What am I doing wrong with import of L3DT RAW file

[8thJinx]

I tried importing from L3DT but the neat hilly terrain came in as a flat plain.  Not sure what's wrong.  Here's what I did:

L3DT file was created as 2048x2048, scale 1 = 201.168 (1 pixel = 660 ft or 1/8 of a mile), plus the slider parameters that I don't think are the issue.

I exported the file as format 'RAW', 16 bit unsigned (full scale), 2048x2048, aspect ratio locked.

Imported it into AH3 TE as unsigned RAW file.

Terrain was completely flat, level terrain across the whole map.

[bustr]

Regardless of the terrain size for the MA, the TE work space is 4096x4096. When I build a 2048x2048 heightmap, I build the project on a 4096x4096 art file so 2048x2048 is the center. When you tell the TE your project will be a 256 bit, it shrinks the CBM porthole to look at the center 2048x2048 which is the work space for your 10x10 terrain. there is still 4096x4096 of area that will be outside of your 2048x2048 that you will see as water or continuous land at some elevation.

The L3DT export raw files are supposed to be signed. I don't use L3DT because I build my heightmap files "long hand", then convert to unsigned RAW for import.

PM Easyscor and a few of the AvA terrain builders, I believe they use L3DT.

[8thJinx]

I just made some progress.  I changed the map size in L3DT to 4096 x 4096 and exported that and got it to import.

But the shorelines are 1000 foot cliffs.

[Easyscor]

I don't think any of us on the AvA Staff use LC3D. We usually start with a real world terrain. Sometimes they are created by Artik's purpose built program, then we crop it to size as necessary.

By the way, there are two things in the final terrain to keep in mind. If you are building a 256 terrain, then water and land type outside the terrain borders are best left as sand and at a constant elevation. In the TE, the default land type is sand and the default elevation is -40 feet. If this step isn't done, then the terrain will not compress to the maximum extent and the download will slightly slowed.

Glad you are making progress.

[8thJinx]

I'm sort of stopped.  My plan was to generate a land mass in L3DT and then massage it in TE, then go back if needed (the terrain tools in L3DT are really cool).  Doesn't seem to be working at all.  I can generate the 4096 x 4096 land mass in L3DT, and export it, but when I import it into TE, the shore lines are 1,000 foot cliffs.  I don't understand at all what I'm doing wrong.   

Also, am I setting it up correctly in L3DT?  4096 x 4096, scale 1 = 201.2 (so the world size is 824 km x 824 km, or 512 mile x 512 mile).

This has to be an issue with importing into TE, because the terrain looks great in L3DT.

Am I missing anything important?

[8thJinx]

I'm supposed to be exporting from L3DT from the heightfield screen, correct?

[bustr]

Waffle used L3DT to create buzzsaw, maybe PM him about the proper format for the export from L3DT. My 16bit grayscale png file is in signed integer format before I convert to a RAW format which ends up being un-signed raw after the conversion. I also run a blur tool set to 5pixel  on the whole 4096x4096 to remove pixel spikes which show up as 1000-5000ft needles in the terrain editor after importing.

For my 2048x2048 terrains I do a picture frame border around the view space of the CBM port hole. This one is 12,000ft high and gives me something to elegantly finish the view of the edge of the terrain by sculpting some mountains that clouds can run into or next to. I also will finish the back side to give strat runners something nice to look at.

You can see the edge of the 2048x2048 terrain space covered with trees. I think I need to remove about 30miles of this picture frame. Maybe it will grow on me.....the bulldozer tool is great for slicing off a 250 mile even line down to -1000.

[Waffle]

To edit height fields in L3DT pro, Open your converted terrain and click "export" in the AH terrain editor. It will create a file called "height.raw" in your converted terrain folder. This will be the file that gets imported into L3DT to edit the height.


Getting the "height.raw" file into L3DT:
   -Open L3dt Pro and select "File > Import > Height field" and point it towards the "height.raw" file.
   -Enter "660" in the Horizontal Scale data box. Click "OK"
   -Enter "4096" for both the Width and Height
   -Set mode to "16-bit signed" with the "Invert Y Axis" check box checked. Click "OK"

Now you can edit the height field within the L3DT program.

Getting your Height field from L3DT back into Aces High
   -Choose "File > Export > active map layer"
   -Select "Raw" as your File format and select the directory where you want to export it.
   -Click the option button and set mode to "16-bit Signed (manual scale)" and "Invert Y" to "true"
   -Export the Raw file and name it "newheight.raw and place in your working terrain folder.   
    -Open the AH editor and Click on  "File > import signed height map"  to import the new height    map

NOTE:  L3dT uses meters as their stand elevation units, but using the above setting, the meter display in L3DT will be feet in Aces High.

[8thJinx]

Wow that worked like a charm.  Thank you Waffle.