SC4 Devotion Forum Archives

This thread I will use to showcase my new map projects when they are completed and ready for upload. 

My first new map in nearly 3 months completed last night is a re-do of an old map I uploaded nearly a year ago called Sddlaback Bluffs.  The old version was hand-drawn with Paint then rendered the old fashioned way.  This re-do gives the new version a more realistic look than the original.  I will probably upload this map in a couple of days over at ST.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg501.imageshack.us%2Fimg501%2F7577%2Fsaddlebackbluffsrc01lt9.jpg&hash=0185f99bc131e3fbb93519f491c59524bb6e5bbe)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg483.imageshack.us%2Fimg483%2F3028%2Fsaddlebackbluffssc4tfgrvk6.jpg&hash=e4240042ccc55edb424d4350ea4874adca5ab3fc)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg79.imageshack.us%2Fimg79%2F5276%2Fsaddlebackbluffsgridrc0xr8.jpg&hash=835bd1ad0fc01ff3cd365f6dd6e7348689d88d83)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg99.imageshack.us%2Fimg99%2F9125%2Fsaddlebackbluffsrc02sk4.jpg&hash=3c9b6d182105093ac146de45da60e90f9da58103)

The water template on this one looks pretty cool. Also, nice water mod for the pics.

I couldn't have picked it out better myself!

I think it's Pegs Crystal Blue water mod if I remember correctly.  I also use the white sands mod and Pegs gray rock mod along with Cycledog's Olympia Terrain mod.

That is a wonderful map!! :thumbsup:

After spending roughly 65 hours drawing the grayscale for this new map, then another 5 hours smoothing and texturing with SC4TF, my lastest fantasy map has now been completed.  The mountains rise over 15,000 feet in height and features more than a dozen rivers, a couple of lakes and an ocean to west.  I'll let the images below do all the speaking for me.  Enjoy.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg413.imageshack.us%2Fimg413%2F3645%2Fdragonspinemapov10fm7.jpg&hash=37da522dfe1b146c972bf743b7b20a030908072f)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg260.imageshack.us%2Fimg260%2F8485%2Fdragonspinerc02ani3.jpg&hash=0dba8b59cfa0eea14c3d74b70b5e1aca02544c22)

 :thumbsup: &apls that map looks so great and unique

great new map! like the mountain(s) :thumbsup:

thanks for making all these fantasy maps

I like the first map, it looks like it would be easy to build on yet still provide a lot of variety

Here's my latest map that I just finished, a 5x5 lg tile, but haven't named yet.  Anyone have any ideas on that?  It should be available for upload once I finish opening the tile in game for the rendered look.  Thanks for dropping by.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg526.imageshack.us%2Fimg526%2F6717%2Fnewmapgridov01qu7.jpg&hash=a9d64dd861cb74103fabe84ecb9bad0bbec1f93a)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg526.imageshack.us%2Fimg526%2F6717%2Fnewmapgridov01qu7.jpg&hash=a9d64dd861cb74103fabe84ecb9bad0bbec1f93a)

wow this last map is sweet looking Troy.... hmmm what about Lake Tom lol  :D  no really I'm thinking about that pyramid looking mountain, maybe incorporate that somehow? - pat


btw made my 2300 post here........

Thanks patfirefghtr.  I came up with a name finally ;)  Here is the rendered look for the new map which I call Aroknan.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg228.imageshack.us%2Fimg228%2F8959%2Faroknanim9.jpg&hash=de1de5f50b478b9eeb896f8c023cb63fa6d3df6f)

WoW that is a nice map!!!

Damm good map there
right now i am experimenting with a 16 bit RGB hand drawn map only just started it  but it is possilbe to do the same thing using the scaling.

Hi, Troy.

Welcome back.  I've missed you and the chance to chat with you.  It is really good to have you around the forums again.

I see you've retained all your skills as a map-maker and then some!

Your new maps really look great -- as blade2K5 has always done.

It is really FANTASTIC to see that we still have a very nice contingent of our team members still interested in making maps.  Thanks so very much to all for this great boost to our mapping library.

Regards,

Gary

Thanks guys.  It's good to be back and nice to know I still have my magic touch for making maps.  Don't know why, but I just love drawing maps.  Have since I had to do a report on England in the 6th grade and drawing a map of England was part of the report I had to turn in.  Oh, and I got a C on that report if I remember correctly, but it was some 30+ years ago.....

I did a little touching up on this map.  All I have left to do is get the readme put together and zip all the necessary files and it is ready for upload :thumbsup: probably by Monday at the earliest.

EDIT 11-5-07:  Map is now available on the LEX :thumbsup:

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg529.imageshack.us%2Fimg529%2F1489%2Faroknan01dy2.jpg&hash=0c2aea8398a9d297973be274699a1c676f0a43ff)

I just finished up four of several themed standard sized maps [4x4 or 16km x 16km] that I'm planning on uploading as two-for-one packs.  Themes for this series of maps will include regions dominated by lakes, rivers, islands, coastlines and canals to name a few and all will include various terrain elevations for a natural look.  All will be in the fantasy map catagory, though you may find some familiar land/water forms found in RL ;)

The processes involved in the creation of these maps is first hand drawing the grayscale using Paint, then loading the finished grayscale into sc4tf.  I then mess around with raising/lowring the terrain and using the water/talus erosion features until I get a look I'm satisfied with.  Afterwards, I do the usual smoothing and then begin the task of opening the tiles in the game.

