Author Topic: Finishing touches to height map  (Read 2907 times)

Offline DarkZodiac

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Finishing touches to height map
« on: May 29, 2012, 05:20:34 pm »
So, I've just finished my very first height map, using photoshop 7.0. Done it by 513, 513 and 75. I watched a tutorial on Youtube, but it was not every clear on the uploading and stuff. I think you have to make a terrain mask? I have no idea what to do next!  :-\
Thanks for readin'.  :D
Darkness Breaks, The Moon Awakes...

CloudFish

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Re: Finishing touches to height map
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2012, 06:00:37 pm »
http://www.feral-heart.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=33

Basically, after creating a height map, you should try to load it in feral heart, then attempt the mask.

Height maps must be
 513 width by 513 height pixels
one layer
greyscale
no alpha channel (dont think have to worry about in photoshop)
and png type file.

Mask tutorial is also in above pasted link.


Offline StarWarsWolf7

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Re: Finishing touches to height map
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2012, 06:38:54 pm »
Yes make sure your file was grayscale instead of color, 513 by 513, and save it as a png file. Go into feralheart and test the height map by opening up the map maker. I suggest actually saving the height map as an actual map so you get the map folder in the terrains. Then, yes; you will make your terrain mask. Basically for this, you will need to have a 513 by 513 canvas again. Open up your height mask, copy it, and paste it on the new 513 by 513 canvas, which should be set back to color. Anchor the layer and then you will need to make three "pure" colors; blue, red, and green. They are called pure colors because they don't have any other trace of color (So they will show up as, for example, 0 blue 0 red and 255 green for green).  Make a new layer over your height map, and turn the transparency down in order to trace. I normally have the transparency down to about 60% so I can see everything on my height map. Usually I fill the new layer with blue first, then use the red and the green afterwards. Once you have you terrain mask finished, delete the bottom layer and turn the transparency of your new layer back to 100%. I suggest going over with the blur tool to make sure everything is not too jagged. Now, save your file as a jpg first and then as png; this flattens out the image for you. Make sure you save both of the files in your map folder, which should be located in terrains. I hope this helped you out; it was a lot to explain xD!

Offline DarkZodiac

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Re: Finishing touches to height map
« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2012, 04:56:44 pm »
Thanks! I saved it as a .png file, but when I go into FH map maker, its not there? Do you know why?  :-\  What do you mean by 'saving it as an actual map'? Sorry... xD
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CloudFish

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Re: Finishing touches to height map
« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2012, 10:37:17 pm »
What they mean is;

Open up map maker:

Save your map (With no altered height map or mask) and it should appear in the list of maps in map maker that you can load.

Move your height map PNG into FH>Media>Terrains>(YourmapName)Folder.

Once both mask and height map are in there, you can open up map maker, go to the second tab, and enter the name of your height map and masks into their respected boxes.

Offline StarWarsWolf7

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Re: Finishing touches to height map
« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2012, 06:09:07 pm »
Right. Ugh sorry it's hard to explain that whole process without being too confusing. I hope it works a little bit better for you now LOL