QELServ Forum

I made my own QEL login background,  (http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l322/Day4u2die/qelserv.jpg)

I did it in gimp, i taught me self how to use it so I know im not the best. If you like it I can give you the login_back.bmp file.

gnight now i go to sleep
 bai

Nice.  When you run Eternal Lands (connecting to main EL server) does that background show up too?

If so, maybe we could get the EL install file, tweak it (add QEL data) and re-package it.  Have it install to C:\Program Files\QELServ\ ... and everything.

Not sure if that would work, I've never packaged anything to be run through an installer.  What do you guys think?  This way all data is separate.  And since the client is open source, perhaps some tweaks can be made to fit our needs?

EDIT: Typo.

Most likely not if you put the files in the UPDATES for qelserv.

QELServ will soon have it's own client (with installer etc) however it will NOT contain the EL data due to licensing issues.  Whilst the client is open source (of a sort), the binary data is not.

See above, however the data is still separate at the moment, using the update method described above.

For me it does show up for el main and qel but thats only because I don't know how to make it show up for Qel only cuz i changed the file in eternal lands textures that was login_back.bmp because thats the only way I know how to do it. Im sure there are other ways tho that would make it show up for only qel

Yeah I'm 99% sure it'd work through the update method we are using now for the other files.

I forgot to mention, I do like it a fair bit myself except the "QELServ" bit, but that's OK anyway as we'd probably have Timeless Era/Lands of War text as it appears in the logo(s) there instead.

If you currently use the same client for QEL that you do for the EL server, then YES, it will show up, because you have to overwrite the image file to get it to work. However, if you want to seperate the two, simply copy the EL folder, rename it, and be sure to update your shortcuts. Presto, new folder for QEL. (No, you don't have to run the installer again, that's just silly. :P)

@masohp: I like it, could you send me the image w/o the "QEL Serv" on it, so I can put the "Official name" on it, just like it looks in the banner?

@endor: go to link http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l322/Day4u2die/login_back.jpg (http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l322/Day4u2die/login_back.jpg)

and right click save as
Or download it from http://fs05n2.sendspace.com/dl/e7323fcdd3a51f1ea4021f8de4078d2a/4b63b23b1c2ae65e/hapn0b/login_back.bmp (http://fs05n2.sendspace.com/dl/e7323fcdd3a51f1ea4021f8de4078d2a/4b63b23b1c2ae65e/hapn0b/login_back.bmp)

Dont use my photobucket link it dosnt work, when I uploaded it to photobucket it automaticaly made it a jpeg, sorry

Give it a sec if it doesn't load right away, BMPs are huge. It is ready to be put into your QEL\textures Folder tho.  ;D
 
Will load another one with the Eternal War logo on it if people want it.

Also, I am working on other UI things to kinda go with the new theme.  ;D

Edit: Removed the image

Nice stuff masohp and EV :)

One that says "Lands of War" would be good too, although i don't know if we'll ever be doing 2 separate clients for each server... probably not tbh (krayon?)... maybe putting both "Timeless Era" and "Lands of War" on the image would be good...

I aim to please. :D Must be re-named login_back.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/bluecoconuts/login_back-1.jpg (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/bluecoconuts/login_back-1.jpg)

OK... now I'm no longer trippin' out I can say that the update method we are using still overrides EL files, just doing it at a user level (thereby not modifying the official EL files).  The new client we will have soon will have it's own data directory and it's own user level data directory so it'll all be good.

I think for most flexibility we'll have the QELServ client, with it's data directories, and it's user level update directory, but there'll be a way for each server to overload files etc.

In short, we will have separate banner per server, so we need to have one with Lands of War where the Timeless Era name is.  I love the blood splat for it too! :D  Can you perhaps make it slightly darker or something to make the text stand out more?  One could modify the black part of the text but then it'd have to be modified anywhere you've used that text :/

Nice ur text is much better then mine xD

Im also working on a desktop icon, ill prob finish that tommorow

Also on a not so positive note, it dosnt work, not the one that has the new text, atleast not for me. There are only two reasons i can come up with why, the original el background was 1024 by 1024, this is 800 by 800. Another reason is the original el file was a bmp, your file is a jpeg.  The one I made for myself worked.  

Ps i think this is my fualt, when I uploaded my picture to photobucket it automaticly made it a jpg, use my download link instead. 

Yeah you'll probably need to convert it back to BMP :S

Hopefully EndorVaeros can get the BMP version, put the text on, and shuv that up (although in a ZIP/TGZ/RAR/ACE/7z so it's not HUGE).

In the meantime, you can simply do this on Linux:
  convert login_back.jpg login_back.bmp

On Windows, you'll have to jump through 400 hoops :P

OK, OK you can probably open in MSPaint and save as BMP maybe.

