Heightmaps

Started by LoU-Cipher · 8 posts · 1,100 views

  1. #1
    Does anyone know how to get BF-1942 heightmaps into BattleCraft Vietnam?

    for those who dont know:
    Heightmaps= Ground/Terrain only
  2. #2
    Raze does, but so far every BF42 customized map I have loaded crashes my system. Still something not right about it.
  3. #3
    When i try exporting and importing a heightmap from BF42 to BFV, it just makes the land all different levels. Almost as if the heightmap is full of static. I haven't tried all the options it gives yet, i think i only tried 8bit. So if Raze wants to save me some testing... is it 16bit? 24bit?
  4. #4
    16 bit from my experience. The heightmap doesn't seem to import 100%. I'm in the process of making the map Battleaxe_wetlands. My first incarnation was 512x512 but that one seems to take on average of about 5 minutes to load. Unacceptable in my opinion. I opened the heightmap in photoshop and cropped it down to the actual 256x256 area that is the battlefield. I didn't realize the wasted landscape in the original bf maps. But anyways, it appears to work (loads in about 1 minute), but by editing it in photoshop tends to "alter" the heightmap a bit. It can make a smooth area rough. The trick right now is to get my guadalcanal map to load faster, i have to use the 512x512 on that one. I didn't realize the island was so large...

    Additional information: For faster maps, use less overgrowth. That way the map doesn't have to process so much. I haven't seen performance problems with the undergrowth feature. Go figure. Also, for those that are trying to hide in the dense overgrowth are sitting ducks for a sniper due to the terrain not being drawn yet.
  5. #5
    After some testing,we got Curse of Skull Island into BFV. It did make it kinda rough, but it wont take long to fix at all.

    I took the Heightmap out of BC, which was 1024x1024, then used Ifranview's batch rename/conversion option to turn the .raw into a .bmp, resized it in photostudio 2000 to 512x512, saved as .bmp, then re-converted it into .raw, opened the new .raw in Ifranview and saved it again using the 24 bit option on everything. Sounds harder than it was, but definately was easier than trying to re-draw this Island. That would have been impossible. You can decide if it was worth the effort. :twisted:

    http://www.304mc.com/Screenshots.htm
  6. #6
    Wow, I'm glad i have photoshop, it opens the Raw files where I can crop/resize/etc then re-save.

    :shock:
  7. #7
    A cool little tidbit for you. If you import a heightmap and the water table is too high? For instance, battleaxe that I am working on, originally was a desert map with no water. The battlefield is a real low canyon. when you import the heightmap, thw whole battlefield is under water. YIKES! if you increase the height of the map when you create the map, it makes hills steap and mountains high. Rough terrain non the less.

    Here is the key.

    1) go ahead and leave the default height of .6 most maps in 42 were created on this scale.

    2) Import the heightmap yeah its underwater when you do.

    3) Save

    4) Open the "Archive file editor" under tools and select the .../mapname/init/terrain.con file for editing.

    5) Look for the line "GeometryTemplate.waterLevel 36.000000" this is useally set to 75.000000, mine is 36.

    6) change the number for desired height. takes a little trial and error to get the exact height, but it can be done. Besure to reload your map after every con file edit.

    That's It. Another tidbit from the friendly neighborhood Raze...
  8. #8
    I just use the page-down key, and lower the water that way. or is this something differant?