CONVERTING PSD'S TO LiF'S WITH LIFLIST
By Z8Fever

Although you may think or may have read that the process of converting PSD's to LiF's with Photoshop is complicated, it really isn't. In fact the process is incredibly simple as long as you know what to do.

First, you should create a directory structure similar to this:

The directories and files named convert, tex, tex, ref.mif, and tex1.psd may be renamed as you like. Just remember to substitute in your names where the tutorial uses these names (DO NOT CHANGE EXTENSIONS, THOUGH). Also, tex and tex may be changed, but their names must be identical to each other. However, the directories and files named data, datasrc, textures.ll (from the homeworld.big), and liflist.exe must keep the same name. Liflist.exe comes with the LiF specifications. tex1.psd is the .psd file you are converting to a .lif.

Step 1: Setting up ref.mif
What is the .mif file for? It is simply a list of all the psd's you want to convert. Why is it needed? The program is stupid. There you have it. Instead of just converting all the psd's in the directory, you have to make a stupid list. Here's what it should look like:

#
TEXTURES += tex1.lif

tex1.lif is the name of the psd you are changing but with the extension .lif instead. To change multiple PSD's at once, just add another line that says "TEXTURES += whatever.lif" where whatever.lif is the name of the other PSD you are changing but with a different extension. Keep adding these lines to the file for each 1 more psd you want to convert.

Step 2: Conversion
Now to run the program. If you have created the correct directory structure and the .mif file, all you have to do is run liflist.exe with a few parameters. Remember to substitute your changes in names for the ones here. Use run in windows or go to the does prompt and get to the directory with liflist. Type "liflist.exe q data\textures.ll datasrc\tex\ref.mif". It will "quantize" your psd's into LiF's. The new .lif files will be in the "data\tex" directory. You're done!