Well if you just want to use a different image, you'll need something to edit the file, I use GIMP which is free.
Important pointers for Stalker files, they use .dds format and should be saved in DXT1 compression with mipmaps. The exception is for files that use transparency, like the icon files. These you save in DXT3, and you don't need mipmaps for ingame icons, you do for textures used in the world though.
Mipmaps are smaller versions of the same texture, saved in layers within the texture file. They are used at lower texture settings, and for distant objects where you cannot see the detail anyway. This decreases video memory usage, and a "shimmer" effect you can sometimes see on distant objects that do not have mipmaps.
I posted something for another guy in the Bar thread with GIMP links, etc.... I'll try and find that and add it here later.
Edit:
GIMPhttp://sourceforge.net/project/download ... mirror=ovhDDS Pluginhttp://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/d ... -dds-win32- Open the picture you want and the ui_iconstotal.dds file.
- Select the area you want from the original picture, 165x102 pixels...
- If it is larger, select a rough rectangle, then resize it so it is 102 pixels high.
- You may then need to crop off any pixels over 165 wide.
- Select the image now you have it 165x102, copy.
- Go into the dds image, right click paste.
- Move the texture into place, it can help to zoom into 800% for the final position.
- Click on an area outside of your pasted layer to "anchor" the new image over the top.
- Save as DXT3 compression.