28-06-2016, Tuesday-10:16:26
A pak file is a somewhat proprietary format, which cannot be opened*.
If you want to edit someone elses graphics, you need the sources, that is, a PNG file. Sometimes they are published with the paks, but usually you would have to find the author and ask them. This goes hand in hand with copyright, since legally you would not be allowed to change someone elses graphics anyway.
A sneaky, not recommanded way is to just start the game in native resolution (no zoom) and make some screenshots, it's rather easy to seperate objects from the background since up to now there is no transparency in the game. to make it even easier, you can create single-colored landscape and ways, to make it even easier to seperate object from background. But keep in mind, you might not be allowed to edit those graphics, publishing them without permission in the community would probably seen as theft.
*Well, technically, since Simutrans is OpenSource, anyone could look at the code and create a file reader that reconstructs PNG and DAT from the PAK. However, this would not be appreciated by the community.
EDIT:
You can use Google Sketchup to create models. You'd have to render them in the correct, parallel perspective, and then scale them. Currently, you would further need to edit the edges, but alpha transparency is to be added to the game, which would mean no further changes would be needed. Though keep in mind that we are in the pak192.comic subforum, and pak192.comic is made of pixel art. Anything made with google sketchup won't fit in.
If you want to edit someone elses graphics, you need the sources, that is, a PNG file. Sometimes they are published with the paks, but usually you would have to find the author and ask them. This goes hand in hand with copyright, since legally you would not be allowed to change someone elses graphics anyway.
A sneaky, not recommanded way is to just start the game in native resolution (no zoom) and make some screenshots, it's rather easy to seperate objects from the background since up to now there is no transparency in the game. to make it even easier, you can create single-colored landscape and ways, to make it even easier to seperate object from background. But keep in mind, you might not be allowed to edit those graphics, publishing them without permission in the community would probably seen as theft.
*Well, technically, since Simutrans is OpenSource, anyone could look at the code and create a file reader that reconstructs PNG and DAT from the PAK. However, this would not be appreciated by the community.
EDIT:
You can use Google Sketchup to create models. You'd have to render them in the correct, parallel perspective, and then scale them. Currently, you would further need to edit the edges, but alpha transparency is to be added to the game, which would mean no further changes would be needed. Though keep in mind that we are in the pak192.comic subforum, and pak192.comic is made of pixel art. Anything made with google sketchup won't fit in.