Re-Texturing FF7 2012

[ThunderPeel2001]

I'm keen to learn more about re-texturing FF7 (2012). I understand that it uses the TEX format and there are tools which allow conversion of these textures into other formats, and back again.

If anyone can help answer my questions, I'd be very grateful.

1. Does the game mind if you x4 the textures and resave them back into the game? (Some games make everything 4x bigger to accommodate the bigger files - like Grim Fandango. Others will happily increased the texture resolution for you - like System Shock 2.)

2. What's a good tool to extract all the textures into a PNG/BMP format so I can start editing them?

3. What other things do I need to take into consideration when editing textures? (Maybe someone could point me to a tutorial?)

Thanks a lot.

[cmh175]

You're told to post somewhere else because you're bumping a thread that was posted in the wrong place. There are many members who are happy to help with any issues you have, but you have to ask properly. Provide enough information so we can help, upload screen shots and app log, and do this in the correct place.

If you want to upscale the battle scenes read through the first few posts on EQ2Alyza's thread, she explained what and how she did everything: http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=14469.0 I believe she did everything battle scene.

My best suggestion: run bootleg with upscaled backgrounds set to png. Then download bloodshots and EQ2Alyza mods. Copy Bloodshots files into the Mods\bootleg\battle folder. Than copy everything in the battle folder and paste it into EQ2Alyza mod folder. This will override everything that you already have, filling in any gaps with EQ2Alyza upscaled scenes. Copy it all back into the battle folder and you're good to go. That's probably your best option.

Bloodshot -> http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=14610.0

ctrl+f is your best friend when looking through the biglist of mods by the way.

EQ2Alyza's thread is the best place to start. I wont discourage you from trying, but what you just explained is pretty much what she did. Try my suggestion and you'll get the best possible battle scenes currently available.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Yep, it's great they she wrote what she did and how. Very helpful, although I'm having major issues with TexTool. Bah.

[Rundas]

Not that you shouldn't make things if you want to, but every texture in the game has already been retextured or upscaled.

[LeonhartGR]

I think there are a lot of NPCs to be upgraded as well...

[Rundas]

True, I hate the PRP NPC's. Kaldarasha's are much better but I personally prefer them to be in the style of, say, Timu's models and Avalanche Cloud. If you don't like the textured look and want upgrades of the originals, Kaldarasha's models are definitely the best, although he didn't do the non-contributing NPC's and completely irrelevant people.

[ThunderPeel2001]

OK, to answer some of my own questions, it seems there have been four serious attempts at re-texturing FF7:

FeliX Leonhart [New Textures] = 11/89 (http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=11542)
Magochocobo [New Textures] = 35/89 (http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=11551)
JeffDamann [New Textures] = ??/89 (http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=10251)
EQ2Alyza [Applied Filter] = 89/89 (http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=14469)

[cmh175]

I checked my mod file to double check if it's complete or not, and it seems to have all the stages. Maybe missing one or two but they all seem to be there for the most part, or at least as many that are currently available. Try my suggestion for getting all the upscaled and new backgrounds, you'll be satisfied with the results.

I encourage determination, but I don't think any of us understand why you feel the need to recreate what someone else just completed, like what maybe a little over a month ago or so? If you're really interested in doing the backgrounds why don't you look into ABHA's process instead since it's still in development. It's results look like they'll be nearly as good as the brand new backgrounds that have been done. That would really be a worth while contribution. http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=14330.0

Besides, could you even release a mod that's made based solely on someone elses work like this? Is that not the same as like releasing your own re-translation but copying DLPB's dialogue word for word?

[ThunderPeel2001]

cmh175 you have quite some imagination. Thanks for the link, though.

This document might be useful to some in the future: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjZG8hMrQocwdG9jYVpwT1NodFRJU01sVVpoaG5OaUE&usp=sharing

[cmh175]

That's really helpful, great job man. Other than Bloodshots are there others missing?

Don't mean to be a hard ass man. If you can refine the process and your results are sharper backgrounds that would be awesome.

[ThunderPeel2001]

I've added Bloodshot's textures. Thanks!

Edit: I've put together a simple tool that extracts all the textures from battle.lgp (and deletes everything else).

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzZG8hMrQocwaF9HX1FLXzVLVkk/edit?usp=sharing

Possibly of use for anyone who quickly wants to have a go at creating their own textures. (Convert textures to PNG with IROS TEXTOOL.)

[dkma841]

Hey Thunderpeel there are some battle scenes Team Avalanche released too here:
http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=13943.0

[ThunderPeel2001]

Hey Thunderpeel there are some battle scenes Team Avalanche released too here:
http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=13943.0

Sweet! Thanks for letting me know. I've updated the spreadsheet.

I believe there's only 19 scenes that haven't been retextured at this point!

[Rundas]

If you include Alyza's, they've all been done.

[cmh175]

If you have the Tifa torrent bootleg will install most of that for you. Then you can add Bloodshots backgrounds. From there I copied my files on top of EQ2Alyza's mod so hers fills in the holes. 

[ThunderPeel2001]

If you include Alyza's, they've all been done.

She didn't retexture them, she just upscaled them.

[Rundas]

I know, But that's still far better than the originals.