
			18-Pack of Helmets Assortment


	About The Helmet Textures

  This archive contains a set of 18 different texture files for the fullface helmet sold at the ProLaps store in GTA-San Andreas. The idea came about after wearing the default and seeing how utterly crappy it looked! The resolution was minimal and the design was lame and clichd. Checking a few sites didn't turn up anything better either. Being a long-time dabbler in 2d graphics, I decided to do something about it. I started with one and the rest were built on ideas and discoveries along the way. Features of these textures include:

  - Four times the resolution of the default! This allows greater detail and smoother color changes.
  - Optimized for fit and appearance. Tested and tweaked virtually down to the pixel to look their best.
  - Wide range of colors and styles to suit many tastes. Don't like one? Try another!
  - Variety of different visor tints to complement the helmet design. I think I might be the first to offer this!

  Three of the textures I want to say a couple words about... #14 is unique for a couple reasons - it's sci-fi themed and the only one without the visor pivot. I created it after seeing the Sith speeder model and thought it would be a good complement. #16 is intended for offroad use and would look out of place on the street. Do what you will with it though! #18 is a Maple leaf theme for my fellow Canadians. Sorry Americans, but the Stars and Stripes did NOT turn out well with the current helmet model (see next section). I did try though.
  To make your selection(s), view the included '18PackHelmets.jpg' picture and note the number in the bottom corner of each frame.


	About The Helmet Model

  Although the .dff model for the helmet is NOT included I really wish I had one to go along with my textures. I based my designs on the default one in the game. The reason I say this is because I think, like the default texture, it's pretty polly-wolly crappy! (As Nelson of the Simpsons would say :) ). It bears mentioning because I want to point out its flaws so people aren't pointing the finger my way when things don't look quite as expected or wonder why I used the graphics I did.
  First of all, the helmet has a very low number of polygons that make up its shape. This is most evident when viewed up close eg. while standing next to something and the view zooms in. This low count has a negative effect on any applied textures. It causes them to look distorted when trying to use any graphics with detailed lines, words or designs that span any portion of the sides. There is only a section of the side's center where you can get away with this without distortion. For this reason, I've had to limit what I can create without looking like you-know-what. A number of designs had to be thrown out because of this problem.
  The next most obvious flaw is that the size and shape of the helmet is too small for CJ's head. This makes it look not quite right when trying to relate it to a real-world helmet. I've tried to compensate for this by tweaking the texture's location and design so as to give it a proper look. The other cues that it's too small can be seen when viewed up close... From the front, you can see CJ's nose almost touches the visor - that's definitely too small. From the side, you can see the bottom bits of CJ's ears sticking out past the helmet! This is most obvious when using one of the lighter colored textures. Fortunately, for everyone, I've discovered how to fix this problem (see Advanced step 7). 
  The last flaw concerns the area of the helmet that's just below the right side of CJ's nose. If you look closely, you'll see that there's a hole that allows you to see right through to CJ's face. This is due to one (or more) polygons in this area that are either missing, weren't texture mapped or just plain backwards. It's visible when viewed close up from either CJ's right side or front.
  All of these flaws detract from what could have been a simple, good-looking model. When compared to some of the available car or weapon models, I can't help but think this helmet model was an afterthought or oversight and whipped up in a short bit of time without much thought or any testing. Maybe it even caused an conscious or unconscious decision by people to not use the helmet, judging by its absence in so many pics and videos. So believe me when I say that if I could do better, I would! I just don't have any 3D experience on current PCs. I used to use Lightwave back when the Amiga line of computers was still around, but that was many moons ago. Maybe someone else would like to take up the challenge though... If you do, let me know.


	Installing A Texture (Basic)

  If you intend to use only one helmet texture at a time, then installation is pretty straightforward... Simply pick the one you want from this set, copy it somewhere and rename it to 'helmet.txd'. Then use an IMG editor to replace the default in the 'player.img' file (see step 3 below for exact location). Specifically, load the .img file using IMG Tool or Txd Workshop then find/search for the 'helmet.txd' entry. Select 'Replace' from the appropriate menu. For IMG Tool, select 'Rebuild Archive' then exit. For Txd Workshop, save and exit. The final thing to do is to follow step 7's instructions from the Advanced section below to fix the protruding ears problem.


	Installing Several Textures (Advanced)

  To install multiple textures and make them appear in a store involves a level of experience and familiarity with the various files and related editors of GTA-San Andreas. If you're new at this, stick with the previous basic install! I will NOT be responsible for any damage or explain one-on-one how to accomplish what can be learned from the many sites on the Net. In either case, make sure to backup all relevant files BEFORE making any changes!

  For those who are comfortable working with the game files, you can add multiple helmet textures at once. These instructions will tell you how to add 5 more, for a total of 6 textures. This is, I think, more than enough and covers all the bases. Doing this will allow you to have a variety of helmets at your disposal to wear without having to edit game files every time you want to wear a different one.

