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Import your own chip images; custom chip images
Topic Started: Jun 1 2009, 06:20 PM (3,996 Views)
MegaRockEXE
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This guide will show you how to import your own image into the game and use it as a battle chip image in the game.

I recommend the following programs for this:
-HxD hex editor
-GBA Graphics Editor rom hacking utility; Google it.

You may also need Mgamerz's chip hacking guide to further customize your experience.

First you'll need a 17 15 color 56x48 image. If it has too many color, extra colors will be lost. I made a chip image out of the Magma Dragon I drew the other day. For this example, we'll use this.
Posted Image

Using GBA Graphics editor you can open your desired rom with it's open function. Before starting, I highly recommend you make a back-up. It never hurts to be safe.
Assuming you've already used HxD to increase your rom's file size, you can use the extra room to add the new chip. Be advised that this program auto-trims your rom. You can choose to place the image at the end of the rom, or expand the size later. When you open, it will ask you if you want to scan. Hit the X button to exit the dialog and proceed.

Use the Import Bitmap option to select and convert the chip image into a format the game uses.
Posted Image

Because of a program glitch, the transparent color is incorrect. Simply click on the gray color and the box will grow. Click on the last color on the bottom that is pure black. This swaps the colors and prevents any mistakes. After that, you are prompted to put an offset. You can pick whatever offset you want. The palette should always be +540 in hex from the image offset, if you want to save room. You might want to write down these offsets. Click OK when you're done.

Now it's imported. You can preview it in the program if you want. Open up the Palette and Image windows. In the palette windows, enter the palette offset, in this case, 8A7540, and hit enter. Now it should be colored properly. Shrink the graphic width and the whole picture should be seen at width 7. Now save your work, Ctrl+S or go File>Save or Save as.

Now to use it in the game, here's what you do.

First you must find the graphics and palette pointer of the chip data. Mgamer'z guide should show you how to do this. I'll use Cannon.

To edit the image used on the Cannon battle chip, go to this offset, view in 32-bit.

08021DF8

The first is the image. Remember I said to write it down? I'll use 088A7000 for image and 088A7540 for palette on the second one.

Now go view the image and viola!
Posted Image
It is done!

Just note that this does not work if you compress the graphics. Also, you may create a blank .gba file using HxD to convert the image there if you'd like using the exact same method as described above. Then using HxD, extract the converted data and insert it into the target rom directly without the hassle of elongated palettes and trims.


If there are any questions, please ask. This procedure may be simplified if the next version fixes the bugs.
Edited by MegaRockEXE, Jun 1 2009, 09:15 PM.
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Agro
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Programmer!

Awesome MegaRock!
Keep discovering more!
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Greiga Master
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His guide is wrong, you dont need a 17 color image, you need a 15 color image, that i believe, will solve this "palette error"
No game uses a 17 color palette.
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Agro
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I knew that.
I already knew a palette does not use 17.
I just ignored that part and used 15.
Not 16 because the 1st one is transparent.
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MegaRockEXE
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Still, importing any past chip is easily possible and using a custom made one isn't completely out of the question.
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Kris
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Nice. I like the method. But importing chip images isn't something new, am I right? We had some other methods with TLP or TM if I am right. This method is easier to use, right? It's nice.
Kris is back to spam TREZ like always :D
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MegaRockEXE
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Yes, the previous one used APE and TM, but that was tedious and inefficient. This is a much better and faster method.
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Kid1513
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Thanks! It helps me a lot!
Now I can use Double Beast with full images!
Thanks a lot!
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Hakairyu
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[Question changed]

Shall we edit the "picture camera finder"?
Edited by Hakairyu, Jun 30 2009, 01:11 PM.
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iDesty
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MegaRock, which version of GBA Graphics Editor did you use in this tutorial?

I'm encountering these problems:
  • Mine keeps on adding a glitched up block.
  • Even if I change the color to make the "pitch black" the transparent color doesn't change.
    It resets after I click "Finished"... >_>


Here are some images imported through your guide. (Cannon... <_< )
Glitches...
 
Dark Cannon (Not much of errors.)
Posted Image

Dark Sword (Miscalculated Transparency!)
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Look above the sword's edge... you see the glitched up pixels...


And just if this matters but, I was using the (E) version... >_>
I doubled the space of the rom.
Edited by iDesty, Jul 1 2009, 03:14 PM.
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MegaRockEXE
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There could be different offsets plus the issue of the program version. I am using the latest version with TSA.
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BladeCrossEXE
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yeah...one problem.....it didn't work. It'll show up in the GBA Graphics editor, but not in the rom. The Image in the rom is pure black.
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MegaRockEXE
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Did you point to the correct graphics and palette area? You probably have the palette in the wrong place.
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beastfang
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I can't seem to figure out how to do this...Maybe cause I'm stupid or something but can anyone make a video on how to do this and post it? I have the programs for it but my GBA Graphics Editor is different than the one Megarock has pics of.
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MegaRockEXE
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Don't use this guide. The Chip Editor program does this.
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beastfang
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Every time I try to replace Life Aura's Picture I get the palette and picture but the picture itself is messed up and in like layers.
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louman7777777
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beastfang
Feb 15 2010, 10:52 PM
Every time I try to replace Life Aura's Picture I get the palette and picture but the picture itself is messed up and in like layers.
Did you put it over where life aura is stored or did you expand your rom and repoint it?
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brianuuu
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beastfang
Feb 15 2010, 10:52 PM
Every time I try to replace Life Aura's Picture I get the palette and picture but the picture itself is messed up and in like layers.
what did you replace with?
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darkprotomanSP
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Thanks for the guide.I have a problem,when i google GBA graphics editer,i cant find it.
Edited by darkprotomanSP, Mar 29 2010, 09:19 PM.
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MegaRockEXE
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Stop using this guide and use the program for importing chip images.
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