SKIN IMPLEMENTING TUTORIAL (detailed)

um...i've been reading tutorials on implementing skins for a LONG time...implementing the skin seems to be where people have the most confusion...most tutorials dont really go into detail how to implement the skin so thats what i'm gonna attempt to do...i'm not going to go into detail on skinning tips or how to use your photo software...this is an implementing tutorial but if u have a question about your software dont be afraid to ask

1) tools required:

photo editing software, must support .tga extension and alpha channels examples: photoshop, paintshop pro 7, photo impressions 2000+

you'll need either tech mpq or WinMPQ 1.61 (i prefer tech mpq)0

and last but not least image extractor 2...

u can get all these files here at the downloads section

2)open up image extractor 2 and search through the list and select the skin u wish u modify...once u'v selected a skin right click and save it as a tga file (name doesn't matter at this point)

3)open up ur photo editor weather it be paintshop pro 7, photoshop...or whatever. Open the saved tga file and begin your editing i suggest you stick to filters until u get the hang of it...

4) all done? save your file (overwrite the original saved file) and then open image extractor again. Open/Image (your edited image) and click save, save as a .blp extension AND MAKE SURE YOU NAMED IT THE DEFAULT ie: if i was editing the demon hunter skin i would name it HeroDemonHunter.blp

5)now comes the tricky part...implementing your skin to your map...if your using TECH MPQ open it up and click add/replace button...

file to add: your skin (yourskinname.blp) <-finished modified skin
MPQ archive: your map u wish to use the skin in
Packed name: the path of the skin (demonhunter path is Textures\HeroDemonHunter.blp...alot of units will be under units\(race of unit)\(name of unit)\nameofunit.blp)

make sure your map ur putting the skin in IS NOT open in world editor and then click "MPQ IT"

6)If using WinMPQ
click "open" open ur map ur putting the skin in...
then click "add" and browse to find yourskinsname.blp file
when the box pops up...you add your units path...IE peon, path would be units\orc\peon\peon.blp

ok...all done...open your map in world editor (i think u need to restart world editor if already open) and check out your new skin!

7) TIPS
if your skin is not showing up in your map...try these before asking me...

check to make sure u use this "\" instead of this "/" when entering the path of ur skin

in my computer goto your skin and make sure the name of the file has the .blp tag at the end of the name (this is important) i'm not just refering to the file being a .blp file...but it MUST say .blp at the end of the file name

i hope this helps someone...i know its VERY frustrating...got a question? post here and i'll do my best

So, you made a skin implementing tutorial and you put it in the gallery. Hmph.