How do I convert a BMP file to an ART?

Using Art Viewer, when I try to import a BMP to replace an ART it tells me that I have the wrong 'header information'.

What does that mean, exactly?

 

I'm not fully awake yet, but here goes.

The header, in simplist terms lists what kind of file the picture is. ie: 256 color, 8-bit, BMP 6.

Never bothered to figure out why, but I used to get the same message as you when going straight from Photoshop to ArtView, so I got into the habit of taking my final picture to Paint to do a Save As. This step makes sure the header has the proper info.

 

I'm quite clueless over .art files, but I do have something theoretical to throw into the mix from portrait testing. As I learned, the best way of adding a portrait to the game is to check the colour mode and image details of the original Arcanum portraits. If they're the same for your custom image (colour mode, image type, image size, etc) they'll work.

So in your position, I'd try to extract and convert an existing .art file to .bmp, and check what stats/properties that .bmp file has. Then I'd try to make sure the .bmp I'm converting to .art has the same stats.

It'd probably be best to just try what rroyo advised with paint first, though. Good luck with your progress.

 

Done, but now it tells me that the 'stream size is too small'.

My bmp has a bit-depth of 8, which is the same as the ART file.

 

OK - you're trying to use too small of a picture.
In order to replace an image, Artview needs for the new one to be the exact same size. Example: ElvenChair1 is 85 x 87 pixels. The replacement picture also needs to be 85 x 87 pixels.
One pixel off in either direction is enough to generate that message.

 

If you want to import a BMP of any size, you need to hex edit width and height of the ART file so that it matches the BMP. The offsets in question are 0x484 and 0x488.

 

I also have this problem on occasion. The way that I get around it is:
save bmp from artview.
copy and paste the art I want into the bmp produced, and save.
import that bmp.

Anyways, hope that helps.