These four maps are lake themed, some more plain than others, a couple with distinguished hills and mountain peaks and a couple of volcanic peaks on another.

Map 1
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg117.imageshack.us%2Fimg117%2F4352%2Fnewmap01rcsh6.jpg&hash=37584578f33c0084a48cace48bdfb2447ef1f90c)

Map 2
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg107.imageshack.us%2Fimg107%2F8681%2Fnewmap02rcwl1.jpg&hash=986cd15e225fd55f07efb7488c1020b45fad7497)

Map 3
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg107.imageshack.us%2Fimg107%2F1610%2Fnewmap03rcdn7.jpg&hash=833a0463d3a85f0a9e4b21682bb9ce9dd38c7ff6)

Map 4
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg107.imageshack.us%2Fimg107%2F1710%2Fnewmap04rccf1.jpg&hash=0e180351c3c5f85e10e04b98c7f773a5d88d1276)

Great job  &apls

Hi, Troy.

Meh...  Looks like a bunch of land and water to me...

;D   ;)   :thumbsup:

NOTE:  The above was said in jest just because I can!

Seriously, Troy, it is really great to see you back in the map-making business.  I'm quite impressed with Aroknan.  Your finished product looks very nice.  The latest series of themed maps are also quite nice.  I do like the way youve been able to balance the water areas with the rolling hillsides.  I would imagine any serious region developer will be quite pleased to use these as the basis for developing their region.

Great work!

And, it really is great to see you posting again AND creating excellent maps!

Regards,

Gary

Thanks Vandy.  I'm glad to actually have the time again to make maps and hang out here when I'm online.  Now that my other online activity has gone on hiatus until January, I'll have even more time now.

what would be your other online activity? don't tell me it's WoW or something, i'll cry!

glad to see all the new maps, looking forward to more. the map aroknan, only thing i don't like on it is the pyramid style mountain on the little island in the middle of the water, other than that it's a great map!

Is it possible? Can it be?

I think back to your older projects, and of course they always knocked my socks off (literally). Your performance behind the MSPaint was nothing short of amazing.

But recently, you seemed to have improved a few more steps somehow. I never thought it was possible.

You make bigger (king size) maps, and more detailed at that as of late. It's like the SC4TF was too easy to conquer for you. There is a severe demand for your product right now. It's like, map after map of pure fantasy genius.

I suggest you keep it up! I've some ideas for your skilled hand at the TF tool... we'll definitely be in touch!

dadyrghluv - The reason for the pyramid on that tiny little island was put there because I thought it would look cool with Berethor's pyramids plopped about it ;)

beskhu3epnm - When Paint is all you have to hand draw maps, well, after awhile you get pretty darn good at it, but that will soon change as I'm on the hunt for a much easier imaging program and Heblem has suggested macromedia fireworks 8 and has already sent a tutorial on it ;).  Once I master that, well, let's just say that my mountains will begin to look as cool as Heblem's does :thumbsup:

I'm going to cut back on the massive maps like the Dragonmounts map I uploaded a couple of weeks ago and concentrate on more reasonable-sized maps.  Right now I have 8 4x4 maps done [the last 4 pictured on page one + 4 more not pictured just yet], that will be uploaded as two-packs.

I suggest you get in touch with me about these ideas of yours ;) on Sun or Mon this week as I'm off work those two days :thumbsup: and will be online as I work more of my magic.

The first NHP Map 2-Pak has just been uploaded to the LEX and features the two maps pictured below, each comes completete in it's own folder with images and config included with the zip file.  Enjoy :thumbsup:

Map 1
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg117.imageshack.us%2Fimg117%2F4352%2Fnewmap01rcsh6.jpg&hash=37584578f33c0084a48cace48bdfb2447ef1f90c)

Map 2
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg107.imageshack.us%2Fimg107%2F8681%2Fnewmap02rcwl1.jpg&hash=986cd15e225fd55f07efb7488c1020b45fad7497)

Hi, Blade.

Excellent maps.  It is so good to see you creating maps again.  You certainly have not lost your touch or your creativity.  Thanks for sharing these beauties!

Regards,

Gary

Thanks again Vandy.  Here's the remaining four new maps I've yet to showcase.  These are the coastline themed maps which will be uploaded as 2-packs in the very near future ;)

Coastline Map 1
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg165.imageshack.us%2Fimg165%2F3485%2Fcoastline01an0.jpg&hash=7bcd2765573e038cb1eaf94c6324746a679bb73d)

Coastline Map 2
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg165.imageshack.us%2Fimg165%2F1073%2Fcoastline02le9.jpg&hash=35fbde231d9dba2d9a5d0761377771f726985b11)

Coastline Map 3
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg165.imageshack.us%2Fimg165%2F329%2Fcoastline03an3.jpg&hash=a46c5464f5a2ff78f1cc3d292e1b7e9461bb28ac)

Coastline Map 4
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg165.imageshack.us%2Fimg165%2F6406%2Fcoastline04hx6.jpg&hash=3d41937c337560a21ca686ab1a45daba2ea75ebd)

no more disapearing on us, because what else we gonna play on, the sea floor? glad to see u doing maps again.

