05-08-2006, 01:08 AM
Ahoy there!
As part of a request, I am writing this tutorial for those whom happen to be wondering how to make their own quest icons in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. This will also show you how to even add transparency to your icons. You will need PhotoShop, and the NVIDIA DDS tools.
MAKING IT
First of all, all quest icons, and icons of items are 64 by 64 pixels. I suggest never going out of this range, unless you want the game to preform strangely or stretch them. You can start by making your icon whatever you want to be, as long as it is 64 by 64 pixels.
OPTIONAL
If you want to add on transparency at this stage, merge everything down to 1 layer (and make sure there isn't a background layer, just transparent checkers). Press and hold CTRL and then click on that merged layer. Then, over on the layers palette, click on the small "Add Layer Mask" icon to create an alpha mask. You will notice no immediate effect, but you will see it created a new black and white layer to the right side of your current one. Note that this is the only way of making alpha maps compatible with the game. Refer to below image:
SAVING IT
Now, the other part, saving. Click File->Save As. Go to D3D/DDS in the file format. Then, you must know where to place your icon. In the Oblivion DATA folder, it should go in Textures/menus/icons/quest/. You can save it as anything you'd like. Now, press okay, and you should get a dialogue box that appears regarding the DDS settings. Everything should be default settings, and "DXT3 ARGB (Explicit Alpha)" for the drop down menu. Also select "No MIP Maps" for icons do not have any. Hit Save/Okay. Refer to below image if you have any questions:
USING IT IN TES
With your icon ready to go, you will have to assign it to a quest by clicking on the icon button and navigating to it. This is pretty self explainitory, so I gone ahead and assigned it to one of my quests. Note you will not see the alpha within the editor! You can see a little how below:
INGAME
Here it is ingame:
Enjoy,
tibmaker
As part of a request, I am writing this tutorial for those whom happen to be wondering how to make their own quest icons in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. This will also show you how to even add transparency to your icons. You will need PhotoShop, and the NVIDIA DDS tools.
MAKING IT
First of all, all quest icons, and icons of items are 64 by 64 pixels. I suggest never going out of this range, unless you want the game to preform strangely or stretch them. You can start by making your icon whatever you want to be, as long as it is 64 by 64 pixels.
OPTIONAL
If you want to add on transparency at this stage, merge everything down to 1 layer (and make sure there isn't a background layer, just transparent checkers). Press and hold CTRL and then click on that merged layer. Then, over on the layers palette, click on the small "Add Layer Mask" icon to create an alpha mask. You will notice no immediate effect, but you will see it created a new black and white layer to the right side of your current one. Note that this is the only way of making alpha maps compatible with the game. Refer to below image:
SAVING IT
Now, the other part, saving. Click File->Save As. Go to D3D/DDS in the file format. Then, you must know where to place your icon. In the Oblivion DATA folder, it should go in Textures/menus/icons/quest/. You can save it as anything you'd like. Now, press okay, and you should get a dialogue box that appears regarding the DDS settings. Everything should be default settings, and "DXT3 ARGB (Explicit Alpha)" for the drop down menu. Also select "No MIP Maps" for icons do not have any. Hit Save/Okay. Refer to below image if you have any questions:
USING IT IN TES
With your icon ready to go, you will have to assign it to a quest by clicking on the icon button and navigating to it. This is pretty self explainitory, so I gone ahead and assigned it to one of my quests. Note you will not see the alpha within the editor! You can see a little how below:
INGAME
Here it is ingame:
Enjoy,
tibmaker