For what? Space?

This Topic is probably better off in the General editting forum rather than the Tutorial section.

Anyhow, yep, the question remains, which backgrounds? When people talk about Backgrounds in FL, they are normally reffering to one of four things (though by definition, some of these aren't actually backgrounds). Either:

a) The Starscape seen when flying around in space (and then the question is, do you want to know how to change the background to another FL background or how to build a brand new one)

b) The Room and Landing THN scenes you see when landing on a planet or are docked up at a station.

c) The menu background you get when you load Freelancer.

d) The HuD (not really a 'background' but I have heard people refer to it as such).

Freeworlds Mod Developer
Author of Modular Station

'There is no Good nor Evil in the universe, just perceptions and circumstances.'

The Starscape seen when flying around in space (and then the question is, do you want to know how to change the background to another FL background or how to build a brand new one)

use UTF editor on the old FL ones, to change the textures.

What textures? Location? Speak man, speak......please

In the systems ini file (for example, the New York system system ini file is DATA\UNIVERSE\SYSTEMS\LI01\Li01.ini) you will find the following entry:

[Background
basic_stars = solar\starsphere\starsphere_stars_basic.cmp
complex_stars = solar\starsphere\starsphere_li01_stars.cmp
nebulae = solar\starsphere\starsphere_li01.cmp

You will find a simalar entry in any of the system ini files. To just swap the system from one starscape to another, just replace the lines with the lines from another system ini file for the one you like. For example, if I wanted to use one from Kusari space in New York, I would look up DATA\UNIVERSE\SYSTEMS\KU01\KU01.ini and copy the back ground entry in there and then go back to my New York file and replace the above lines with the following lines copied from the New Toyko system:

[Background
basic_stars = solar\starsphere\starsphere_stars_crow_walker.cmp
complex_stars = solar\starsphere\starsphere_ku01_stars.cmp
nebulae = solar\starsphere\starsphere_ku01.cmp

You can even mix up the entry's from those three lines for ones from different systems to get something looking a little different, so say the basic and complex stars from Rhienland but with the Nebula from Bretonia. Though be warned, not all combinations will work, or work well. A little trial and error is needed.

Now, if you want to make fresh new looking versions, you best bet is to start with a pre-existing starsphere first. Where to find these though? Well, if you look at the above lines, it tells you directly where you can find them. Thats right, in DATA\SOLAR\STARSPHERE. Copy the CMP file and rename it what you want to call your new star sphere.

Now, use the UTF editor to open the CMP file up and look for the texture nodes within the CMP. You will find most textures stored in either a MIPS or a MIP0 node. Select the node and click extract. When you save the texture from the node, remember to give it the correct file extension. If it is a MIPS node, add .dds to the end of the file name, if it is from a MIP0 node, add .tga to the end of the name. Do this for each texture node you find in the CMP.

This will now create a series of texture files. Most good programs like paintshop pro etc.... will be able to open up a tga files. However, a lot have difficulty with dds format files, so you may need a program that will convert dds to tga and back again. I find DDS Convertor the best for this, but others may have other preferences. Edit your textures and edit them to what you like.

Once you have finished editting them, open your CMP file in the UTF Editor again and import back to those nodes the new textures, making sure they go into the same places you got them from. Once you have imported them all. Save the new CMP file.

Finally, back in the systems ini file, you will need to change the lines in Backdrop to find the file you have just made instead the original. For example, if I just built a new nebula starsphere called my_starsphere and had placed it with all the other starspheres, I would change the liberty backdrop lines to look as follows:

[Background
basic_stars = solar\starsphere\starsphere_stars_basic.cmp
complex_stars = solar\starsphere\starsphere_li01_stars.cmp
nebulae = solar\starsphere\my_starsphere.cmp ; <--- here's the change

And voila, one new starsphere.

Thats the short version of how to do it, but you may encounter multiple MIP nodes with MIP0 that need dealing with (like MIP1, MIP2 etc... it's all related to LoDs) and also have some texture caching errors if you use simalar starscapes without changing the names in the UTF editor. However, there are plenty of threads and tutorials on how to deal with multiple MIP nodes and changing texture names properly within the UTF editor so I won't go into it here.

Freeworlds Mod Developer
Author of Modular Station

'There is no Good nor Evil in the universe, just perceptions and circumstances.'

well said aldebaran

Change menu background you get when you load Freelancer.