CREATE OR DOWNLOAD PORTRAITS
by Timothy Pullver and Bruno


English explanations by Timothy Pullver... (thanks a lot, you saved my life)
To customize the portraits you must have Shadow of Death or Armageddon's Blade.

Step 1 : Create or download a portrait

A portrait consists of two differently-sized graphics files in PCX format (256 colours only). One file is used for the larger portrait picture, and the other for the smaller one (such as the one that appears in the list of heroes opposite the list of towns on the main display).

The large file must be 58x64 (58 pixels wide and 64 pixels high).
The small file must be 48x32 (48 pixels wide and 32 pixels high).

If you download a file from the site, it will be a zipped file containing both a large and small version, both of which must be renamed.

On the web site are also "packs" of files, one for each town type. The pcx files in the pack files are already named to replace the corresponding original heroes portraits.

If you choose to make a portrait yourself (for example, by taking a photograph or drawing and using that), you will need an image editor. I use Corel Photopaint 9, which lets me copy a section of the image to a new document, resample it to the appropriate number of pixels and then convert it to 8-bit palleted colour mode (256 colours). I can then export it in PCX format. If you don't have a good image editor, you might prefer to stick with pre-done portraits. (You can use also Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro)

Step 2:
Copy both files to the Hereos3\Data subdirectory

Step 3:
*Rename the files to match the internal names of an existing heroes portrait*

The name for the large portrait will be Hpl###xx.pcx where ### is a 3-digit code for the specific hero and xx is a two-digit code for the hero type.
The name for the small portrait will be Hps###xx.pcx.

You can replace any portrait with any new portrait. So you could replace a knight picture with a picture of a necromancer if you desire. It's up to you.

The hero code and number range is:
sh = special heroes (000-008)
el = elementalist (000-007)
pl = planwalker (000-007)
kn = knight (000-007)
cl = cleric (008-015)
rn = ranger (016-023)
dr = druid (024-031)
al = alchemist (032-039)
hr = demoniac (056-063)
dm = heretic(048-055)<!--- be carreful, 3DO inversed
nc = necromancer (072-079)
ov = overlord (080-087)
wl = warlock (088-095)
br = barbarian (096-103)
bm = battlemage (104-111)
bs = beastmaster (112-119)
wh = witch (120-127)
?? = more special heroes (128-132)

The help page showing you exactly which hero has which number or you can just experiment yourself.

Examples:
To replace the 3rd necromancer hero portrait with a new one, name the two pcx files: Hpl075nc.pcx  and Hps075nc.pcx.

These new files will sit in your data directory and can be removed, renamed or changed at any time.

Step 4
You can now run Heroes and see the new portraits appearing, replacing the original ones. Or you can run the editor and change a portrait of a hero (like you normally would) to another one.

Warning : The Fist color of the Palette...

- First :
For the color n°1 in the color table, you have to put a color that not in use in the image. Because the first is for the transparency of the back
Color Example RGB(0;255;255) to use
- Second :
The same but for the n°2, this is for the color of the flag.
Color Example RGB(255;0;0) to use
Now save the pcx, and it's ok... If you want to see the problem, download a picture from the disciples section and you can see the transparency. I'll have to do it again...