Png2nw

[jacob_bald6225]

So I worked out how to take a png and turn it into a playable level. I figured I would share.

I took this level(I don't think Bartholomew will mind-- I doubt he even has this level anymore):
http://forums.graalonline.com/forums...ad.php?t=75934

And produce a level(attached)!

Notice how the npcs that were in the screenshot lay down the corner of a block, so this isn't really feasible with a level that has lighting effects or tons of npcs.

Not much else here-- just figured I'd share what I've been working on.


If you have a level that you want recovered from a screenshot throw it in here and ill have a run at it.

[WhiteDragon]

Good work. Now release the source.

[Darugo]

That's awesome Have you tried inputting a screenshot of something that doesn't have a actual tileset?

[Luda]

Pretty cool

[Crono]

wait i just realized it said png2nw and not nw2png, is this for real?

[Fulg0reSama]

Originally Posted by Crono

wait i just realized it said png2nw and not nw2png, is this for real?

This, because if so I see MAAAANY good things (plausibly bad things about this) as well.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by Fulg0reSama

This, because if so I see MAAAANY good things (plausibly bad things about this) as well.

nothing bad could possibly come of this

[Fulg0reSama]

Originally Posted by Crono

nothing bad could possibly come of this

Think a little hard on the base concept of this and you may see something.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by Fulg0reSama

Think a little hard on the base concept of this and you may see something.

I already know what you were implying but that's not a problem.

[Fulg0reSama]

Originally Posted by Crono

I already know what you were implying but that's not a problem.

I suppose not now, but I'll agree to the fact there's more pros than there are cons.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by Fulg0reSama

I suppose not now, but I'll agree to the fact there's more pros than there are cons.

When would it be o_o;?

[cbk1994]

You used to be able to hit alt + 5 to save an online level. Level stealing wouldn't be a problem.

[WanDaMan]

Brilliant concept ! Have you thought about making a map image converter?

[DustyPorViva]

Originally Posted by WanDaMan

Brilliant concept ! Have you thought about making a map image converter?

Probably impossible. Maps lose data from being shrunken down.

[jacob_bald6225]

Originally Posted by DustyPorViva

Probably impossible. Maps lose data from being shrunken down.

Yeah-- I can't think of any way to take a map image and turn it in to levels.

For example -- if two tiles shared the same pixels just arranged in a different fashion(a mirrored version of the same tile like roof corners) it'd be impossible to differentiate.

Originally Posted by Darugo

That's awesome Have you tried inputting a screenshot of something that doesn't have a actual tileset?

Like something that I don't have the tileset for... or like a photograph?

[MrOmega]

How is this possible? How do you define the actual tile orgins since not all screenshots are aligned? What is the average time it takes to compile a image to level? Say a 640x480 png for example.

[jacob_bald6225]

Originally Posted by MrOmega

How is this possible? How do you define the actual tile orgins since not all screenshots are aligned? What is the average time it takes to compile a image to level? Say a 640x480 png for example.

It probably isn't the most efficient technique but here is the gist:

Scan the tileset: Scan each pixel and put the RGB in to a string:

So RGB(0,0)+RGB(0,1).....+RGB(16,16). Since each tile is 16x16 pixels.

After the tileset is scanned it saves the information to the computer so you don't have to rescan for each level.

Then it loops through and checks each pixel of each tile in the screenshot(which is aligned and 1024x1024 pixels). If it matches a tile it adds that tile to a "recently used" array of tiles which get priority checking(so you don't have to loop back through the entire set of tiles after it gets cooking).

Each tile is synced up with the tile hex value(like "AE", or "/3". When it finds the tile it plops down the hex value in the level string. Right now it doesn't save files but outputs them as plaintext which you can copy paste in to a graal file and save with a text editor to get your level.

If the tile is unknown it puts a blackness tile so you can easily tell which tiles are missing.


All in all if the tileset is already scanned IIRC(it has been a few weeks since I generated a level from this). It pumps out the plaintext level in like (EDIT) 50 seconds which I have recorded in a video.

(Does this even make sense to anyone else?)

tl;dr:
1. Tileset scanned-->in order of the corresponding tile hex values.
2. Level is scanned tile by tile and plops out the hex value of the tileset tile that it matches.
3. Plaintext level is made and copy pasted in to a .nw with a text editor.


Again, this is probably not the best way to do this-- but it works.

(EDIT)Main problem here is I have it set up to do multiple levels in a row and as there are more tiles added to the priority list it begins to slow down-- I have a video of generating 6 levels in a row in 6:35 seconds.

[Rufus]

I've seen this in action, it's impressive!

[MrOmega]

I'm truly impressed, brilliant!

[ff7chocoboknight]

Pretty awesome, Zippy.

[Crono]

so if the screenshot is a normal screenshot anything blocking the tiles (GUI, char, etc) are colored black while the rest is fine? hmm!

[DustyPorViva]

Originally Posted by Crono

so if the screenshot is a normal screenshot anything blocking the tiles (GUI, char, etc) are colored black while the rest is fine? hmm!

Aye, you'd have to fill in the blanks.

[jacob_bald6225]

Originally Posted by Crono

so if the screenshot is a normal screenshot anything blocking the tiles (GUI, char, etc) are colored black while the rest is fine? hmm!

This is also extremely useful when ripping tiles you don't have a tileset for too.

Here is an example of ripping tiles due to this perk:

Step 1: Find a level to rip:


Step 2: Run it through without a defined tileset:


Step 3: Build the level from the output. Yellow tiles are unique tiles that appear for the first time. Any time another one of these tiles shows up it is colored green:


Step 4: Overlay the built level with unknown tiles and rip the unique tiles(which were colored yellow in this example).


From there you jump in to photoshop and put the tiles in their right behavioral spots(block/not) and regenerate until you have no missing tiles. Plus side to this is that there are no duplicates when ripping them out.

[Luda]

I miss that level, lol

[Mark Sir Link]

are you still doing this in flash?

[tempandrew]

This is truly, really impressive. I'm not sure how much practical use this would have, however, other than possibly reviving old levels from screenshots people might have laying around.

Regardless, this is really something. Well done.

[Demisis_P2P]

Originally Posted by tempandrew

This is truly, really impressive. I'm not sure how much practical use this would have, however, other than possibly reviving old levels from screenshots people might have laying around.

Regardless, this is really something. Well done.

Another practical sue was just posted.
This can help you build a tileset from screenshots of levels because it can identify the first time each unique tile is used.

[Crono]

so hot man so hot

[jacob_bald6225]

Originally Posted by Mark Sir Link

are you still doing this in flash?

Ya because I'm a noob anywhere else.

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by DARKVILLIN

For most of the Red Squares. Don't use Half Grass...it looks bad
Also for the barrels use a .png with a transparent background. Just using the tileset its fine but don't be afraid to use .pngs in levels. They can fix a lot of tile errors. Also with the path tiles that are used on the inside of a path are used better when framed out. The random water spout...delete it. This isnt zelda The windows. Don't use the half windows...

Besides that there weren't a lot of tile errors. Keep up the work. Hope my input willl help you.

I think you missed the point of the thread.

[Aknts]

That's cool. There are a lot of levels I have posted on here that I don't have anymore.