Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: -raxx- on April 15, 2000, 11:18:00 PM
-
Dudes,
Day 4 and the arena map is partly complete. It has the airfields and their altitudes. The vehicle bases, (without altitudes), and HQ's are marked. I'm still compiling the locations and building the maps of the factories and cities. In the meantime getting the arena map out is my priority and the strategic targets set for later in the week.
Here's the list of maps so far.
Small field map (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/small.jpg)
Medium field map (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/medium.jpg)
Large field map (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/large.jpg)
Arena field map (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/arena.jpg)
Vehicle base map (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/vehicle.jpg)
My Question for the HTC crew, (coz I dunno who to ask specifically). Is it possible to get an image, (jpg, gif, bmp?), of the arena map without gridlines, fields or HQ's marked on it? The reason is that I'm trying to make a topographic map of the arena. I can create a height field of the arena based on the colours on the map with the tools I'm using, (MS Paint to edit BMP files, Paintshop Pro to create Targa files for POV-Ray and POV-Ray for generating the height fields).
The problem I struck is here, (topotest.jpg) (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/topotest.jpg), in that the grid lines and field locations are interpreted as chasms or mountains by POV Ray, (Height fields interpret a greyscale image and convert the brightness of a pixel to a spot height). I figured that asking you for a simple "ground only" map would make things go a bit faster. Otherwise I'll have to fly a bit less, (oh no!), and get out the MSPaint pencil and start editing pixel by pixel. I converted my Arena field map (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/arena.jpg) using the same principle to make this topoarena.jpg (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/topoarena.jpg) to help people visualise what it is I mean by height fields.
In reply to the many posts thanking me for creating these maps all I can say is that it had to be done and that your comments were very much appreciated. I understood from Glars, (of Glarsmaps fame and an ex-squaddie in Warbirds), that he was focusing on Warbirds for the meantime. I guess that left me to volunteer, (oops I violated the first thing I learned in the Army, "Never Volunteer" =).
Heater: Thanx for the pic I'll add it to the list of locations I'm building.
Fatty: The really funny part is I don't drink alchohol, (darn! Just lost another excuse for my bad flying =). You can have the beers funked is going to buy me.
Hangtime: You know I'm going to use the "Get out of bishland free" card at least once =P
CavemanJ: The Spawn points will be a later addition but since the fly button now has cardinal points on it that may not be necessary. Great suggestion though!
Anyways, I'll Spotcha in the Air,
raxx
(http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/skyratsbannersmall.gif)
[This message has been edited by -raxx- (edited 04-15-2000).]
-
I understood from Glars that he was focusing on Warbirds for the meantime.
Check 6!
Just cos I'm not flying online doesn't mean I can't have my fun (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Oh and BTW our field altitudes may have agreed before but when HTC did the patch they changed some airfield altitudes by the look of it. Get out the digital Tippex (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
------------------
Glars
Glarsmaps (http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~glars/glarsmaps.htm)
"There are always two" - Yoda
-
G,
Fixed and already on the web site. Thanx fer pointing ut the change in elevations. How far along are you on your maps?
raxx
(http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/skyratsbannersmall.gif)
-
Rx dude
Check your mail - I've sent you the trade-only early release.
Should speed things up for ya.
We'll let the other bastiges wait (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
------------------
Glars
Glarsmaps (http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~glars/glarsmaps.htm)
"There are always two" - Yoda
-
I think SF can provide one for you.
------------------
Doug "Pyro" Balmos
HiTech Creations
Perfect plans, aren't.
-
raxx we can also send you our elevation file if your program can import it, its a 1024x1024 matrix of elevations in 16 bit format.
HiTech
-
Great work, and thanks!
I don't see anything on the map besides the bases and HQ, however. I personally could not find the two northern cities. The southern city is west of V-61. I am not sure what the other compounds are; ammo and fuel factories I asume?
eskimo
-
HT, Pyro,
Thanx for the replies. The elevations file would be a great, (a graphic of the terrain in jpg, gif or bmp format would be even better but I can definetly use the elevations file). The reason I asked for a graphic is that the tools I've got available to me are all graphic based. It's been a few years, (cough 7 years), but I can probably write a program to convert anything you send me. I may even use Excel to create the initial 3d images. Pyro, funny .sig BTW. "Perfect plans aren't" =) Took me a few minutes to recover my composure.
If you would send the file to me here
a.stone@auckland.ac.nz I'd really appreciate it. A quick question or 5. What do the data points actually represent? Are the elevations in the file the corners of a square of terrain or are they the centre of that terrain square? Is there a sea level, (ie -1 ft or 0 on the data point)?
Eskimo: Glars and I conversed, (via email), yesterday and his maps are a lot nearer completion than mine, (and damn fine work as usual too), but we are checking some inconsitencies between his maps and mine, (I've got a fuel and ammo bunker swapped around on the medium field I think). The main problem is that with Patch 2 being released some of the altitudes have changed so we have to go to each field and recheck all our data. To prevent us both doing the same job I'll leave my maps as they are and concentrate on the Topographic map, (which is what I really wanted to get my head into). Glars is going to finish of and release his maps soonish, (It may take a while for us both to recheck the fields).
