefore, I am about to make history by making the first 'Tileset Tutorial for Dummies(c)':

<b>1.</b> Open <a href="http://users.surfanytime.co.uk/disguise/Mirrow.pcx">this</a> image in Paint Shop Pro.
<b>2.</b> Start drawing.

Tutorial is complete. The image is practically fool-proof. It has everyhting you need in a JJ2 image and you wont have to struggle with any bugs. ENJOY!!! :D :D :D

[Reaper]

How can i draw? I cant even draw a stright line let alone a tile! :p Well I have started with the Mirrow Stincle and it seems to be better than Default, But how can i Test to see if i got the right tile were i want it or somthing?

[Trafton AT]

Originally posted by Reaper
How can i draw? I cant even draw a stright line let alone a tile! :p Well I have started with the Mirrow Stincle and it seems to be better than Default, But how can i Test to see if i got the right tile were i want it or somthing?

Well, the stencil lines should show you whether you are aligned or not and should be correct. However, if want to be completely sure, really the only option would be to compile the tileset. You can delete the .J2T file after you check to make sure that it is aligned if you want.

The question "how can I draw?" is hard to answer. The line tool should help you with the straight line problem, but making the lines into something that looks good is up to your skill in computer drawing. Your real-life drawing talent doesn't have much to do with your computer drawing talent. I know many people who are horrid artists in real life but can do amazing things with a program as basic as MSPAINT, while some are great artists in real life but can't draw worth anything on the computer. You just have to find your style.

Some people just don't have the special gift of building tilesets (like me) so we have to build levels or play instead. If you work hard enough, you can build a mediocre tileset (or better) at any skill level. Having a program other than MSPAINT also helps (i.e. Photoshop, or a program with filters and textures for things like ground, bricks, etc. that look like a cartoon gone wrong when drawn) but you can make a decent tileset in PAINT. If you really think you want to get into this tileset thing, get Photoshop Elements ($99 retail, though www.pricewatch.com can find it for less) and see what you think. I can't recommend Photoshop (which sells for over $500 in many places) for a beginner because if you decide you don't like doing tilesets and can't find any other use, you're down $500. If you want to be even more cautious (if losing $99 would be a really bad thing or you don't have that much to spend) I recommend a free program which *I think* is called WinGIMP. There is a Did You Know? on J2O about it. It's free, and it's better than paint. In fact, most anything is.

One last warning before making a tileset: you'll have to find a substitute for the color black. There are many colors that look very black, but aren't quite and are recognized as Jazz 2 as a different color (Jazz 2 has an 8-bit color scheme, so they have to be recognized as different at 8-bit.) Black comes out to be see-though, just like the blue color that you see as blank tiles in JCS (which can also be used to be see-through in paint, along with black). Also, make a mask (a seperate BMP telling which parts of tiles should be considered hard and which ones go-through) if you can, but automask for your tests if you feel uncomfortable making a mask. Make sure to choose "remap tileset pallete" - the default pallete PAINT uses is strange-looking in Jazz 2, so it should be remapped, unless you want your tileset to look weird.

I'm in no way an expert at this, and I likely got a few things wrong, but I think the above was mostly accurate.

Good luck with your tilesets, and I hope the color gods smile upon you.

[JanusJackrabbit]

This is the reason why TC101 should still be available to us.:roll:

[Violet CLM]

Originally posted by Reaper
Well I have started with the Mirrow Stincle and it seems to be better than Default, But how can i Test to see if i got the right tile were i want it or somthing?

Ctrl+Alt+G toggles the grid function. Make sure the grid is set to 32 by 32, and a line color that black, or whatever background color you're using. I don't know where this is in PSP6, but in 7 it's in File-Preferences-Rulers and Units.

[Disguise]

Originally posted by Reaper
How can i draw? I cant even draw a stright line let alone a tile!That nobody can help you with. If you can't draw, how do you expect to make a tileset? A tileset <b>IS</b> drawing, no matter how you look at it. You think all those tiles just magically appear? ;)

Anyways, I'm supposed to be helpful, so I'll put somehting helpful in here ;)
Just start drawing. Trust me, it won't look as bad as you imagine it to be. Even if it does look bad, it's your first tileset! You can't expect to make your first tileset a true masterpiece that makes every person just stare at it in awe. There's only one Agama, and even Agama had previous drawing experience.