I have just finished the first two island maps in a series of 4 to 6 that will be uploaded as two-packs. 

Anchor Isles:  Anchor Isles were formed tens of millions of years ago through volcanic activity over a hot spot in the planets' crust.  Three ancient craters remain, two forming semi-circular steep ridges, the third has been transformed into a lake.  The youngest, and still very much active periodically, forms the north-western most island and rises over 2000 meters in height.  This map is good for developing seaside resorts, port towns/cities and could be a great map for using ferry's to connect the islands together instead of bridges.

This a re-do of an older map I originally drew with Paint [before SC4TF was available], and uploaded to the STEX on  February 18, 2006 linkie (http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=15069).  In this re-working of this map, I added in four new islands for a total of eight altogether.  This allows those that want easier to accomplish bridge-building to connect the various islands together without having to do a lot of terraforming. 
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg442.imageshack.us%2Fimg442%2F6461%2Fanchorisle2sc4tfgridlw1.jpg&hash=ac2081bbfdab7592698824b3814a0a7db914bedb)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg442.imageshack.us%2Fimg442%2F1407%2Fanchorislesv2rcru7.jpg&hash=c13bbf4f63f4dcda53a0172cd88394a3e37849af)

This map features two islands that were once one island, but due to tectonic plate movements, the island over the last few hundred-thousand years has slowly ripped this island in two, separated by a narrow channel of water.  The western island features five volcanic peaks ranging from 1600 meters to 2000 meters and have been dormant for several thousand years.  The eastern island more jagged ridges and mountain peaks and features the only more recent active volcano in the region.  Though it has erupted in several hundred years, there's always a chance the slumbering giant could re-awaken at any time.  Both islands are rocked by thousands of earthquakes, most of them in the magnitude range of 2 to 2.5 on a daily basis, though quakes with magnitudes of 6.5 to 7.5 can strike the region.  This map was hand-drawn with Paint, then loaded into sc4tf for further terrafoming and touching up.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg91.imageshack.us%2Fimg91%2F2643%2Fislandmap01sc4tfnk6.jpg&hash=ddf805bf1fd8178ba48ff5c24d4fc6cc8a36a944)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg89.imageshack.us%2Fimg89%2F3256%2Fislandmap01rcap8.png&hash=abd21cff72c217ef4d5d5ab98b428b54d97db41d)

This 2-pak will be uploaded at some point today.

Blade those are by far some great maps!!! You are truly a great cartographer  &apls :thumbsup:

I agree, those maps are outstanding &apls. Keep Up the Great Work!

Your Friend;
Mayor Of Steven's Point & Maxiston
(Proud To Be Cities Of Sim Nation!)

Hey, Blade.

You never cease to amaze me with the depth and bredth of your creative talent.  What absolutely gorgeous maps you've created in your latest two offerings.  You've got some pretty serious mountain ranges going on in these maps.

This two map-pak will be a great addition to your already great catalog of maps.

Regards,

Gary

Thanks Vandy, Starman and Pat :thumbsup:  I have many more surprises coming down the pipe soon.  There's a conspiracy afoot, so keep a look-out :thumbsup:

LoL Blade I'm painstakingly awaiting to hear more news on the conspiracy theory's...

In regards to a question by Vandy in another thread, I blew the dust off an old map project I never completely finished to answer that question.  That question was about taking pictures of the stars and turning those into maps for sc4.  Well, since I'm an avid astronomy buff, I took a Hubble photo of a spiral galaxy I downloaded some years back and made a greyscale bitmap from it.  After tinkering with it using Paint, this is what I came up with:

sc4tf view
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg102.imageshack.us%2Fimg102%2F1624%2Fglanwoodsc4tf01ca6.jpg&hash=c52b53e677f9bd68fa77c047617aa2d419f4f125)

sc4tf Sideviews
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg102.imageshack.us%2Fimg102%2F6541%2Fsc4tfsideviewglanwood01ry9.jpg&hash=e484d61a48a0beb0ad01e324714e5b57c6bc0be9)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg406.imageshack.us%2Fimg406%2F5370%2Fsc4tfsideviewglanwood02ni9.jpg&hash=f9bc793d473bc5209f6181aeec2ee9f4ad928340)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg406.imageshack.us%2Fimg406%2F4628%2Fsc4tfsideviewglanwood03mf9.jpg&hash=e6535fb909ae004b64e4e9934862d1c73316b777)

Rendered View
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg102.imageshack.us%2Fimg102%2F9505%2Fglanwoodrc01yp0.jpg&hash=91f81b8abf9cc8bdc8881fce66db432c1a0bc0c7)

Keep in mind this project is still unfinished at this time.  Can't say when it will be as other projects have come up that take precedent over this one.  Any ideas or suggestions would be welcomed though as I'll continue to tinker with it when I can.

Nice one :)

i like this map, although the point being so....pointy in the middle looks to me like a pencil sticking out of the ground...a really BIG pencil that is. dont change a thing about the surrounding area's, it has a nice smooth natural swirl with jagged edges like apearance to it, like nature intended it that way so to speak. it looks like mud when u throw something in it, like a rock. that surrounding area like crater swirl is the shiznit! lol.  :P

I have an idea for the 'pencil peak' in the center of the map as it does look a bit dorky :D

Isn't that cool? I guess you could take an image of anything really, and make a map of it. All you would have to do is adjust the gradients so that the highest points are white, etc.

