Reducing panel bmp file size

[OBIO]

I am working on a panel for the Alpha Sim A-H1 Skyraider, using the freeware Alpha Sim A-H1 panel bmp as the starting point. I modified the panel to give a better forward view, using Photoshop to do the work. Have it the way I want it...but the file is big...2.5 meg, which is simply too big for an effective panel background as it does nasty things to the frame rates in 2D view. I tried converting the bmp to indexed color, which drops the file size to 756K or so, but once in indexed color you can see through the panel in areas.

How can I reduce the file size of the panel background without losing bits and pieces of the panel and avoid seeing the sky through the panel.

OBIO

[Moparmike]

Obio,

You're on the right track with down-converting the finished panel to a 256-color (8-bit) image. You just need one more step...

Once you've done the down-conversion, you'll need to go through your bitmap with the color-replacer tool and replace all those transparent areas with a color that's not 0,0,0 pure black.

Photoshop, PaintShopPro, Gimp...the process is common between all of them.
0,0,0 is the color FS uses for "transparent" when in the sim.
So...Look at your pallette and find the closest color it has to pure black. Any color besides 0,0,0 will do...I usually have something like 1,1,1 that I use for the "black" areas. Select that "not black" color and use the color replacer brush to paint any 0,0,0 pixels that you do not want transparent. Save the panel and load it up in the sim to see if you've missed any.




Hint...
When I'm doing panel and gauge bitmaps with transparency, I always put in at least one splotch of a bright color (pure red, pure green, etc) as a "highlight" color.
-After the down-conversion, I will use the color replace tool to change everything that is 0,0,0 to this "highlight" color. This makes them easier to find and replace.
-Next, use the color replace tool again to change those highlighted pixels that you don't want transparent to your non-0,0,0 "black" substitute.
-Once that is done, go ahead and color replace the highlighted pixels that you DO want transparent back to 0,0,0.
-Save and test in the game.

I stink at writing instructions...my description of this process sounds more complex than it actually is. If I've thoroughly confused you, let me know and I'll try it again once I've gotten some sleep. :d