Two things I have learned from this exercise so far. Nothing is as easy as it looks. Everything takes longer than you expect.
Spotcha in the Air,
raxx
(http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/skyratsbannersmall.gif)
-
HT I wasn't going to do a topo map because I couldn't see how I could do it with just the arena map and don't have the knowhow to hack your files (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
But those other ones look more promising - can you fire whatever you've got down the line to me as well pretty please?
------------------
Glars
Glarsmaps (http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~glars/glarsmaps.htm)
"There are always two" - Yoda
-
HiTech - I Should be able to use your elevation file with the different types of software that I have avalable, I would greatly appreciate it if I could have it e-mailed to me.
Please, Please, Pretty Please
mjhall@gci.net
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)
-
You guys rule. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
-
ditto
-
Thanks all you cartographers..
Glars..I really enjoyed your maps in beta...thanks alot.
------------------
Pongo
The Wrecking Crew
-
Your work is very much appreciated guys (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
-
Still looking for an elevation file (or is it like the B29 - coming to a theater near your in the future)?
-
Oosik,
I am waiting too but I figure that Pyro or HiTech are kinda flooded with requests to be Terrain Editor beta testers.
In the meantime I've been refining the techniques for producing topo maps and found that increasing the x and z scales produces a much better image from a targa file than I had previously, (I was thinking to small and now scale the image over 100 times it's original size).
Spotcha in the Air,
raxx
(http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/skyratsbannersmall.gif)
-
Raxx, are you using MegaPov or standard Pov-Ray?
------------------
- Voss -
-
But raxx are you producing something that resembles the actual terrain?
I assume you're still using a screenshot of the clipboard map?
If so I can't see how you can get accurate altitude data from that, no matter how much you've zoomed the map before taking the screenshot as there's no corellation between the map's textures and altitude.
To use extremes, what happens when you map:
- 13,12,7 (Mt Pizza)
- A6. Does the map show completely flat except for a few small hills to the west?
If you can't take a map and have it tally up with the virtual terrain then it's not really a map is it?
The answer is in those HTC files.
Glars
-
Originally posted by glars:
But raxx are you producing something that resembles the actual terrain?
I assume you're still using a screenshot of the clipboard map?
If so I can't see how you can get accurate altitude data from that, no matter how much you've zoomed the map before taking the screenshot ...
<clipped>
Screenshots would work, with a lot of effort. The original triangle mesh would be best. Perhaps, once the terrain editor is released, we will have the mesh (.dxf or whatever).
------------------
- Voss -
-
Voss,
POV-Ray for Windows v3.1. I scale a 640x640 .tga file <100x,5y,100z> at present, (the original file is treated as a 1x,1y,1z image) then use a box at varying heights to intersect the height field and produce the "banding" of the terrain.
Glars,
But raxx are you producing something that resembles the actual terrain?
<snip the rest>
I've been looking at the zoomed clipboard map and down to a single grid square the terrain is accurate enough for height fields. I've been looking at field 1 mainly and with a little blurring and editing of the field numbering and gridlines it's starting to come together quite nicely. The images I put up before were to show what can be done with height fields on a recognisable image. Once I am happy with the results I'll post them but not before.
You'll be shocked at how easy this is to create. At present the entire POV-Ray file is 25 lines of code, (even less if I take out the comments and simple enough that I can carry the entire program in my head =).
Spotcha in the Air
raxx (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/skyratsbannersmall.gif)
-
If anyone is still reading this thread,
Looking at the map for Mt Pizza, (Beer Mountain or whatever), I did a snap shot of the grid and ran up a very rough topographic map. Editing out the grid numbers took about 90 minutes.
I've put in links to four jpg files below showing the progress at each stage.
ahss1.jpg (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/topo/ahss1.jpg) is the 13.12 grid square with it's neighbours showing (30Kb).
ahss0.jpg (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/topo/ahss0.jpg) is clipboard image that the height field is built from (32kb). This image has been zoomed for maximum colour seperation from the clipboard image and had the grid number removed.
topotest.jpg (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/topo/topotest.jpg) is the view from the south with the banding applied, (the colours are a bit horrid but contrast to show the range of heights). The colours at the lowest point (brown), range upwards through yellowgreen, blue, purple, olivedrab, forrest green, olive green to bright green at the peaks.
topotesta.jpg (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/topo/topotesta.jpg) is a 50kb satellite view of the topotest.jpg above. The dropoff in elevation to the Southeast is shown rather well and the mountain pass that runs SW through 13,12,7 and turns SE through 13,12,4 can also be see quite clearly. Mt Pizza intrudes into 13,12,4.
Overall the process is becoming simpler to arrange as I become more familiar with the tools. The longest part to organise now is the editing of the snapshot to remove the grid numbers and field numbers.
Spotcha in the Air
raxx (http://www.geocities.com/raxman.geo/images/skyratsbannersmall.gif)
edit to fix the URL that failed on first port
[This message has been edited by -raxx- (edited 04-23-2000).]
-
Go -Raxx-
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Your doing much better than I am, still can not convert file to something useful (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
Oosik