I take it that was your method here? The results are pretty cool. The more I look at that thing in the center (pencil peak), the less I like it. hahaha!

Hey now, I kinda like the supper massive blackhole induced mountain, it adds a nice touch to the area, almost like a rising volcano.

Quote from: beskhu3epnm on November 26, 2007, 07:22:02 AM
Isn't that cool? I guess you could take an image of anything really, and make a map of it. All you would have to do is adjust the gradients so that the highest points are white, etc.

I take it that was your method here? The results are pretty cool. The more I look at that thing in the center (pencil peak), the less I like it. hahaha!

What I did was take the color image, loaded it up with Irfanview, switched the image to greyscale, re-sized it to suit my preferences, then opened the greyscale with Paint and went to work on it.  After getting rid of all the star points that were not needed in the map [would have ended up with pencil thin mountain peaks which would have looked silly], and afterwards opened it up with sc4tf to see what I had so far.  The pic above in my previous post are the results.  Now of course, things may have been easier if I had had a better imaging program back then, but Paint can work wonders if you're a master at it like I am :P

You seemed to be the only one using paint at the time that managed incredible success with it. The fact that you still use it today is a testament to your skill and patience. To be able to visualize what a slightly lighter color of grey will look like in 3D takes a great mind. Thankfully, I was spoiled by the terraformer early on, otherwise my exit from mapping would have happened a long time ago!

Also, you can import 8bit images to TF and apply the elevation scale, right? But rather than do that, you should begin using the compressor sometime... It works wonders for maps, and will offer you great ideas...

Keep it up, you are a machine!

To be able to visualize a slightly lighter shade of gray from another doesn't take a great mind, just a set of rally good eyes :P :D   As for importing 8-bit images into TF and apply elevation scales is something I've never heard of...what I do is change the RGB codes for each layer of gray I lay down in Paint.  I figured that out a long time ago by making city maps for SC3KU. ;)  I still haven't figured out the compression tool yet, every time I open the NHP terraformer, all I get is a black map, even after making sure the shadows were turned off and it does this with every map I've loaded so far.  So for now, I'm using the one I had before until I can figure out the 'black' map issue.

Oh, and I intend to 'keep it up' Travis :D  Like I said, I have lots of map ideas swirling about inside my head :P

black map even if the map is mountaineous ???
If the map is flat and at an elevation which is a multiple of 10 it is black, but as soon as you change the elevation it should not be black anymore

Yes, even if it is mountainous...what I'll do is take a screen shot and post it here in a couple of days.....

I'm back to a full work week with one day down and four more to go...did ok tonight...went on 18 deliveries [between 4-9:30pm], burned half a tank of gas and came home with $80 in tips in my pocket ;)

and what happen if you press the 'g' key to switch between grid and contour lines mode ?

good tips :)

i take it blade is a delivery guy. 80$ total, now deduct 30 for gas for that half tank, and u made $50 bills my friend. can i borrow some money? ROFL j/k :P

Wou, I haven't tried the 'g' key to switch between contour lines and grid.  I'll have to try that, thanks.

dadyrghluv, Yes, I'm a delivery driver for Pizza Hut :thumbsup: and yes, I'll have to subtract about $25 for gas :thumbsdown:.  Ever since Wisconsin put that ethanol in our regular gas, I've been burning gas like it's water and losing roughly 10 miles to the gallon :angrymore: which means I filling up a lot more often than I did before :thumbsdown:

just another tool for u to spend more money on gas these days. here where i live it's $3.20 a gallon and going up.

sorry i'm being off topic  &cry2.

what does wou mean by using the "G" key for contour lines or grid? does he mean in SC4T or in the actual game? i wasn't aware u could use the "G" key in SC4T thats why i ask.

Standard in the Terraformer, you will see contour lines in the map editing screen. By pressing the *G* key, this switches to the standard grid found in previous versions, and found in SC4. Same key as in SC4 to remove the grid as well!

And Wou's suggestion worked!  Thanks Wou for the tip :thumbsup:

So that is due to your graphic card not supporting the shader, which card you own ?

SC4T needs shader 2.0 right? most cards of yesterday have that version and are supported. if u don't have that version at the least, u need a new card my man &idea lol.

I have no idea what kind of graphics card I have....I'm not that knowledgeable on the inner workings of pc's  :( but as long the 'g' key works,  I'll worry about a new one later...have too many other things I need to purchase first before I begin upgrading my new pc.

think of it as an early xmas gift to yourself lol.

to find out which card u do have, do the following:

right click my computer
go to properties
click the hardware tab
click device manager
click the "+" next to display adapters

this should be your graphics card. if need be right click it in the hardware manager, and checjk your driver version. it's handy to know how to find what graphics card u have and what driver ver. u are running, incase u ever have a problem, u will be able to identify it rather quickly.

if u want the short answer, just go to:

start
run
type in "dxdiag" and let it run, when finished it will tell u all the info about your computer including hardware, and if any conflicts are arrising. if u want u can copy and save to your desktop or a different folder of ur choosing.

hopen this helps some.  :thumbsup:

Thanks...my graphics card is a Radeon X1650.

