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Section 6: Saving

All that is left to do now is getting the file in the correct format for PGA 2000.

If you are working with a high resolution image, reduce the size of it first. A good rule of thumb is to reduce the resolution so that the default height in the course architect is around the maximum height you want the object in the game. Going larger then this doesn't make the object look any better, it only increase the file size of your library. For full size trees like this one I reduce the height resolution to 1365. This gives a default height of a little over 90 feet. You have to do some guess and check for this if you're shooting for a different height.

1. Go to Image > Resize.
2. Set the image size you want to use.
3. Under Resample Using select Pixel Resize.

If you use a different type of resampling, blurring of the object edges with the background occurs. This causes off shades of the background color to show around the object in PGA 2000.

PGA 2000 requires an 8-bit (256 color) bitmap image.

1. Make a background layer filled with the color you used as your invisible background color. If you used white or black just make the already created layer visible.
2. Go to Image > Decrease Color Depth > 256 colors (8 bit). PSP tells you it needs to flatten the image. Click OK.
3. Select Optimized Octree and Nearest Color.

Typically something like pink is used for a background color but since you already have a background color that you know isn't in your object, you can use that.

Finally save it in bitmap format. Remember, do not save a PSP version at this point because all of the layers have been removed.

1. Go to File > Save As.
2. Select BMP as the format.
3. Name it whatever you like and click Save.

Now just load the BMP in a PGA 2000 library.

1. In the library creator open or create a new library.
2. Select the 2D-Objects tab if it is not already selected.
3. Click the add button.
4. Find the BMP file and open it.
5. Right click on the image and select edit.
6. Name it, move the black dot to where the object touches the ground, and click OK.
7. Save the library file by going to File > Save.
8. Compile the library by going to File > Create Library.

The library now shows up in the course architect. You have to recompile the library every time you make changes to it. Hopefully the end result is something that looks good both on its own (light background) and with other trees on your course (dark background).

If it is, congratulations, you're done!

If not, move on to Section 7: Troubleshooting.

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