The different parts of the multiple figures unit storyboard builder

See also option parts

The preview area

Overview

The preview area is very useful for the designer. Any change made in any option is immediately reflected in the preview window, provided all the necessary files have been selected.

The preview can be used to see any orientation, and any frame, thus "playing the animation". It guarantees that when you Generate the Storyboard, you are happy with your parameters.

 

Size

This parameter, from 0 to 100, is used to change the size of the units. It allows to put more units in the formation, but should be used with caution, as it will lead to a loss of quality of the figures, and may not be appreciated by every user.

The grid and the background are unaffected, only the figure itself is affected. Not that all the figure are affected at the same time.

   

 

 

Grid

Check to show or hide the grid. The grid correspond to an actual CivIII cell, and is used to check the position of the figures.

It is recommended that the figures always stay in the grid, for all the orientation.

 

 

 

Shadow

This option is used to show or hide the shadow in the preview. Note that it's not the real shadow that will be in the storyboard, but a uniform grey shadow.

 

Orientation

Simply drag and drop the orientation round slider to see the unit facing another direction. The grid is unaffected, so you can see the unit as it would be in game.

Frames

Drag the frame round slider to view the timeline. You "play the animation" by moving continously this slider in circle, or go backward, or stop on any frame to study it.

 

Background

This list is used to change the background in the preview window, so you have a better view of your unit "in game".

The first choice, <color> put a plain colored background. The color button is used to select this color. The other choices correspond to Civ III textures.

 

Preview picture

This picture show the unit for the selected frame and orientation.

SBB includes a depth analyser, that will copy the figure in the correct order, depending on the orientation and the actual position of the figure.

However, it may not work correctly for some units, as SBB knows the "center" of the figure (given by the X,Y for position and centering), but not the extent of the figure.

Note also that SBB place each figure at the correct location for CivIII perspective, and the result is consistent for all the orientation.