X1650? That definitely shouldnt be giving you any issues at all. Should prolly check and update the drivers for it.

much agree'ed kitsune, thats a pretty good card considering. more than likey its the drivers. ATI drivers are famous for not working correclty with SC4, why idk. they just hate this game lol. glad i could point u in the right direction. :thumbsup:

head to ATI site, and update the drivers when u can, remember to remove the old ones first, or it may cause issues.

The X1650 should not be giving you an issue at all, it's a SM3.0 card!

I use the exact same video card, and apart from huge areas of black in areas that, as Wou said, happen to be located at 10m intervals, it works just fine. :P

QuoteATI drivers are famous for not working correclty with SC4

The newest ones are. However, the old, old ones work just fine. It most likely has something to do with code that ATI cards don't like running/aren't supported properly by those cards. It's why some games run better on nVidia hardware, vice versa for ATI.

I think the large black section you all speak of is basically just one big contour line. Press the *G* key to switch to the grid and it's gone!

Another alternative would be to raise the terrain 0.01m, making the flat terrain at 10m intervals not a 10m interval anymore, removing the contour line.

X1650 is very much the twin to my 7600GT, and I have no problems! The black section is there if I use the contour lines.

Here you go besk.....the template for the Archipelago Map (http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/3752/archipalegomapde4.jpg) :thumbsup:  Now go work your magic....any questions give me a holler ;D

That area looks kind of familiar... it wouldn't look out of place in South-East Asia. :P

looks almost like the horn of africa. is this gonna be a mountanious region? whats the plans for this map, i'm just curious.

 $%Grinno$%  Neither guess was right.  It's actually different parts of my D&D map that I pieced together into what you saw.  It's going to be an archipelago type map.  More details to follow soon ;)

Just finished another map, a re-visit to Map 52 and 'rendered' with Heblem's San Faraway terrain mod :P  Lemme know what you think.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg228.imageshack.us%2Fimg228%2F1787%2Fmap52v2rc01oq7.jpg&hash=19aeb4362d0b6c811dfa961cd45e7f6731efbf63)

besk, I did a redo on the archipelago map, made some slight changes and have uploaded a new greyscale template here (http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2721/archipalegomapjt7.jpg).  Here's a sc4tf overview pic.....
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg222.imageshack.us%2Fimg222%2F8108%2Farchipelagosc4tfov01fl4.jpg&hash=e753165a49b9a50826bf35144b18c1606528beb2)

I have the ground elevation set at 273M and the ocean floor [for the time being], at 228M and I'd like to keep whatever mountains/ranges you splice in under 5000M.  Also, 33 of the 54 total tiles are playable.  I can't wait to see what this looks like when the mountains have been added and the seafloor re-terraformed...this is going to be a really cool map.

Oooh!

You don't mind if I give it a try? :P

In all seriousness, I like how this map looks so far... it'll provide a nice challenge to people.

(edit: LOL, that was post 1000 for me)

MAP 52 is looking good. has alot of potential for high wealth areas, due to the water. i will say i don't particularly care for the terrain mod used, :-[ but thats a matter of personal choice. just looks too "sandy" or desert like to me.

like mcdonalds, "i'm lovin it"

Quotejust looks too "sandy" or desert like to me.

I used that mod because it made the 'buttes' stand out and also they looked more realistic to the type of buttes I've seen in my lifetime.  Also, for the region I'm currently developing at the moment, it requires that mod and I'm to lazy to switch it with another right now :P

QuoteYou don't mind if I give it a try?

Play with it all you want to. :thumbsup:  If you add your 'terraforming' touch to it, it'll be a version #2 [and that's a good thing], as besk and I are finished minus the rendering. Here's an overview image from sc4tf:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg509.imageshack.us%2Fimg509%2F8878%2Farchipelagoov03afx5.jpg&hash=ee709999de966d618d9ef9b412d5ff2ea33c9389)

As you can see the landscape has changed dramatically, but that's due to trying to keep the original size of the real-world mountains besk plopped in.  I then added a little more flat shoreline along the northern chunk of land and re-terraformed the sea floor by using the valley, canyon and crater tools at a strength of around 14 and smoothed at a strength of 20.  I'm sure besk will explain the finer details ;) of his participation in this joint project ;D

We'll definitely say that Besk is addicted to mountains.  ;D

It looks great, though.

Real good looking Mountains there Blade, I'm just lurking and looking at a few of these maps u guys are doing they are looking great! Might download some of them into my region and use them.

Your Friend;
Mayor Of Steven's Point & Maxiston
(Proud to be cities of Sim Nation!)

Here's my render of the new map using the San Faraway mod, beskhu3epnm is doing one using the columbus terrain mod and I may do another using the olympic terrain mod before we upload this new project.  Now all we need is a name for it......
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg214.imageshack.us%2Fimg214%2F953%2Farchipelagodesertrc01dc4.jpg&hash=e1295577f8f3f20f1671dd41d53e7bad9ce0ca42)

 &apls  &apls  &apls this is nice.

how big is it? i'm geussing its a 6x9 telling from the SC4T pic. gonna be another tough map to build on...NICE!!

6x9 is correct, good call dadyrghluv. It's one of my more aggressive projects in terms of adding RL mountains. The 3D looks quite flashy if you nagivate in SC4TF.

