Character Creation Screen Background

[BastionWalls]

This may seem like a crazy question, but is there a way to change the background color on the character creation screen? I swear it use to be blue back on live, but maybe it switched when COV came out?

[SuperPlyx]

I know you can brighten and darken the background with the buttons under toons feet:

[SaintD]

I want the character to be standing in a properly lit instance on the Paragon city streets. The difference between the costume creator and actual game environment can sometimes be quite significant.

[kiramon]

9 minutes ago, SaintD said:

I want the character to be standing in a properly lit instance on the Paragon city streets. The difference between the costume creator and actual game environment can sometimes be quite significant.

Indeed. I also want to zoom out more for powers.

 

 

[Jawbreaker]

4 hours ago, Vulpoid said:

Ok... Here you go...
you will need to create a subdirectory in your Homecoming install called   \data\texture_library\GUI\CREATION\common\Backgrounds

find a graphic file you would like to use, and save it in .dds format.
Now rename your .dds file    "background_skyline_alphacut.texture"    ...and drop it in the directory you created above.

Sample below.

background_skyline_alphacut.texture 1.33 MB · 3 downloads

Pardon my lack of computer knowledge, subdirectory meaning folder?

 

[Vulpoid]

3 hours ago, Jawbreaker said:

subdirectory meaning folder?

Yes, a nested folder.  Folders within folders, six deep ( I think. Your personal install may have a data folder all set up already if you use any other mods.)  \data\texture_library\GUI\CREATION\common\Backgrounds  would be the path name.

[WanderingAries]

3 hours ago, Jawbreaker said:

Pardon my lack of computer knowledge, subdirectory meaning folder?

 

 

Root -> C:\

Directory (Folder) -> C:\Games             (the Games part)

Sub-Directory (Folder inside another folder) -> C:\Games\CoH             (the CoH part)

Parent Directory -> C:\Games             (the Games part when CoH exists)

Child Directory -> C:\Games\CoH             (the CoH part in this example)

[Jawbreaker]

9 minutes ago, Vulpoid said:

Yes, a nested folder.  Folders within folders, six deep ( I think. Your personal install may have a data folder all set up already if you use any other mods.)  \data\texture_library\GUI\CREATION\common\Backgrounds  would be the path name.

Gotcha, thank you!

[Jawbreaker]

6 minutes ago, WanderingAries said:

 

Root -> C:\

Directory (Folder) -> C:\Games             (the Games part)

Sub-Directory (Folder inside another folder) -> C:\Games\CoH             (the CoH part)

Parent Directory -> C:\Games             (the Games part when CoH exists)

Child Directory -> C:\Games\CoH             (the CoH part in this example)

Ahhhhh TYVM!

 

[Jawbreaker]

Hmm..something isn't working for me. Does this look right?

[Bill Z Bubba]

2 hours ago, Jawbreaker said:

Hmm..something isn't working for me. Does this look right?

 

I'm betting that you left the file name as background_skyline_alphacut.texture.dds

 

Edit the name to just background_skyline_alphacut.texture and try again.

 

Click on View in the top nav and verify that "File Name Extensions" is checked. That'll help.

Edited February 14, 2022 by Bill Z Bubba

[Jawbreaker]

2 hours ago, Bill Z Bubba said:

 

I'm betting that you left the file name as background_skyline_alphacut.texture.dds

 

Edit the name to just background_skyline_alphacut.texture and try again.

 

Click on View in the top nav and verify that "File Name Extensions" is checked. That'll help.

Well, you were right about the name. But it still won't work for me

[WanderingAries]

Based on the above images, rename the file so that the .DDS instead reads .TEXTURE as it appears this is the file extension that it's looking for. Also, the game loads stuff from the /data folder only at startup, so you need to always make sure the game is fully quit before expecting to see changes.

 

Side question, what format is DDS?

Edited February 14, 2022 by WanderingAries

[Jawbreaker]

14 hours ago, Vulpoid said:

Does it look like this?
I am wondering if Homecoming requires the p_ in front of the file name.
If you want to do a test, rename your file p_background_skyline_alphacut.texture and see if that changes anything.
 

Nope, that didn't work either.

[Jawbreaker]

4 hours ago, WanderingAries said:

Based on the above images, rename the file so that the .DDS instead reads .TEXTURE as it appears this is the file extension that it's looking for. Also, the game loads stuff from the /data folder only at startup, so you need to always make sure the game is fully quit before expecting to see changes.

 

Side question, what format is DDS?

Yeah my file name is background_skyline_alphacut.texture

[Bill Z Bubba]

Hrrrm. Last ditch thought. You only have one installation directory and everything's pointed at the correct one, yes?

 

I only ask because over time I ended up with multiple installations and made this mistake with my silence sounds files.

[Jawbreaker]

1 hour ago, Bill Z Bubba said:

Hrrrm. Last ditch thought. You only have one installation directory and everything's pointed at the correct one, yes?

 

I only ask because over time I ended up with multiple installations and made this mistake with my silence sounds files.

I...think so?

[SuperPlyx]

On 2/14/2022 at 5:10 AM, Vulpoid said:

I am wondering if Homecoming requires the p_ in front of the file name.
If you want to do a test, rename your file p_background_skyline_alphacut.texture and see if that changes anything.

 

Quote

File "texture_library/GUI/creation/common/Backgrounds/p_background_skyline_alphacut.texture" is misnamed, containing texture named "background_skyline_alphacut"!

 

That's the error I got when trying the p_  name change. I couldn't get it to work either.

[SuperPlyx]

@Vulpoid Here is a really dumb question, what exactly is the sample .texture file you posted? I assumed it was a different background for the character creation screen.

[Vulpoid]

It was.
Back in the old days, there was a modder named Electro. He made a series of non- sanctioned client side additions. I believe it is an alternate cityscape. I do not use it any more, mine is flat grey.

[Vulpoid]

Kudos to  @12thPower!
 Scroll down to Neutral Character Selection!

 

Edited February 15, 2022 by Vulpoid

[Jawbreaker]

3 hours ago, Vulpoid said:

Kudos to  @12thPower!
 Scroll down to Neutral Character Selection!

 

That worked! thanks so much!