BMP's (the files not the AFV's)

[Hub]

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[Don Maddox]

The map files used in POA 2 are 8 bit (256 colour) .bmp's. If you use a 3rd party (free) app like Irfanview (www.irfanview.com (http://www.irfanview.com/)), you can reduce the maps to half their file size by making them 4 bit (16 colour) files. There will only be a small change in colour- you can do the same thing using MSPaint in Windows, but for some reason there's a huge colour difference that looks pretty bad. I don't know why one does it and the other doesn't. The Iraq map, and possibly even the Fort Irwin map could even be made into 2 bit (black and white) files, as they don't really have a lot of different terrain on them anyway. This would make them four times smaller than the original. The end result is a little faster processing, and a little more space on the hard drive...
I use Paint Shop Pro, but I haven't tried to go as low as 16 colors yet. I'll try it and see what kind of results I get.

[meade95]

Anyway we can try and reduce the size of the map files would be great. As long as it doesn't take to big of a hit in quality.

Let us know how it works out.

Also, does anyone know, can we change the "weapon" system images from Bitmaps to Jpegs without any adverse effects? It seems like many of the images aren't the best for the given weapon system...and simple look online and one can find many better images to replace the current Bitmaps with.

For example the picture of the F-14 is awful..as compared to what else one can find in a jpeg format online.

[Don Maddox]

Anyway we can try and reduce the size of the map files would be great. As long as it doesn't take to big of a hit in quality.

Let us know how it works out.

Also, does anyone know, can we change the "weapon" system images from Bitmaps to Jpegs without any adverse effects? It seems like many of the images aren't the best for the given weapon system...and simple look online and one can find many better images to replace the current Bitmaps with.

For example the picture of the F-14 is awful..as compared to what else one can find in a jpeg format online.
Agreed. The editor will accept .jpg or .gif files, but these have to be linked to the weapons stystem in question in the database. So in effect we're stuck with the default link (i.e. tank.bmp), however, one is free to replace these images with better ones.

I discovered that there are several errors with the current entries and I sent a list of these to Scott. I also sent him a bunch of replacement bmp's that I hope he considers for inclusion in the patch.