Are you tired of tweaking your backdrops so that they don't look completely ugly when you import them? This article is for YOU. Today, we'll discuss a fancy new trick: how to use a new palette for each backdrop. It's easier than you think!

Step 1: Make your backdrop

But you knew that already. Save it as both a 256-color BMP and a 24-bit BMP. MS Paint won't work for reducing it to 256 colors. It will usually make it look ugly. GIMP is a free utility that can do this, if you don't have anything else that can.

Step 2: Import the palette, then the backdrop

In CUSTOM, go into "Edit General Game Data," then choose "View Master Palettes..." Highlight "<- Master Palette 0 -&rt;" and press right. It will ask you, "Add new master palette?" Say yes. On the new master palette, select "Replace this Master Palette." Import your 256-color BMP. Now select "Current active editing palette." (This may cause the colors in CUSTOM to look weird. It's okay.)

Now import your 24-bit BMP normally. Magically, it will look great! Go back to the master palette editor and select palette 0 as your current active editing palette. Now your imported backdrop doesn't look so good. This is where some scripting magic fills in the gaps.

Step 3: Displaying the backdrop

To make the backdrop show up nicely, you'll need to wrap it in a script that loads the palette. Go back to the master palette viewer and check which palette you just imported. (If this is your first time, it will be palette 1.) Similarly, verify the backdrop number. Here is the script you'll want to use:

script, display fancy backdrop, begin
   fade screen out(0,0,0)
   wait(0)
   show backdrop(1) # Put your backdrop number here!
   load palette(1) # Put your palette number here!
   fade screen in
   wait(0)
   wait for key(use key)
   fade screen out(0,0,0)
   wait(0)
   load palette # This resets the palette to the original
   fade screen in
end

This script fades the screen out, then fades in your backdrop with the proper palette. It stays there until the player presses the use key. If you want to use a text box to display the backdrop instead, replace "show backdrop(1)" with "show text box(#)" and "wait for key(use key)" with "wait for text box."

And that's it! Your backdrop woes are over. Note that this method requires major tweaking for use on battle backdrops (it will screw up your entire palette, so you'll need to make a special palette for all of your heroes and enemies) and minor tweaking if you want to use it for a title screen (you'll need to make the title screen's palette the default master palette and quickly load in your "normal" palette when the game starts). These are left as an exercise for the reader.

For a sample of this technique in action, check out Timpoline, which uses specialized palettes for the title screen and the ending credits sequence.