Resources
Here, you'll find a collection of tools that I use to create the content on Petz Deco. I hope some of this will help enhance your Petz experience. Whether you're new to customizing your game or a longtime creator looking for inspiration, these resources are here to make things easier. I’ve gathered everything in one place so you can spend less time searching and more time enjoying Petz!
Software
- Paint Shop Pro 9.01 – My go-to graphics program. I used PSP 7 for years and upgraded to this version from 2004. Old, but still fantastic!
- GIMP – A free and powerful graphics program, great for editing and creating Petz content.
- Tinker – Used to edit carrying case skins, as well as toys and clothes for Petz, Babyz, and Oddballz.
Tools
- Carrying Case Templates - A custom template I created to help you create carrying case skins.
- Petz Playscene Editor - Built into Petz 4 & 5, this tool allows you to create custom playscenes.
- Playscene Converter - Fixes issues with Petz 4 playscenes that won’t show up or are missing sounds. Created by APKC’s hubby Andy and available for download here.
- Playscene Kits - A collection of transparent in-game items that make creating custom playscene backgrounds quick and easy. Originally from Emerald Gate Petz (lost to time). There are several sites that provide them, and you can find my kits in the catalog.
Guides
These are some simple guides on how I create my content. They are actually fairly old and eventually I would like to update these and add a few more.
The Supply Case can be customized to your liking by using skinz. Skinz are graphic templates that are used to "paint over" the Carrying Case. This is my step-by-step guide on making skinz.
Use A Template: There is a Default.bmp file that you can use to make your skins. It is located in the /Skinz folder. The template has images for all three case views – normal, maximized, and minimized. There are also images for the arrows, the icons on the case, and even the scroll cursor. I use a custom template that I created from the Default.bmp to make it easier on me. You can find it on the Resources page.
Customize The Template: Use your graphics program of choice "paint" the skin. Normally I just use different patterns and colors to fill in the template using the "fill" tool. All elements of the case, with the exception of the door, can be changed. There are two colors that are transparent and will not show up on the case - black (#000000) and fuchsia (#FF00FF). If you want to use those colors, you will have to slightly change the color so it will show up. Be creative, you can even make the case totally different if you want to change the actual shape of the case.
Save The Template: Once you have made the changes you want, save the case skin. Name it something different or else you'll lose your template. Case skins must be BMP files that are 800x600 pixels in size and 24-bit color.
Making playpen backgrounds is pretty easy. You can make tiled wallpapers or full-sized images so the playpen will look almost like a playscene (especially for Petz 2 and Petz 3 where there is no editor and/or no playscene capability). This guide is for making tiled backgrounds that repeat to fill the playpen. Below are the steps I use to create them.
Creating The Tile: I normally start off with a 100x100 pixel image, but you can start off with whatever size you want. Images must be 8-bit, 256 colors (which are specific). I made a template that uses those colors. You can get the palette if you open one of the wallpapers that come with the games. (I use PSP 9 and when I open one of the files the palette is available automatically).
Decorating The Tile: Now this is the fun part. Anything goes. I use dingbats, the airbrush tool, and other tools available. Be creative and let your imagination run wild.
Lining Up The Tile: Once you have your tile created, you will want to make sure when you fill the playpen, that it all lines up nicely, or it might look like a big old mess. What you want is to make your tile into a seamless image, so when it tiles in the playpen, you won't see where one tile begins and the other ends. Here is an old tutorial on wayback that will help. Most modern graphics programs can probably do this as well.
Saving The Tile: Once you are satisfied with your tile, save the image. It must be an 8-bit 256 color BMP file. If you don't use the petz color palette some colors will look different. The wallpaper goes in the /Resource/Wallpaper folder of your Petz game.