Tutorial: Custom Loading Screen.

Ok, Electricall requested that someone make a tutorial on this subject, so here it is :)

[glow=8, color=blue]Part 1: Getting The Required File[/glow]

1. Ok, open up the map 'Monolith' (Maps/Frozen Throne/Scenario/Monolith.w3x)
2. Go to the import manager and export the file 'LoadingScreen.mdx' It doesn't matter where you export it to, but you will need it.

[glow=4, color=blue]Part 2: Making Your Picture[/glow]

1. Ok, open up Photoshop, PSP, or whatever paint program you may have.
2. Make a new image, 1024 px X 768 px
3. Ok, now the fun part, make your loading screen.
4. When your loading screen is complete and you're happy with what it looks like, you're going to have to crop it.
5. Ok, crop the Top Left And Top Right Corners to 512 px X 512 px, and the Bottom Left And Bottom Right Corners to 512 px X 256 px.
6. Ok, when you have your 4 images, you need to save them, they MUST Be named as Follows:

Top Left - LoadingScreenTL.tga
Top Right - LoadingScreenTR.tga
Bottom Left - LoadingScreenBL.tga
Bottom Right - LoadingScreenBR.tga

[glow=4, color=blue]Part 3: Using In Your Map[/glow]

1. Ok, open up your map that you want the loading screen to be for.
2. Go to the import manager and do the following:1. Import LoadingScreen.mdx. 2. Take your 4 images, and import those as well.
3. Now, find the paths of your 4 images in the Import Manager(War3imported\...)
4. Double Click on the path
5.When the box comes up with the path, click the box that says 'Use Custom Path' Then, change the path to just 'LoadingScreenXX.tga' for all 4 images
6. Ok, now go to Scenario>Loading Screen and and change it to 'LoadingScreen.mdx'
7. Now, test your map and look at youre beautiful loading screen.


Enjoy!

If you should encounter any problem, then either PM me, or send me an E-Mail and i will be happy to help

Ok, someone move this to the Tutorial section, i didn't reed i tall but i look at some stuff and it looked decent enough

one problem.

When I try to import the LoadingScreen.mdx into my map, it does not show up. Only the tgas do.

Also what method did you use when you cropped the image. I cropped it fine but the pics are'nt perfect. Is there a way to track what ive already cropped and re-sized?

Thanks

You should not have a .mdx file, only 4 .tga's.

ya but it says to import..

You do have to import it. Also,he forgot to mention that you need to go to the Menu SCENARIO -> MAP LOADING SCREEN and change it to use the imported LoadingScreen.mdx file.

for some reason my LoadingScreen.mdx is not showing up for me to import it.

Re export it from monolith, but this time remember the folder you exported it, then import it to your map, by browsing the folder you exported it.

Ack! Can't believe i forgot that...
Ok, its in there now tho :)

How do you crop only a 515x512 portion? with paint program?

Well, If you have Photoshop it will show the dimensions of your crop in the 'Info' window, but if you don't I'm not sure, as Photoshop is the only paint program I'm familiar with

photoshop is some expensive program right? I want a custom loading screen, but not for 200$, :), cuz I wouldnt use it 4 anything else lol. All I got is paint, the thing that comes with all computers

If you have photoshop use slices and save the images for the web as PNGs then open them up and save them as TGAs. Much much easier than cropping it 4 times, although the PNG format might do some compressing... I dunno. I've never messed with that PNG's that much.

Hey 311, If you'd like, you can email me your loading screen and I'll crop it for you. But you have to hurry, cuz I'm leaving in about 8 hours and won't be back for a month.

u still here dolphin :)?