I think he will also have to make it 1024x1024 instead of 800x800

best for now to maintain full compatibility with the original EL one.

So yes, 1024x1024, and also, probably importantly: make it an 8bit (256 color) bitmap.

so when exporting the image for usage in the client you need to convert to an indexed mode.

in GIMP u goto:
Image -> Mode -> Indexed...
and u will want to use the top option "Generate optimum palette" and select 256 colors.

In Photoshop it's:
Image -> Mode -> Indexed Color...
and u want to use one of the "Local" palettes (Adaptive, Selective or Perceptual).
I think usually 'Adaptive' does the best job, but it does have a tendency to darken where the others lighten... use whichever you think produces the best result.

Alternatively; just send me a 24bit PNG or 24bit BMP (zipped/rar'ed/etc. as Krayon said above) and i can convert to 8bit for you. :)

1024x1024 is more appropriate considering most people will be running EL in 1024 width minimum, and 8bit colour is preferred for this anyways, as using only 256 colours really isn't as bad as you'd think when a good palette has been generated (as i just showed u irl krayon ;p) and makes the file 1/3 the size.

What would be best is if the client supported PNG's, or even JPG's.

I would like to add that *she* did not make them 800*800, that you can blame squarely on photobucket. Also, enjoy them in all their 8bit (256 color) goodness :)

Background 1:
(http://l2fury.com/images/QELImages/login_back.png)

Background 2:
(http://l2fury.com/images/QELImages/login_back2.png)

Background 3:
(http://l2fury.com/images/QELImages/login_back3.png)

Edit: Don't download these ones, I have them g-ziped... and these ones I have converted to pngs for faster load times. :)

Agreed sir.

Hence why I suggested compressing them ;)

Yeah, but I wasn't really listening. :P

we just realised the client supports loading a GZipped Bitmap for the login screen image, and considering there is i guess some noteworthy degradation to the images @ 256colours, we'll use GZipped 24bit BMPs.

edit:
Just one little thing EV, in the image with "Lands of War" up the top (this one: http://l2fury.com/images/QELImages/login_back2.bmp ) the 3rd 'bloodsplat' over from the left kinda comes to a very abrupt stop, i assume left over from when it was being cut off by hitting the bottom of the image from the login screen where it was at the bottom.

Or not.  It would seem the Lands of War text looks especially ... degraded in 256.  But that's OK because the client supports gzip'd textures and we'll have the updater/installer all compressed anyway so it'll be coolies to use 24bit.

I will see what I can do about getting the client to properly support PNG too ;)

I like em,
 But I am a * He * if that was directed to me

And yeh I did make it 1024x1024 but Photobucket has a little magnifier thingy and if you don't magnifie it wont show you 1024x1024 it will show you 800x800

So again my fault for using Photobucket

Btw you dont have to save it in 256bmp it should work in any bmp format, cuz 256 really distorts parts of the images colors imo

Anyhow, here are the textures, saved as 24bit BMPs, and compressed with gzip. (So, they are the same size as the 8bits, but look better.  ;D ) There is no need to extract them, just delete your old login_back.bmp and put these in the same folder. The client can read them just fine.  ;D Just be sure the one you want to use is named login_back.bmp.gz (use the post with the three images in it for a reference.

Download link is a nice big orange button under the advertisements. :)

http://www.sendspace.com/file/h3y9x8 (http://www.sendspace.com/file/h3y9x8)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/87zd9y (http://www.sendspace.com/file/87zd9y)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/f7bz0m (http://www.sendspace.com/file/f7bz0m)

@masohp
ya i know in photobucket you can magnify, those earlier comments were directed to EV.

@EV
Thanks :)

-----------------------

Now, i'd just like to take a second to show off Photoshop's ability to produce 256 colour palettes using it's 'Adaptive' filter :>

24bit:
(http://www.paradoxcomputers.com.au/qel/login_back-24bit.png)

8bit:
(http://www.paradoxcomputers.com.au/qel/login_back-8bit.png)

24bit BMP uncompressed = 3.1MB
24bit BMP GZipped = 2.1MB (sorry EV but they aint the same size at 8bit BMP's, they're still twice the size :P )
8bit BMP uncompressed = 1.0MB
8bit BMP GZipped = 419KB

EDIT:
erm just used GIMP to convert to 256 colours and it still looks great, in fact GIMP has done a slightly better job at retaining the darker red of the blood:

(http://www.paradoxcomputers.com.au/qel/login_back-8bit-gimp.png)

I don't know what you guys are using to convert to 256 colours, but it must be something using a static palette, not producing one optimised for the image being converted (that's what, for example, MS Paint does... uses a specific set of 256 colours (it's actually the same set Windows uses if you run it in 256 colour)).

Korrode yours worked fine....

AFTER I changed the extension from png to bmp after i downloaded it. It didnt distort the image at all, just made it work is all.

