General Forums => Terrain Editor => Topic started by: Ciaphas on September 07, 2018, 12:01:27 PM
Title: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 07, 2018, 12:01:27 PM
Here is a link to a crash course video for the TE. It does not contain advanced information, just enough information to get someone that is interested in the TE off the ground.
1. create new file 2. set elevation 3. raise/lower elevation 4. beaches 5. texture 6. place 1 airfield 7. create clipboard map (CBM) 8. build 9. fly in offline mode
There are a couple of threads that I would recommend to those that are interested in terrain creation:
So you guys finally got off your tuckhases, two years is kind of slow. I built three terrains during that time.
And I've done forty-plus P-51 skins.
40 > 3
:neener:
Thankfully we have Ciaphas to walk us through the terrain building process. Good job, C!!!! :salute :cheers:
Title: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 07, 2018, 10:14:39 PM
The next video is going to be a more technical tutorial. the followng will be discussed:
1. Canvas size (4096x4096, 2048x2048 play zone)
2. RGB value to ft in altitude solutions
3. RGB water depth (three set depths)
4. General procedures (layers, adjustment layers, rendering, re-adjustement and color scale correction
5. Finalizing design layers
6. Save workable file
7. Export .raw (the good the bad and the ugly)
8. Import to TE
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: nrshida on September 08, 2018, 12:34:12 AM
Many thanks Ciaphas, for taking the initiative to make map-making accesible to others. I watched the first video quickly and it doesn't look too bad! Got the impression it was quite do-able.
Just two quick questions: how does it work with regard to HTC? If I make a small map, can I host it online as a private arena & everyone that joins gets an automatic download, or does it have to be submitted for approval to HTC like an MA map? I gathered the latter took a long time.
Secondly, if you make a third tutorial could you please explain air spawns - if you know - because that would be handy for certain types of arena.
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 08, 2018, 12:51:26 AM
1. Canvas size (4096x4096, 2048x2048 play zone)
--- The master Canvas will always be 4096x4096 and the current MA play area is 2048x2048 <--- refer to the video below
2. RGB value to ft in altitude solutions
--- 0-127 are the RGB values for positive elevation, meaning that a value of R:1 G:1 B:1 will equal to 256 ft in elevation, R:2 G:2 B:2 will equal to 512 ft in elevation etc...
4. General procedures (layers, adjustment layers, rendering, re-adjustement and color scale correction
--- Create 1 layer for the "Land Mass" and one other "adjustment layer "levels" to manipulate the "Land Mass" layer <--- refer to the video
5. Finalizing design layers
--- Set the land RGB values outlined in step 2 above and set eh water RGB values outlined in step 3 above
6. Save workable file
--- Save your .PSD or other editable format
7. Export .raw (the good the bad and the ugly)
--- export the .raw file with the following settings interleaved order and IBM PC (but not always, play around with it for best results)
8. Import to TE
--- refer to the AH3 TE TUT1 for the proper steps
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: nrshida on September 08, 2018, 02:27:23 AM
I wish someone would do something like this for the film viewer. Especially I find the viewpoint stuff that Dolby used to do unfathomable. We could pack YouTube with promotional films, basically.
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Easyscor on September 08, 2018, 04:41:11 AM
We got the impression from Bustr that it took 20 years and three heart attacks to make a map! :old:
OMG :rofl Here are some random thoughts. Sorry if it turns into a wall of text.
Twenty years, NO, not for a custom arena or the AvA.
Jaeger is knocking out Monday Night Madness and Tank Night terrains in about a week from start to ready for play in our arena. Admittedly, he's been doing it for awhile now and he knows my days of terrain building are coming to a close.
Small terrains of 64 miles by 64 miles or less (32x32), are the most fun projects. Artik's program is way under appreciated, PERIOD. In a few minutes use, capturing norther Italy for instance, and you have the beginnings of a great canyon terrain.
Someone asked about it: Once on the server, the download is automatic for everyone else, but that doesn't mean the terrain is automatically stable. Test it! And PLEASE don't upload a terrain unless you are committed to completing it. There are too many false start terrains on the server now! Just take a look if you can stand to wade through them all. You'll see what I mean. We have to wade through those to find the ones that are actually usable in the AvA, etc. Most of ours' start with the ava prefix, but I pity the CMs looking for SEA terrains.
For most people, an MA terrain is a slog. But hour for hour invested in the effort, it will pay in player hours in the arena. Months building an AvA terrain sees little player hours in return. I do it because I care about the arena and want a free hand creating custom objects, textures and layouts without answering to anyone that hasn't tested it. In other words, we allow a free hand in the AvA to innovate. Note: Some of the things Waffle does at HTC are eye wateringly exotic! And keeping up with those guys has always been chasing a moving target.
OMG nrshida, I'm still :rofl
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: captain1ma on September 08, 2018, 07:06:07 AM
map making made easy:
1. go to this link and download artik's version 1.12: http://cppcms.com/files/makeahmap/ (http://cppcms.com/files/makeahmap/)
2. in the program, after you expand it, change your download source to https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/shorelines/data/gshhg/latest/gshhg-bin-2.3.6.zip
3. follow artik's directions and just put in a latitude and longitude of some place in the world you'd like a make made.
4 set size to whatever map size you want IE 64X64, 128X128, ETC.
