GUIDE: How to replace game images (splash screens,skins,...)

**danielmbp** · Last edited by danielmbp on Fri May 09, 2008 12:18 pm; edited 9 times in total

New Version: Preview of 3D objects:
The version 3.1 of MiloExplorer is able to preview 3D objects (meshes and groups). This new feature seems to be very useful to all those guys who creates guitar skins, characters outfits and so on.
As a small explanation about the files, the "Mesh" type has a 3D description of the object. Several Meshes can be grouped together to form a more complex object (like characters). This combination is described by the "Group" files. In MiloExplorer, you can preview either a single mesh, or also the entire group.
The new features are:
* Binary view for all files, including the types that MiloExplorer can preview, like Tex (and now Mesh, Grp)
* 3D view of meshes (Mesh) and group of meshes (Group)
* If your mesh is a guitar, MiloExplorer lets you dinamically select one of the skins available in the milo

Here is a screenshot of the version:

In the 3D view, you can rotate the object pressing and holding the L mouse button and moving the cursor around. Also, by pressing the R mouse button, you can zoom the object in and out. I have plans to improve this controls later.

Introduction:
Guitar Hero images are TEX files located inside milo_ps2 files. Using current version of GHEx, you can browse their contents and you can also replace the whole milo_ps2 file, but you can't replace a single file inside a milo_ps2.
If you browse some milo_ps2 files with GHEx, you can find the TEX files from:
* Splash Screens : Activision, Harmonix, RedOctane
* Main Splash Screen (that one with the Press Any Key text)
* Main Menu Screen
* Guitar Skins

With this 9-step guide, you will be able to customize all of them.

What do you need:

1 - GHEx (or ARK Expander)
2 - MiloExplorer (current version is 3.1)
Important: This version of MiloExplorer needs d3dx9_36.dll. Google it, or get it directly here.

Some points about TEX files:
TEX files are bitmapped images encapsulated through a TEX header. Most of them are color mapped images (4bpp or 8bpp) what means that they can have 16 or 256 colors. In the customization process, you have to pay attention on the original image size (witdh, height) and also bpp. The image size can not be changed, otherwise you won't be able to replace the with MiloExplorer. For the bpp, just take care about the number of colors that it represents (16 for 4bpp and 256 for 8bpp). If you use much more colors than the maximum allowed for the bpp there will be some visible quality loss in your image.
Editing a color mapped image is an annoying process, as you can not use the exact color that you want and you have to manually modify the palette. So, the workflow described in this guide considers that you will extract the TEX file as a true color BMP. Edit the BMP file in your favorite software (as Photoshop). After that, save your customized image also as 32bpp bitmap. When replacing this bmp with MiloExplorer, the software will automatically convert the image to the appropriate bpp (preserving the alpha channel).

So... Hands on:

Using GHEx
1 -> Use GHEx to find the milo_ps2 file that contains the TEX image that you want to customize.
2 -> Extract the whole milo_ps2.

Now you will use MiloExplorer
3 -> Open the extracted milo_ps2 file in MiloExplorer
4 -> Locate your TEX file in the FileTree and select it. You will see the image preview on the software GUI. (notice that sometimes the information is located on the alpha channel. Example: fonts)
5 -> Click in the "Extract" button and extract this TEX file as a BMP. (You have to select the bmp format in the savefile dialog). Notice that the BMP generated by the software has 32bpp (true color). If you want, the software also lets you extract as a TGA file. It's up to you.

Now you will use any image editor (as Photoshop)
6 -> Open the extracted bitmap in any image editor and customize the image.
7 -> Save your customized BMP as 32 bpp bitmap (Now you can not use TGA, just BMP).

Go back again to MiloExplorer
8 -> Select the TEX file and click "Replace" to replace the original TEX file by your customized BMP. If your bmp doesn't match the TEX bpp, the software will give you a warning and make a color reduction process automatically. Then, MiloExplorer with convert it internally to TEX and replace the file with no bpp matching problems. The milo_ps2 file will be automatically updated.

Finally... Go back to GHEx
9 -> Replace the milo_ps2 by the customized version. (Sometimes you need to reload GHEx to display correctly the new milo contents)

That's it.

Any suggestions for MiloExplorer or also bug reports are highly welcome here.

