Author Topic: ~Gusty's Height Map and Terrain Mask Tutorial~  (Read 6157 times)

Offline krimino

  • Curious Wanderer
  • *
  • Posts: 13
  • Country: us
  • Floof-O-Meter: 0
    • krimino
    • View Profile
~Gusty's Height Map and Terrain Mask Tutorial~
« on: July 17, 2012, 11:42:40 pm »
Hey everyone. SO MANY PEOPLE are asking "How do I make maps?" or "How do I make height maps?"
I'll tell you how to make height maps and terrain masks in this topic, and if you have any questions regarding Map or Object Maker, feel free to ask.

~Height Maps~

Height maps are WAY easier than you think. Here's a short and easy how-to:

1. First you should get Photoshop or Gimp, in this how-to I will refer to Gimp v2

2. Open Gimp, and go to File > New

3. Make a 513 x 513 by typing 513 for height and width.

4. Go to advanced options and click the drop down list next to RGB color and click GRAYSCALE.

5. Use bucketfill to fill the whole thing with any shade between black and white. (NOTE: If you want towering mountains, I suggest you have it as a darker gray. If you want low ditches, make it a lighter shade)

6. Now you're free to draw your height map. Make sure you remember: The lighter the shade, the higher the elevation. The darker the shade, the lower the elevation.

7. When you finish, on the height map window, select File > Save As

8. Name your height map, and click BROWSE OTHER FOLDERS.

9. Go to: C:\ > feral heart > media > terrains (Just leave it like that and minimize "browse other folders"

10. Now go to SELECT FILE TYPE and click ".png"

11. Now save and go to map maker, type (Insert title of heightmap here).png, and modify to your liking.

~Terrain Masks~

1. Open the heightmap you want the terrain mask to fit and copy it.

2. Make a blank 513 x 513 page like you did with the heightmap

3. Go to the "Layers" Window and create a new transparent layer.

4. Paste the heightmap on the new transparent layer.

5. make another transparent layer, and lower the opacity for it down to 70.

6. Click the fill bucket and get PURE BRIGHT RED (or green or blue, but red is the example)

7. Use pure bright green and blue to make the other two terrains.

8. Save the terrain mask EXACTLY like you did the heightmap.

Any questions about map or object maker? Just ask me.
      
Icon by deviantart.com/saltmatey

lizwebb

  • Guest
Re: ~Gusty's Height Map and Terrain Mask Tutorial~
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2012, 07:29:53 pm »
Question about the masking (cuz i can NEVER get that right),with the red layer, to we make a new transparent 70% opacity for green then the same transparent opacity for blue? or all on one layer or what? Cuz i can't get the to look right.

Offline DangusMangus

  • Pack & Pride Representative
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,058
  • Country: lt
  • Floof-O-Meter: 22
  • Most active on my dA
    • CatCoveredInChalk
    • View Profile
Re: ~Gusty's Height Map and Terrain Mask Tutorial~
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2012, 08:05:49 pm »
i think i shall make a video how to make heigh maps and their masks... Reading is anoyng...
In-game - Orchee
deviantART - CatCoveredInChalk



Offline krimino

  • Curious Wanderer
  • *
  • Posts: 13
  • Country: us
  • Floof-O-Meter: 0
    • krimino
    • View Profile
Re: ~Gusty's Height Map and Terrain Mask Tutorial~
« Reply #3 on: January 01, 2013, 11:43:04 pm »
Question about the masking (cuz i can NEVER get that right),with the red layer, to we make a new transparent 70% opacity for green then the same transparent opacity for blue? or all on one layer or what? Cuz i can't get the to look right.

All red, green, and blue are on the same layer. Make a new transparent layer, and set the opacity to about 70%. It's simple, just make sure you color everything.
Icon by deviantart.com/saltmatey

Offline FablesAndMyths

  • Familiar Grounds Dweller
  • **
  • Posts: 88
  • Country: us
  • Floof-O-Meter: 4
    • View Profile
Re: ~Gusty's Height Map and Terrain Mask Tutorial~
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2013, 11:22:05 pm »
Questions; Is it the same if you use Gimp? And I heard you can make a waterfall in Object maker, but I am not sure how. Also, thank you for posting this :)
Profile pic by Bawfle <3

lizwebb

  • Guest
Re: ~Gusty's Height Map and Terrain Mask Tutorial~
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2013, 01:35:12 am »
roxy, i can tell you that it can be done on gimp :D thats all i use & it works perfect