Props!

The Recap

Simple Step-By-Step Recap,
Applicable to Any Paint Program

Okay, here's the quick simple-case recap. Let's assume you have a new GIF or JPEG picture that you want to use as an avatar. You've already saved the Palace CLUT. If you don't have enough memory to open Photoshop (or whatever paint program) and Palace simultaneously, you will have to use the Scrapbook as an intermediary.

These instructions
should see most users
through in 99% of cases.

For an advanced tutorial
on avatar antialising,
click here.

  1. Open your pic in Photoshop (or whatever).
  2. If it's indexed color, convert it to RGB.
  3. Erase everything you don't want. Fill those transparent regions with some strange color from the Palace CLUT (I prefer [R51 G255 B0] THIS) that's not used in the edges of your image (or use PS3+ to make a colored background layer). Save the selections, you may need them later.
  4. Resize to fit within 44x44, or within 132x132 if you plan on making a large av. Save this small RGB copy, you may need it later.
  5. Photoshop users: If any dimensions are smaller than the closest tile border (44, 88, or 132 pixels), you may want to expand the canvas size, filling in the extra with your preselected background color. This will let you slide the pic around freely and more-accuractely maybe even freeing-up some empty tiles.
  6. Convert to Indexed Color. Use a "Custom..." color table select your saved Palace CLUT.
  7. If the image is prop-sized (44x44 and smaller):
    1. hit "Select All" and "Copy."
    2. Switch to Palace, open the Prop Editor by pressing "New" in the prop window.
    3. Hit "Paste."
    4. Select "Face Prop" in the "Prop Edit" menu.
    5. Name the prop by typing in the little text window at the bottom of the editor window.
    6. Delete transparent areas using the Eraser tool.
    7. Hit "Save" to save the prop in your suitcase.
    8. Done!
  8. If the image is bigger than a single prop:
    1. Hit "Select All." (Cmd-A)
    2. Hit "Copy." (Cmd-C)
      • Windows:
        1. Switch to Palace, open the Prop Window by pressing the Satchel (suitcase).
        2. Hit Ctrl+Q for "Paste Multiple Props." All the props should fill-in, one at a time.
      • Macintosh
        1. Switch to Palace, open the Prop Window by pressing the Satchel (suitcase). Do not open the prop editor yet.
        2. Hit "Paste." All the props should fill-in, one at a time.
    3. Select each prop in turn, hit "Edit," and...
    4. Name the prop by typing in the little text window at the bottom of the editor window.
    5. Select "Face Prop" in the "Prop Edit" menu, for at least one of the props.
    6. Delete transparent areas using the Eraser tool, and Ctrl-Click with the eraser to delete flat-colored areas.
    7. Hit "Save" to save the modified prop in your suitcase.
    8. Hit "Naked" in the prop window.
    9. One by one, select all of the avatar props. They should all jump to their correct positions. If not, they can be repositioned using the arrow keys in the Prop Editor.
    10. Save the entire appearance as a macro.
    11. Done!
Back to the House o Props
Last Update: 7 April 1997

Is there a Palace Site where I can try this out?