Have Fun !!!!!

Change Log:
Version 3.1
Bug Fixes:
* Change Transparency option is working again. (thanks to Reptiliack that found this issue)

Version 3.0
New Features:
* Binary view for all files, including the types that MiloExplorer can preview, like Tex (and now Mesh, Grp)
* 3D view of meshes (Mesh) and group of meshes (Group)
* If your mesh is a guitar, MiloExplorer lets you dinamically select one of the skins available in the milo

Version 2.8
New Features:
* Right click menu in the file tree.
* Extraction of all contents of a milo file to a specified folder (as suggested by Unsteadycarrot). This extraction feature can automatically convert all TEX files to BMP.
* Change the transparency of a TEX file.
* 24bpp BMP importing (the alpha channel will be filled with a default "opaque" value)
Bug Fixes:
* Fixed the bmp locking bug when importing a bmp file.

Version 2.7
New features:
* Replace files with different size than the original one
Minor changes:
* Removed annoying message boxes (as suggested by GameZelda)
Limitation:
* Bmp file importing still must have the same format (width and height).

Version 2.6
New features:
* Importing of 32bpp bmps. (automatically reduces the number or colors according to the original tex format)
Limitation:
* Still can not replace files which size is different from the original.

Version 2.5
Bug Fixes:
* Correctly fills the alpha channel when importing bmps.
Limitations:
* Bmp must be the same format as the tex file (width, height and bpp)

**Mazzocchi** · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject:

I'm going to put together a index/guide of what every .ps2 file has in it just for the sake of convenience.
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**Unsteadycarrot** · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 642 Location: U.K

when i replace the mainmenu screen...its transparent...and i can see the bricks behind the picture and this looks wierd...why does this happen?

the same thing happend when i replaced the loading screen man...it was transparent.
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**danielmbp** · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject:

**Unsteadycarrot** · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 642 Location: U.K

**nickb611** · Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 3731 Location: Villanova, PA

Just for 'throwing this out there' sake, sometime within the next week I'll be updating the parts of the guide that don't have to deal with creating a custom disc. The images are a key component that needs updating within the guide, so I'm going to ask anybody if they would like to:

1) Work with me to update the information accurately (preferably knowledgeable... danielmbp... GameZelda...)
2) Create a guide or any other type of collaboration of information, either in a thread here, or I'll throw it up on the guide's site, for ALL the different aspects of image customization, along with limitations of what is and isn't possible.

I'd do all this myself, but I don't have the time with the guide's new demand for an image loader and various other life activities. So, if anybody is interested, shoot me a PM and we'll see if we can get it done.

-Nick
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I don't read over my posts when I finish typing them.

Custom Guitar Hero

**Leff** · Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Posts: 1315

So if I replaced a bunch of stuff with MiloTools v2.4 I should probably go back and re-do them with 2.5 because otherwise they'll be transparent?
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**Unsteadycarrot** · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 642 Location: U.K

yes leff...its not the case with ALL the images, but i would recomend it to be on the safe side and to save discs!

i just did it and the images are no longer transparent

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**GameZelda** · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 1705

If i'm not wrong, the bug is when importing, so you will only need to import your BMPs again

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(Ok, I failed to do it in 24 hours...

).

GH:WT-PS2 Customization Progress
[100%] Make it work (w/songs loading) in a DVD5 (thanks psychospacefish!)
[100%] Modify audio (Finally done 25/11/2008)
[100%] Modify charts (Done 26/11/2008! Customs finally

)

**NaziPunksEffOff** · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 137

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GUIDE

I successfully replaced four milo.ps2 files, burning today.
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Guitar Hero Goals and Wishes:
Finally, after much wait, get Guitar Hero 3: []
Beat Jordan before New Years: [(60% complete)]
Five star Six: [currently three stars]
Five star all songs on GH 2 and Rocks The 80's: []
Make Libertines custom songs: []

**danielmbp** · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:39 pm Post subject:

**GameZelda** · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 1705

**Teancum** · Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 437

BMP files support an alpha channel. You just need a program that can read the alpha. Any decent photo editing software will do.

**danielmbp** · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject:

**Leff** · Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Posts: 1315