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SimCity 4 General Discussion and Tutorials => SimCity 4 General Discussion => Topic started by: jgehrts on July 16, 2008, 06:44:31 PM

Title: Problem loading a grayscale jpg as a region
Post by: jgehrts on July 16, 2008, 06:44:31 PM
I'm sure I'm missing some really simple step, but here goes:

I have a grayscale terrain map that I'd like to import into SC4.  It's in its own folder in the Regions folder, along with a config.bmp.  So, I load the region and use the ctrl+shift+alt+r and load up my grayscale jpg... but then nothing happens.  None of the rendering each city tile, nothing.  It just sits on the blank terrain that was there originally.

I've successfully loaded terrains before (albeit a long time ago), so I'm not sure what the problem is.  I know that the jpg has the correct dimensions, since the game squawked at me that it wasn't the proper size originally.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Title: Re: Problem loading a grayscale jpg as a region
Post by: sam on July 17, 2008, 04:00:59 AM
Make sure the image file you are using is true greyscale (not 64.7Mil colours using only shades of grey, it must be a 256 pallet). If its not, then use an image editor to change it to greyscale.
Title: Re: Problem loading a grayscale jpg as a region
Post by: jgehrts on July 17, 2008, 05:54:43 AM
That was exactly the problem!  Now I just have to adjust it so the terrain isn't all completely underwater.   ;D
Title: Re: Problem loading a grayscale jpg as a region
Post by: sam on July 17, 2008, 06:53:47 AM
If you have no terrain mods that alter the sea level, then sea level is at a grey value of 86. So use 87 for your lowest land and 84 for any shallow water you want.
Title: Re: Problem loading a grayscale jpg as a region
Post by: wouanagaine on July 17, 2008, 08:04:49 AM
Why don't you use SC4Mapper ? http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=179

Or
SC4Terraformer ? http://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=731
Title: Re: Problem loading a grayscale jpg as a region
Post by: jgehrts on July 17, 2008, 08:38:50 PM
Quote from: wouanagaine on July 17, 2008, 08:04:49 AM
Why don't you use SC4Mapper ? http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=179

Or
SC4Terraformer ? http://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=731

I wish I could use SC4Terraformer, but I get the DirectX error (on both a Vista and an XP machine).  I'm not so sure that downgrading my version of DirectX wouldn't bork some other software I have.   :)  That seems to be the only remaining option, since I've tried everything else in the troubleshooting threads about the app.
Title: Re: Problem loading a grayscale jpg as a region
Post by: Unassigned on July 18, 2008, 12:37:31 AM
Which version of DirectX are you using on the XP machine? I have no problems running SC4 Terrafomer (or anything else for that matter) using the March 2008 redist version (DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904), directx_mar2008_redist.exe).
Title: Re: Problem loading a grayscale jpg as a region
Post by: wouanagaine on July 18, 2008, 01:46:58 AM
Any version of DirectX 9.0c after the one specified in SC4TF should work, as it include all previous versions of various DX dlls

Title: Re: Problem loading a grayscale jpg as a region
Post by: jgehrts on July 18, 2008, 09:39:13 PM
Vista machine uses DirectX 10... XP uses DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904).