5 import into terrain editor per terrain editor manual instructions including making a clipboard map
do all this and you'll have a terrain in less then 20 minutes. if its a small make and you have 3 or 4 hours to put into it, you'll have a working small arena map.
go into the custom arena maps list. most of the AVA*** arena maps listed are mine. they are mostly small maps and were done in a couple of weekends based on the amount of free time I had.
im a boat captain. If I can do it, anyone can. don't be afraid. come on in, the waters' nice. feel free to use me as a resource if you need help.
PS. thanks again for building that program artik, I wouldn't be making terrains without it!!!
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: nrshida on September 08, 2018, 07:29:48 AM
Title: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 08, 2018, 08:41:35 AM
Artik's program was the next on my list to get a video. probably gonna get it done this afternoon.
It's worth mentioning that building a terrain for AvA is apples to oranges to an MA terrain.
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Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: nrshida on September 08, 2018, 09:16:17 AM
I think it's awesome that you're doing this bud. I'm going to download AH3 on my crappy laptop. Sure the game won't run but perhaps the mapmaker will. just have a try and see what's possible.
Your beard is award-winning by the way. I'm surprised Zack1234 has not commented yet :old:
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 08, 2018, 09:34:33 AM
I think it's awesome that you're doing this bud. I'm going to download AH3 on my crappy laptop. Sure the game won't run but perhaps the mapmaker will. just have a try and see what's possible.
Your beard is award-winning by the way. I'm surprised Zack1234 has not commented yet :old:
This beard has started wars, melted hearts and caught a lot of food :cheers:
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Easyscor on September 08, 2018, 12:27:52 PM
I've used Artik's program, the TE and the OE all running on a laptop but the game is a slide show.
For an MA terrain, start with some real world terrain and then slice and dice using the pro version of L3DT. It's required for the 4096 elevation files.
Edit: Yes, Artik is still an active player, at least here on the boards.
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 09, 2018, 04:40:04 PM
Artik's program was the next on my list to get a video. probably gonna get it done this afternoon.
It's worth mentioning that building a terrain for AvA is apples to oranges to an MA terrain.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I was going to tackle this program but I am having nothing but issues. I may PM one of you guys that use this program in the future to get the skinny on it's config file.
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 09, 2018, 06:05:43 PM
Currently working on part 2 of the second tutorial. should have it up in a few hours. this tutorial is going to focus on:
Main Geo Features
** Was going to be created in photoshop first but TE is throwing a fit at the moment **
:salute
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 12, 2018, 11:55:49 AM
Here is the third tutorial. This one is the follow up to tutorial 2.
We discuss:
1. Anti-Alias <--- AKA El Diablo 2. Layer style, stroke, shape burst 3. Setting up your gradients
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Vraciu on September 12, 2018, 12:00:12 PM
Looking forward to watching these!
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 12, 2018, 12:51:44 PM
Gonna have to do a part three to this as well. there is a bunch more that needs to be said about the subject.
:rock
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 14, 2018, 12:27:12 AM
The next tutorial will cover the following:
1. Hand painting (Real World) topology within Photo Shop 2. Fine Tuning within the TE
I would love to say that this will be up tomorrow but it would be more realistic to expect it sometime next week.
:salute
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: artik on September 14, 2018, 06:02:02 AM
I do it because I care about the arena and want a free hand creating custom objects, textures and layouts without answering to anyone that hasn't tested it. In other words, we allow a free hand in the AvA to innovate.
Sometimes you just want things you can't have. Like rail yards and railroad tracks that won't roll a 10 ton tank.
Those screens look good man. I have a ways to go before I produce any playable map of any type.
cheers!
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Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Easyscor on September 19, 2018, 02:21:13 PM
Thanks, and thanks again for the help with the Manual.
Initially that rail yard used the track Paths and I'd lowered them 1.5 ft for GV drivablity. Then HTC negated all paths below ground level. Imagine my surprise when re-testing the terrain and the Paths rolled my tank every time.
First rule of terrain building, "Don't start if you're going to have a melt-down every time an HTC update breaks something. Just fix it." :rofl
It's why the MA terrains must use only default objects and settings.
:cheers:
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on September 20, 2018, 11:44:17 PM
Quote
Thanks, and thanks again for the help with the Manual.
Anytime, it's a great manual!
Quote
First rule of terrain building, "Don't start if you're going to have a melt-down every time an HTC update breaks something. Just fix it."
Nothing beats a good time like having to redo something after a version change. :rofl
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on October 08, 2018, 03:27:01 PM
1. Hand painting (Real World) topology within Photo Shop 2. Fine Tuning within the TE
I would love to say that this will be up tomorrow but it would be more realistic to expect it sometime next week.
:salute
Time to revisit this one, have had a bunch of RL stuff to take care of.
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on October 08, 2018, 10:06:14 PM
Here is the latest tutorial, this delves a little further into painting topographical features in Photoshop
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on October 08, 2018, 11:37:36 PM
This is an extensive tutorial, it's 36 minutes but it covers painting real world topographical features in Photoshop and getting it ready for export/import in to the TE.
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: CptTrips on October 10, 2018, 12:27:02 PM
Nicely done.
Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on October 10, 2018, 01:20:54 PM
thank you sir!
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Title: Re: TE Video Tutorials
Post by: Ciaphas on November 11, 2019, 01:44:45 PM
Here is an updated, more to the point video for getting started with the TE