If you check out SA's thread, he has some custom colors going on for the SC4TF. I got mine too, and we're thinking of releasing them as some sort of package...

What about Shattered Isles as a name?

Shattered Isles it is......I like that.....heh heh...I'm playing hookie from work right now :thumbsup:

I re-opened and saved the tiles for this map using the Olympic Terrain Mod with dogfight's Dark Limestone Rock Mod.  This should be available for download by later today or sometime tomorrow.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg529.imageshack.us%2Fimg529%2F1641%2Farchipelago2az1.jpg&hash=b3d6fc9f9e349cf8cf02e34020a46ccfb4774f0d)

Earlier this afternoon, besk gave me a quick run-through on how to use the compressor tool in sc4tf.  Well, after fooling around with it for a while, I decided to make a new map.  This is what I came up with:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg212.imageshack.us%2Fimg212%2F7522%2Fcraterdalerc2azv1.jpg&hash=58a5010b5db8952ab9a61a4296718ab172603925)

After loading the greyscale into sc4tf at default level, I then opened the compressor tool and set the minimum elevation to 100m, the unchanged elevation to 271M and highest elevation to 1800M and the pic above is the result.  I smoothed a little too much on the crater rim and may reopen the original grayscale and do it over again, but this turned out pretty good for my first 'compressor' map.

Very nice, I like the crater shape
And now you and I owe Besk for the compressor idea !

That we do :D 

looks like something really nasty happened there some many years ago, like a meteor. oooch!

yea i would say the edges are too smooth for being a crater, but it's still a very good attempt for your first try. this map would make for an interesting story in a CJ or a MD, wink wink &idea

EDIT:to me it looks like after many years of decay from winds, it has smoothed itself out over the eons of time. which is very posible, so the smoothness could stay if u wanted it to. its a matter of personal taste at this point.

Ooooooh wow Blade those maps are something else!!! Great job on these and i love the crater!!

@Pat - Thanks.  Ever since besk explained how the compressor worked, I've been messing with it almost continuously for the past two days. :P

@dadyrghluv - Yes, the crater is actually a real place, except not here on Earth fortunately.  I get the hint and no, I'm not doing another cj like my previous one, if I do another, it'll basically be to showcase my building style.....dense urban areas ;)

Here is another of my 'compressor' maps, this one a re-invisioning of an older map named Erewhon Isles and gave it a more natural look.  It's a 5x4 map, stretched a bit from it's original size and I have to say the results were stunning.  This new version is so much more realistic than the original.

SC4TF Airplane View
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg444.imageshack.us%2Fimg444%2F2540%2Feiside04yq3.jpg&hash=3a18644447564ffa9e4f58e5b38b5a39fced2132)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg444.imageshack.us%2Fimg444%2F5855%2Feiside03qk4.jpg&hash=5350e285caf83ba45dc6bc79f39714d61a2df5b9)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg149.imageshack.us%2Fimg149%2F9435%2Feiside02rl3.jpg&hash=ae1d19ce0489a2940228daa3762262f14ce1d53c)

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg149.imageshack.us%2Fimg149%2F971%2Feiside01uf7.jpg&hash=883145bc9afde8a898b50c0f88f7e632d846f258)

SC4TF Overview
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg147.imageshack.us%2Fimg147%2F7769%2Feiov01qy3.jpg&hash=9c411c8bf46cf23bb1460bb0f9dc31c80f026bfa)

Region Census View
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg149.imageshack.us%2Fimg149%2F9192%2Feirc01na5.jpg&hash=c927234ade78ab45c4ab6b6c9fc32008e6368d72)

Blade that is stunning!!!  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Great map, it reminds me of a stylized Antarctica...

wow, stunning ! I love the mountains  :thumbsup:

I really like the last map because of the plateaus.  Great job on this one.

Robin   :thumbsup:

@ Pat - Thanks again. ;D  I hope to upload this new version and some of my other finished maps within the next couple of weeks, but now that I've figured out how to use the compressor for sc4tf and Automap, I have several dozen new maps that are either finished [I finished 7 more last night, all 4x4's], getting worked on or old projects getting a re-do.

@kitsune - Thanks ;D and yes, it is a template of Antartica minus the ice shelf.  I had originally drew the template out by hand for a D&D map [yes, I'm an avid D&D player, have been playing since '79], liked the shape of the continent and decided to transfer it to sc4 as a map.  I'm glad you like it.

@wou - Thanks wou!  If it wasn't for your genius :satisfied:, these great maps couldn't be done to this extent and we wouldn't be sitting here googling over these maps.

@ rooker1 - Thank you, ;D I like the plateau's myself, adds for some interesting developing.

More pics of new maps to come soon......

excellent work on the last map, I like a lot the islands with mountains    &apls
Hope to see more soon! 

Quoteexcellent work on the last map, I like a lot the islands with mountains     &apls
Hope to see more soon!

Thank Berethor ;D  I'm glad you liked the Erewhon Isles map...it would most likely good good with your pyramid lots :thumbsup:

Ok, I have a 3rd map finished and ready for upload, but because I do want to 'flood' the market with too many maps at once, I thought I'd let you, my fans, friends and supporters, decide which of the 3 maps gets uploaded first.  Here are the 3 candidates:

The first map for consideration, Map 51, is the latest of the re-vamping of my old hand-drawn with Paint maps that I've opened up in sc4tf and tinkered with.  I used the compressor tool a couple of times and then had to smooth this out because the elevation variations were just a tad to obvious.


