Can Google maps be rotated in MM?

[JJKettunen]

Hi,

This is a noob question, since I haven't had time to delve into the Map Maker properly yet. It looks cool though!

Can one rotate Google maps in MM, to realign cardinal directions? For example if I wanted north to be on the right side of the map? Thanks!

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: Keke

Hi,

This is a noob question, since I haven't had time to delve into the Map Maker properly yet. It looks cool though!

Can one rotate Google maps in MM, to realign cardinal directions? For example if I wanted north to be on the right side of the map? Thanks!

I haven't tried this but you should be able to do this OUTSIDE of Map Maker, making sure you rotated both the heightmap and the terrainmap. Then import them back in using the import from folder option rather than the import from googlemaps option.

BUT, this map would not be suitable for random play however, since the setup routines use North as the top of the map for orientation. So you wouldn't want to make a Template for it.

Thanks
rick

[junk2drive]

What is the reason for the question? Just curious.

For google maps, North is North. You can place your troops anywhere in the scenario editor and the starting viewpoint will be on that side of the map. For random battles you can choose the location. Random campaigns are random IIRC.

For fictional maps, don't use google?

[JJKettunen]

In fact I would like to rotate N to NE, which makes it impossible to use heightmap and terrainmap rotation (I guess...).

I played through the Prokhorovka scen, enjoyed it, and would want to do even more accurate map of the area. I would have liked to use the elevated road & railroad, leading to Prokhorovka, the southern edge of the map (actually leaving them just outside of the map; a bit like in the scen). The road runs in NE direction so using Google maps seem to be out of the question right now. However I have accurate 1:100,000 topo maps of the area, and could use them instead.

(Back in the day, I made a huge map of the area for CMBB. I bit more than I could chew, so it was never finished. Fortunately, there's now a limit of 4 square kms. [:D])

Also, I'm not sure yet if I really want to duplicate the Prokhorovka scen. There were engagements all over the area. One possibility I'm contemplating is 'Deathride of the 25th Tank Brigade', for a real challenge against Axis AI.

In any case the embanked road was such a divider for the forces that it would be nice if it could be rotated to West-East axis with Google Maps.

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: Keke

In fact I would like to rotate N to NE, which makes it impossible to use heightmap and terrainmap rotation (I guess...).

You would have to create a map probably twice the size you want. Then you get the terrain map and height map and rotate them exactly the same way in a paint program. Then cut them down to the size you want. Use the new terrain map and height map as input for your next map. You don't need the original map after this.

[JJKettunen]

ORIGINAL: Mobius

ORIGINAL: Keke

In fact I would like to rotate N to NE, which makes it impossible to use heightmap and terrainmap rotation (I guess...).

You would have to create a map probably twice the size you want. Then you get the terrain map and height map and rotate them exactly the same way in a paint program. Then cut them down to the size you want. Use the new terrain map and height map as input for your next map. You don't need the original map after this.

Thanks, but is it possible to make a maximum sized map that way?

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: Keke

ORIGINAL: Mobius

ORIGINAL: Keke

In fact I would like to rotate N to NE, which makes it impossible to use heightmap and terrainmap rotation (I guess...).

You would have to create a map probably twice the size you want. Then you get the terrain map and height map and rotate them exactly the same way in a paint program. Then cut them down to the size you want. Use the new terrain map and height map as input for your next map. You don't need the original map after this.

Thanks, but is it possible to make a maximum sized map that way?

The final map has to be square. So you could have whatever size map would fit into the 2km square, which would be somewhat less than 2km. (actually about 1.46 if I recall), if you were rotating it).

Thanks
rick

[JJKettunen]

Damn, maximum size is my minimum. [:D]

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: Keke

ORIGINAL: Mobius

ORIGINAL: Keke

In fact I would like to rotate N to NE, which makes it impossible to use heightmap and terrainmap rotation (I guess...).

You would have to create a map probably twice the size you want. Then you get the terrain map and height map and rotate them exactly the same way in a paint program. Then cut them down to the size you want. Use the new terrain map and height map as input for your next map. You don't need the original map after this.

Thanks, but is it possible to make a maximum sized map that way?

No.
You would have to make 4 maps then resize the height maps to squares then paste them together before rotating them. You could then do a screen capture of a GE map of any size and rotation. The problem would be matching up the terrain map with the height map.

[JJKettunen]

ORIGINAL: Mobius
You would have to make 4 maps then resize the height maps to squares then paste them together before rotating them. You could then do a screen capture of a GE map of any size and rotation. The problem would be matching up the terrain map with the height map.

Thanks! I'm pretty pro with Photoshop, so that shouldn't be a big problem.

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: Keke

ORIGINAL: Mobius
You would have to make 4 maps then resize the height maps to squares then paste them together before rotating them. You could then do a screen capture of a GE map of any size and rotation. The problem would be matching up the terrain map with the height map.

Thanks! I'm pretty pro with Photoshop, so that shouldn't be a big problem.

That's good. Then you know about layers. You can make one layer the grayscale map (obviously resized larger) and another layer your terrain map. So you can match them up and rotate them both at the same angle. Then trim them down to 2000x2000. Then copy your height map to a 129x129 map to be used as height input by MM.

[JJKettunen]

Thanks for the info!

[JJKettunen]

Btw, is it possible to get rid of the inaccurate Google Map roads that just mess the terrain in MM? They are the same as in Google Earth, but one can deselect them in the latter.

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: Keke

Btw, is it possible to get rid of the inaccurate Google Map roads that just mess the terrain in MM? They are the same as in Google Earth, but one can deselect them in the latter.

There is a button toggle to remove roads/labels from the google map. But you need to do that before importing. And in my experience it has always been necessary to draw the roads in myself.

Thanks
rick

[Mad Russian]

It's also pretty easy to simply color out any feature that you don't want in your map, then redo the height map to correct it. I've done that before as well.

Good Hunting.

MR

[JJKettunen]

ORIGINAL: Rick
There is a button toggle to remove roads/labels from the google map. But you need to do that before importing.

Thanks, but for some reason the toggle doesn't work for me. I haven't been able remove roads nor labels.

[junk2drive]

I start MM, scroll wheel zoom in to view an area. If I click the flag button on the lower bar (tool tip Toggle Map Labels), the roads and names no longer appear.

I think google maps might have updated in the last couple of days because my desktop shortcut moved.

[JJKettunen]

As I said, it doesn't work for me. Damn!

Other thing I noticed that 'Return to last imported map location' don't work for me either. It always jumps to an area NE of Kharkov. Am I cursed?*

*Ok, the latter actually works after first import of a session. I thought it could actually remember the last import before a new one.

[JJKettunen]

So in the hands of a noob, 4 sq kms of Prokhorovka Field starts gradually to take shape. View from Hill 252.2 towards north. Only four textures have been added.

[Mad Russian]

Looks very good! Can't wait to see how it ends up.

Good Hunting.

MR