So if you download korrodes id change the extension after you download em. (BTw magnifie them with the glass b4 you download em or you will end up getting a 1003x1003 image

hang on hang on... all you did was change the extension by renaming the file? you didn't open it up in some software and re-save it as bmp?

Cause all renaming a file does is just that; renames it, it doesn't actually change the format.

I didn't put these up for people to download and use, when it's time to use them we'll roll them out in a data pack/installer, i put them up just to show 256colour is fine which is why i put up PNG's, but very interesting to hear they rendered fine for you as PNG's (just with the extension renamed).

edit:
@krayon
lol masohp's discovery is quite right, the client already supports loading PNG's for the login screen, it also supports loading JPG's :)

At GIMP's JPEG quality 90 the filesize still comes out at 235KB, less than an 8bit GZipped BMP or PNG, and looks fine, so we'll probably use that.

edit2:

If someone running Windows could confirm this works for them that'd be great, here's the image in JPEG format (already renamed to .bmp):
http://www.paradoxcomputers.com.au/qel/login_back.bmp (http://www.paradoxcomputers.com.au/qel/login_back.bmp)

The reason it works, (I've done this with other programs, not just EL) is because the client simply looks for the .bmp extension and loads that. It doesn't care "was it saved as a bmp". To most everything, an image file is an image file. The extension it was saved in is more of a matter of compression at time of saving than anything else. The only real problem is "specialized" files (like .psd which are more data files than image files). It's the same reason you can change a file from .txt to .html and it works fine. Both are text files, it's just a matter of how the computer and web browser are set to interpret the extensions.

This is why Windows users get the "If you change a file name extension, the file may become unusable. Are you sure you want to change it." Not to sound like a fun-ruiner, but don't give the client credit for being able to load the images that were saved as another extension, then had the extension renamed. It really has nothing to do with the client.

adding .bmp on the end of a file doesn't change it to a bmp on my windows lol. It doesn't support login_back when it's a jpg file though, just comes up with a blank background.

Yeah i know ;p the extension is just part of the filename, and the software looks for a particular filename. The idea of extensions dictating the format of the file is traditionally very much a Windows thing. (tho it has bled over to other OS'es now.)

Well i have to disagree.
An image file isn't just an image file.
A JPEG renderer cannot process a PNG, a GIF renderer cannot process a TIFF, IE6's PNG renderer cannot handle standard compliant PNG transparency, and a BMP renderer cannot process a JPEG.

The fact you've encountered many softwares that are capable of rendering many different image formats doesn't mean all software will be able to. Software can only render an image it has a library for (whether in-built or otherwise). All these 'non-specialized' formats are still very different.

Your theory would dictate that using jpeg compression anywhere within the client and just renaming to .bmp would work, but it doesn't. For example, try converting some of your meshes to jpegs and giving them a .bmp extension and try to use them... it doesn't work. The software strictly expects 8bit image data for meshes, and anything that's not 8bit renders incorrectly. (i did discover tho that 8bit PNG's can be renamed to .bmp and work).

The reason i ask for Windows users to test is to find out if the EL client itself does infact have JPEG and PNG decompression in-built or if when i ran it on Linux it was just using my system image rendering libraries... but no matter, i remembered EL uses SDL_image (http://www.libsdl.org/projects/SDL_image/), which supports at minimum PNG, JPEG and TIFF.

No I believe *she* was referring to your earlier comment:
:P

Until I have the proper contribution system operational, you can just upload directly to my server by going here:
  http://www.datapax.com.au/upload/

This is quicker and easier than signing up to a service as the above, and saves us all the pain of launching a browser, viewing their ads etc ;)  Oh, and faster downloads too probably.

Each piece of software MUST implement explicit support for any given format and usually even colour depths.  The reason you would notice this sort of behaviour is the generally the use of an library that supports loading many formats.

It's still up to the application however, to use the data it gets correctly and in the event that it (the application) is manipulating the data in any way, there's no guarantee the image will work as expected despite the library supporting the loading of it, ie the images in the "/meshes" sub directory.  EL uses SDL so it can LOAD a 24-bit PNG, but because the EL client devs expect SDL to give them 8-bit image data (note at this stage it's no longer a PNG or BMP etc, it's image data) they don't manipulate it correctly and therefore it doesn't render correctly.  This is in part their fault in that they should be checking the data meets their requirements (ie 8-bit) before blindly manipulating it.  If they did, instead you'd get an error saying "You're using a non 8-bit texture ... stop that".

NOTE: The above is an assumption as to what's going on (though completely plausible and likely to be the problem), I haven't actually looked at the client code related to this issue at this point

Yes, it does indeed.  Moving forward I will probably change the client to look for files with various extensions (both gzipped and not) that it has support for.  I will also investigate why it insists on 8 bit for textures in the meshes directory :-\