Map Editor

[rickier65]

Mraah,

I actually started with the map.bmp first - Just seemed clearer to me what I needed to do,
the map.bmp is used by program so it knows theres a road, or plowed field (for movement and other game play stuff (I think). And I could check it in the scenario editor to make sure I got right (first few times I kept getting "unkown terrain" message, unitll I went in and typed in the RGB numbers from the legend.

But once thats done, the map will still show a road unless you go in and change the textures. (it will be treated as clear - but just wont look like clear) so what I was trying to do was to get that area to look clear too.

I just went in and wrote myslef a step by step on what I did - and I'm glad I did because I was already forgetting some of thesteps!

I also did a quick test to see if I could add a road too. but wasn't successful. I'll tackle that when I need to add a road.

I sitll have a fair bit of work on map before I start to OOB for Balta,

Thanks!
Rick

[Mraah]

ORIGINAL: Rick
I also did a quick test to see if I could add a road too. but wasn't successful. I'll tackle that when I need to add a road.

Yeah, adding roads is what drove me crazy .. so I tossed the idea for later. It appears you need to build a mesh X file. Which, after messing with MS3D and soon the Nem's tool, it could be possible.

Rob

[Stridor]

???? Roads are easy, just mod the png transparencies as needed. You will need to do a direct X mesh if you want something fancy like a road which is cut into or raised above the landscape, otherwise they should be straight forward.

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: Mraah



Yeah, adding roads is what drove me crazy .. so I tossed the idea for later. It appears you need to build a mesh X file. Which, after messing with MS3D and soon the Nem's tool, it could be possible.

Rob

ORIGINAL: Stridor
???? Roads are easy, just mod the png transparencies as needed. You will need to do a direct X mesh if you want something fancy like a road which is cut into or raised above the landscape, otherwise they should be straight forward.

Well after Stridor shock that I could be dumb enough to not be able to add a road, I took another shot at it.

And what do you know - Adding road wasn't too bad, not quite up to the proffesionals here, but it'll do in a pinch.

Below are step by step for both removing roads, and adding roads, for those that are as new to this as I am:

Editing the road layer png.


Steps 1-10 cover removing Roads, 11 - 17 for adding. (There may be easier ways to do this, but this is what I

did)

1. For removing roads: Open the ping file with gimp

Should see a grayscale image with bright highlights some of those highlights are features you want to

remove.

2. From Gimp menubar:

Layer ---> Mask ---> Add Layer Mask (adds a Mask that allows non-destructive editing of transparency)

3. In the Add a Layer Mask dialog, from list of options for initializing layer mask, choose:

Transfer Layers Alpha channel then click Add at botton of dialog.

4. The image will look subtly different (maybe more contrast? but you can see a change) and you are now back at

the editing window

5. You can use the + key on number pad to zoon image for good control. and start editing using the paint brush

tool. Or you might switch to another tool I used both paint brush and the airbrush tool just randomly. Note I

started painting with foreground color which was black (or atleast very dark - I didn't set it it was there

already)

6. when you're finished, choose file save as (so you can give it a new name) and hit Save.

7. NOTE: you'll get a warning that youre about to save a layer mask as a png and that this will not save visible

layers - go anead and hit Confirm.


8. You'll then get a Export File dialog that says the png plugin can't handle layer masks and that you need to

"export" it. Go ahead and click on export.

9, Next you get the Save as PNG dialog, I just kept all defalut settings including compression setting -

settings checked are: Save background color
Save resolution
Save creation time
Save color values from transparent pixels
Compression Level 9 (I think this is highest).

10 press save and you're done

11. Adding a road to the mask - Open your road Mask png file in Gimp.

12. Make sure your foreground color is white., then zoop the image so you can draw close to where you want the

road.

13. I used the air-brush tool with a small diameter (03) circle tip. But may try some otherss. Start drawing

on your road mask ping file. Practice with a your "look" by trying a few differntstyles to get what you want.

14. When you're done, you should see "white" paths for your new roads, that look similare to the existing road

network.

15. File --> save as, replace if prompted, or give new file name if you want. (if you do a file save - it just

saves over existing with defalut settings)

16. In the Save as Png dialog, accept defaults: Save background color, save resolution, save creation time,

save color values from transparent pixels and compression level 9 are all checked.

17. Press Save again.

Now load into into the game to see if it's what you want and edit as needed.


Thanks guys.

Rick

EDIT - Step three changed to transfer alpha layer rather than rather than just alpha layer. I found than each iteration of editing would fade the dirt areas slightly (didn't notice until they almost disappeared.

[Stridor]

Well done, remember these are still very early days, the game has been out just 2 weeks. Looks like you guys are climbing the learning curve without too much difficulty at all.

Regards

S.

[rickier65]

When you're in Scene Edit, and you pull up the map.bmp to edit the LOS-AI map, is there a way to get back to the "scene.xml" image without leaving scene edit and then loading it again?

Thanks,
Rick

[rickier65]

Another question for Scen Edit -

Is there a way to copy a group of objects and place them in another location. I was moving trees individually on a map revision and I double clicked on one tree to select it, and When I started draggin it, I noticed a whole group of trees moving. (In fact some of the trees I'd just placed). So I ended up leaving that tree alone.

But in another part of the map I wanted to put a cluster of trees, but I tried celecting various trees in an existing cluster, that I could copy. I finally grabbed about a half dozen, but when i went to destired location and pressed paste , and then g fro gravity, nothing showed up.

So just wonering if this is possible, and if so, how to do it.

Thanks
Rick

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Rick
When you're in Scene Edit, and you pull up the map.bmp to edit the LOS-AI map, is there a way to get back to the "scene.xml" image without leaving scene edit and then loading it again?

Just click on the "map.bmp" menu and uncheck the "visible" entry.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Rick
Is there a way to copy a group of objects and place them in another location. I was moving trees individually on a map revision and I double clicked on one tree to select it, and When I started draggin it, I noticed a whole group of trees moving. (In fact some of the trees I'd just placed). So I ended up leaving that tree alone.

If you select the group of objects in the list, then on the map (double click) and then hold down the Control key, you can move the entire group.

[Mad Russian]

Are maps season sensitive? Are they only made for one season or can the season on a map be changes to match the season you choose for the scenario?

Good Hunting.

MR

[Stridor]

Maps are season fixed.

Having said that once you have made your map the work required to change the season or time of day etc is far far less than the work required to make the map in the first place.