SC4TF Overview
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg518.imageshack.us%2Fimg518%2F8057%2Fmap51ov01mt5.jpg&hash=58db1c05a42a3dbddec12f8c56dfdd5da3df8a4c)

Satellite View
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg211.imageshack.us%2Fimg211%2F395%2Fmap51rc01il3.jpg&hash=823b51c5953d42741471e34ca6644b496f0ce373)


The second map for consideration is Map 52, another re-vamp of an older map and basically did the same thing with this as I did Map 51 when tinkering with in SC4TF....

SC4TF Overview
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg261.imageshack.us%2Fimg261%2F538%2Fmap52ov1fx9.jpg&hash=83a8926bad5c591e3c8e50b95a25a1f9a016f1f5)

Satellite View
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg228.imageshack.us%2Fimg228%2F1787%2Fmap52v2rc01oq7.jpg&hash=19aeb4362d0b6c811dfa961cd45e7f6731efbf63)


And the final map for consideration is Erewhon Isles, another re-vamp of an alder map.  The same techniques were used on this map as Map 51/52, but raised the elevation of the mountains much higher than the original had.  I also think this version looks way better than the original.

SC4TF Overview
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg147.imageshack.us%2Fimg147%2F7769%2Feiov01qy3.jpg&hash=9c411c8bf46cf23bb1460bb0f9dc31c80f026bfa)

Satellite View
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg149.imageshack.us%2Fimg149%2F9192%2Feirc01na5.jpg&hash=c927234ade78ab45c4ab6b6c9fc32008e6368d72)

You'll have until midnight, U.S. EST, December 31st to get your pick posted.  Whichever map gets the most nods will be uploaded on New Years Day as my first new map [of many, many more to come ;) ], of the year. 

Thanks for dropping by and enjoy!

one nod for Erewhon Isles to get uploaded first!!!

Second would be 51

third would be 52

Erewhon! It's nowhere special... :P

Ok, Erewhon Isles has now been uploaded to the LEX and STEX and is available for your dl'ing pleasure :thumbsup:

Ooh, Erewhon looks great! Glad you uploaded it, because I've been looking for an island map to use and I couldn't find one that had what I needed, but this one has it all. Great work!

-- John

Thanks DFire870.  This happens to be one of my personal favorites and i couldn't resist re-vamping this old map with sc4tf from he original grayscale I drew in Paint.  I hope you enjoy developing it and thanks again for dl'ing.

I thought I'd share my latest map on the fast track to being completed, one that I have been working on off and on all day.  This one is a 7x7 large tile region that features a peninsula with a piece of the mainland surrounded by various sized islands.  I started the drawing of this map on paper using a .001 fine point black marker [I can write readable newspaper-sized text with this pen...thing cost me $10], then scanned the black white to my pc and began the greyscale transformation using Paint, as I like to draw my mountains and rivers/lakes in. 

The two pics below show the first two stages of the project after the scan.  The first was taken just after I finished Painting in the water and land.  The second was taken after I had drawn in some hills and mountains and is where the productions sits at the moment.  With this map, I hope to get the right mix of flat to mountains/hills, so at the moment, what hills/mtns added are not permanent.

If any of my NHP partners wanna lend a hand...well, you know what to do :D

Update time on the new map which I think I'll call Barsalon...has a nice ring to it :satisfied: and I have two more sc4tf overview shots of the last two stages of development.  In stage 3 as you can see in the pic below, I drew in some new terrain features including a crater on the northern most island and dotted the peninsula and isles with hills and small mountains.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg230.imageshack.us%2Fimg230%2F4473%2Fbarsalonov03cz0.jpg&hash=81afd7975c111cf7dd3575be479ae3f5b1b9b5ce)

As you can see in the pic below, the north-eastern section of the map has transformed to a more detailed area and is beginning to take shape. I raised the elevation around the hills in that area, sat back awhile and just stared at it, pondering what to do next.  Then I noticed the three inlets leading into the western-most bay and imagined a river flowing down from the hills and branching into a delta area.  Once done with that, I sat back again for a bit and stared at my handywork and did a little more pondering on what direction to go next.  For some reason, some old Nat Geo map image of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers came to mind and the second river to the west was quickly drawn in.  Also, the crater now has a small pond in it's center ;)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg178.imageshack.us%2Fimg178%2F3301%2Fbarsalonov04uh1.jpg&hash=bb6471de7b83bb5f0732ccc9fb566b52bc031fb9)

wow really nice map looks like greece ;D  &apls

This is shaping up very well so far. I wonder what the final result would be...

Troy that is looking real sweet, now where's the airplane view lol....

Ok, got another update on the Barsalon map.  I've been feverishly trying to get it done tonight, but it doesn't look like it will be done until later in the week.  For now though, I've gotten beyond the drawing stage and am now working on it with sc4tf.  The first two pics are the final two stages of drawing the map using Paint and the third is what I've gotten done so far in sc4tf.

WOW!

Your technique is flawless. I find it amazing how you started from such a simple template and have morphed it into what you have there... &apls &apls &apls

Dito What Besk said.....

Wow, it really comes nicely !