  Follow the steps below to install/setup the textures:

 1) Start by choosing which 6 textures you want to use then copy them to a separate temporary folder of your choosing.

 2) Rename them according to where you intend to place them in the order. (See step 8 for categories) The first one is the default and is simply named 'helmet.txd'. The rest are named from 'helmet2.txd' to 'helmet6.txd'.

 3) Load an .IMG editor (preferred ones are IMG Tool V2 or TXD Workshop V4.5). Load the 'player.img' file from the '[Drive]:\Rockstar Games\GTA San Andreas\models' folder. Find the helmet.txd entry and select 'Replace'. Go to the temp folder where you've renamed the files in step 2 and load the .txd file. Now choose the 'Add' command and add 'helmet2.txd'. Repeat the process for the 3rd to 6th files. If you're using IMG Tool, select 'Rebuild Archive' as the last step. Save and exit the program when done.

 4) At this point, you have two choices... You can either add the entries manually into the 'shopping.dat' file if you've already made changes previously or you can use the included file to replace the default. If you're doing it manually, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, copy the included shopping file to your San Andreas\data folder and skip ahead to step 7.

 5) Fire up Notepad and load 'shopping.dat' from the '[Drive]:\Rockstar Games\GTA San Andreas\data' folder. Find the section labelled 'Clothes' and scroll down until you see the lines commented with the word hats. You can again make a choice here. There's room to add 5 helmets to either the Zip store or at Victim. I chose to add at the Zip store for earlier access in the game for those who're just starting out. Plus it seemed appropriate to add race helmets to a store named Zip :). In either case, goto the comment line with '# END OF (ZIP/VICTIM) HATS'. Copy and paste the following lines between the last entry and the '# END OF':

		helmet2			HELMET2		helmet		16		respect 3 	sexy 3		150
		helmet3			HELMET3		helmet		16		respect 3 	sexy 3		150
		helmet4			HELMET4		helmet		16		respect 3 	sexy 3		150
		helmet5			HELMET5		helmet		16		respect 3 	sexy 3		150
		helmet6			HELMET6		helmet		16		respect 3 	sexy 3		150

    Add RETURNs where needed to realign the text. You can change the prices if you like (cheapskate!) but do NOT change any of the labels unless you know exactly what you're doing. Respect and Sexy are already at max for hats so don't screw with them either - unless of course you want less but who would?!

 6) Next, scroll down to the shops until you come to either 'section clothgp # ZIP' or 'section Csdesgn # VICTIM'- whichever you're using. Go a bit further to find the comment '# END OF (ZIP/VICTIM) HATS'. Copy and paste the following lines between the last entry and the '# END OF':

		item helmet2
		item helmet3
		item helmet4
		item helmet5
		item helmet6

    Save the file when done.

 7) Using Notepad, open the 'clothes.dat' file - it's in the same folder as 'shopping.dat'. Scroll down to the area commented with the line '# extras that get in the way...'. After the last entry (with the balaclava), copy and paste the following lines:

# Proper position for helmet settings
SETC	helmet		head		flatears	-

    Make sure to include blank lines before and after. While probably not necessary, it's good practise for readability and to eliminate any possible confusion by the game. What is important is to have this statement in that spot to eliminate the problem of the ears sticking out that I mentioned in the helmet model section. For anyone using other headgear with this problem, this can probably be applied for that item as well.
    Save and exit after making these changes.

 8) The last step is to edit the 'american.gxt' file. Load a GXT editor and then open the file - find it at '[Drive]:\Rockstar Games\GTA San Andreas\text'. The program will open with the Main table selected - this is the one to stay in. Select 'Add' from the Entry menu and add the entry 'helmet2'. Enter the text in the right pane from the table below. Then click on the entry name twice to apply. Repeat for the other entries. Save and exit when done.

	Entry Name	Entry Value		Suggested Usage (DO NOT ENTER!)

	helmet2		Race Helmet 1		Auto Racing
	helmet3		Race Helmet 2		Motorcyle Racing
	helmet4		Race Helmet 3		Air Racing
	helmet5		Offroad Helmet		Offroad Events
	helmet6		Custom Helmet		Unique Events (eg. Stunts)

    *NOTE* The value strings can be changed to whatever you want but keep in mind that you must limit their length to around 14 characters or strange things MAY happen when buying/choosing items in the shop or wardrobe room.


	Author/Contact Info
 
  All graphics are copyright BML (aka RanxeroX)  2007 All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted to distribute this archive to other sites so long as all files remain together and intact and no profit derived from their distribution. Inclusion with any other archives is NOT allowed unless express permission from me has been granted. If you are aware of any abuse of these rules, please let me know and appropriate steps will be taken.

  If you wish to contact me with any feedback or suggestions or whatever, you can find me on www.TheGtaPlace.com or send e-mail to 'ranxerox23@gmail.com'.

  Keep cool, look cool and have fun!
