major issues with SHP builder opening certain OpenRA assets

Therapist · Guest

Hi. I'm working on creating remastered versions of OpenRA unique assets. What I've been doing is opening the original files just for reference to get an general idea of what they're supposed to look like and their relative size, then re-making them in photoshop. It's worked out ok so far. But I've noticed that SHP builder won't open certain files at all (i.e. deca through to dech.tem and others) or doesn't display them correctly. Like windmill.shp and others don't display the colors correctly. I guess it's not using the correct palette. A couple of them (sniper.shp and mh60.shp) are just completely messed up when you go through all their frames of animation. I have to point out that I don't know anything about modding. What I know is just what I've learned in the past week reading up on some things. I tried using an older version 3.36 but that didn't make a difference. I'm wondering if anything can be done about these issues? Thanks.

Banshee · Posted: Wed May 19, 2021 4:39 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately, SHP files from any C&C game don't come with any information on the palette that it uses. So, SHP Builder and other programs have to guess it. Sometimes, it guesses correctly, but when you try these more obscure files, it gets much more complicated. To be really honest with you, I don't think there is anything useful to do regarding this situation.

Therapist · Guest

hm, that's unfortunate. I don't undertand why SHP builder won't open certain files though. They must have been made using SHP builder no?

Allen · Posted: Thu May 20, 2021 8:04 am Post subject:

Nope. You can use XCC Utilities to make shp files and convert shp files to pcx,tga,png .etc

There are even older tools that use command line like RA-MIXer and Mix Manager Version 3.51 but anyone using RA-MIXer or Mix Manager is unlikely IMO since you would need something like DOS Box to use them today unless they where made on a Vista or older PC.
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