Thanks to all NHP teammates and Pat for the kind words on this new map project and Heb's is right, it does kinda look a bit like Greece.  And no Besk, my technique isn't flawless, I just happen to be very good at hand drawn maps...after all, I've been drawing maps for more than 3 decades ;) [started when I was 12 and had to draw a map of the British Isles for a 6th grade report on England I had to do :satisfied:]  Oh, and I hope your lower jaw is ok from hitting the floor :D  Shadow, I hope you like how this turned out ;)  Now, without further adieu....


I should have the RC image up Fri afternoon or Fri night ;)  Thanks for dropping by and taking a peek :thumbsup:

And as promised, here's the RC image :)

Beautiful map, I think it will be very playable too!  :thumbsup:

oooooooh Troy that is just wonderful!!! very good job there  &apls :thumbsup: &apls :thumbsup: &apls

Thanks Pat and Ennedi for the kind reviews :thumbsup:  I hope this map is very playable and user friendly, I designed it to be that way.  We will soon find out I guess. :P

I just finished doing some touch-ups on the new map and began to wonder if maybe I should add in a few more isles or leave it as is?  What do you guys and gals think?  Other than that, the map is finished and ready to be packaged up.....oh, and Beskhu3epnm ;D will break it down for me into a series of mini-maps that will be packaged together as a mega-pak for those that prefer smaller maps to play on. :thumbsup:  Stay tuned for further developments :)

Its great as it is Troy, Don't you dare do a thing to it....

Yes, that map is looking really beautiful! Fantastic work on it!! :thumbsup:

Thanks Pat :thumbsup:  Thanks bat :thumbsup:  Barsalonia is now available for your downloading pleasure at a LEX or STEX near you :P  Let me know how it plays for thos who dl it.  Thanks for dropping by and enjoy :thumbsup:

Amazing! &apls &apls

I think I'm going to use it for my next region. I'm going to skew it up and to the right a little because if you do that then you would get almost perfect map division. Without small edges of the land mass going over to the next map

Thank you.

I just recently started developing the Barsalonia map myself, but with a twist.  Instead of doing the whole region at once, I broke it down into 5 sections, a 4x4, 3x4, 3x3 and two 3x2's and am currently developing the 4x4 north-eastern section.  It's been a fun map to build cities on and hope that you have as much fun working on it as I have so far. :thumbsup:

Ok, the Barsalonia Mini-Map Pak has been uploaded exclusively to the LEX :thumbsup: 

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg166.imageshack.us%2Fimg166%2F7734%2Fbarsaloniabreakdownke4.jpg&hash=0d9f57b6a441848ef78f3871eee62cd2f26dc4bd)

That looks real good there Blade!!! Great job on those maps buddie..

nice maps!  :thumbsup: i like the shape of the islands

Thanks guys ;D  That north-eastern sector of the map is the one I've been developing and posting pics of in the show us your region pics thread.  I may also break the Dragonmounts map as well [it's an 11x14 larg tile map], but I may have to upload that in two packs as it's a 9+mb map.  If I do, I'll be posting the news here ;)

This is a fantastic group of maps.  You really have done a great job on these.
&apls
Robin :thumbsup:

Thanks Robin :thumbsup:

Hi, Blade.

You've done a very nice job "chunking" up your Barsalonia map.  I must say that your method of doing so sure looks familiar...   &idea

Seriously, though, I do like your map.  Great work!

Regards,

Gary

Fantastic work on these new maps there! Great ones! :thumbsup:

Ok, after two classes with Heblem, I now know how to take DEM data and transfer it to 16bit greyscale and have just completed my first accurately scaled map ;D  which just happens to be the area where I was born and raised.  The place in question is Santa Barbara California and the map is 8x5 larg tiles, encompassing Santa Barbara, Montecito, Carpenteria, Goleta, Isla Vista and Winchester Canyon areas.  Also featured are La Cumbre and Cathedral peaks, San Marcus Pass and parts of the Santa Ynez River and Lake Cachuma.  Here's a pic of the rendered map, the overview image will be posted later on.

Regonal View:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg409.imageshack.us%2Fimg409%2F4461%2Fsantabarbararc01he3.jpg&hash=15c4e024cc5f6094e8f98b1d239e979e7d553d92)

Terraformer Overview:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg245.imageshack.us%2Fimg245%2F3350%2Fsantabarabaraov01vk1.jpg&hash=baa60f11afafae647326f8fdb04e65c530912548)

This map will be available for dl sometime tonight.  Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Thats sweet looking Troy and do you plan on Tom / Lake Tom / Pine Lake / Rhinelander by a chance lol... Cant wait for the overview tonight....

Excellent work Troy!!!  :thumbsup: I hope you represent more NHP by this new knowledge  :) Thats an amazing map, great job!

Awesome work my friend.  I'm glad to hear that you now know how to make DEM data accurate maps.  Very cool.  It looks soooo detailed.
Robin  :thumbsup:

Don't worry Hebs, you time and effort will not be wasted ;)  NHP will most definitely reap the benefits of my new skills ;)  Thanks to you to Pat, I'll be posting the OV pic here in a few minutes as an edit to my above post, just have to shrink it down in size and upload it to Imageshack :thumbsup:

And thank you Robin.  I'm glad you like it

Sweeeeeet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Your welcome Troy I'm glad I could be of some help lol.....