Delta Force Barracks Forums

HOW TO CREATE A DFX TERRAIN...

DESTROYER DM - 10-31-2005 at 05:11 AM

hello terrain creaters :P

I am a map creater since i play delta force, now i play delta force xtreme and I create DFX maps, but i need better terrains, and want to CREATE MY OWN TERRAINS...
I have downloaded the dfbhd modtools and the unofficial jo modtools and I took a look at it..

once I found the file how to create a terrain I started figuring out :p

well i am quite good with adobe photoshop ( creating sigs and moving sigs, wallpapers etc.)

but I have no idea how to create the depth file with that 4 512x512 things :p (where they are talking about in the tutorials)

well I hope someone can explain me.. and if you can I hope u can explain me more... ( I am a fast learner )

GREETZ DESTROYER DM

Well

SonicDeath - 10-31-2005 at 10:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DESTROYER DM
hello terrain creaters :P

I am a map creater since i play delta force, now i play delta force xtreme and I create DFX maps, but i need better terrains, and want to CREATE MY OWN TERRAINS...
I have downloaded the dfbhd modtools and the unofficial jo modtools and I took a look at it..

once I found the file how to create a terrain I started figuring out :p

well i am quite good with adobe photoshop ( creating sigs and moving sigs, wallpapers etc.)

but I have no idea how to create the depth file with that 4 512x512 things :p (where they are talking about in the tutorials)

well I hope someone can explain me.. and if you can I hope u can explain me more... ( I am a fast learner )

GREETZ DESTROYER DM



That is called a quad terrian....a liitle more difficult than a single height map. You can start out doing terrians as a single height map (1024x1024). Its easier to learn the mechanics of terrian building this way.

DESTROYER DM - 10-31-2005 at 06:24 PM

but how do i create hight in it? just giving it a bit grey color or something? lol can u maybe explain a bit...

Q-dad~TAG - 11-1-2005 at 01:14 AM

Not sure if DFX uses 8- or 16-bit heightmaps, but an 8-bit heightmap is a simple greyscale image in which each pixel represents a height value, where 0 is ground level and 255 represents the highest point in your terrain. You should do a google search for heightmap or landscape editors, there's many of them out there which are free.

DESTROYER DM - 11-1-2005 at 01:50 AM

is no one able to explain me on msn?

if u want, it should be great...

demennolt@hotmail.com

Ummm

SonicDeath - 11-1-2005 at 09:56 PM

the bhd terrrian maker uses 8 bit Raw files to create the CRT...I use photoshop only...don't like those terrian maker programs...takes the fun out of making your own terrian.

Do the hight map in photoshop 8 bit raw..
then run the terrian maker program in BHD tools and then convert to DFX compressd CRT with the Unoffical mod tools....


My terrian made totally in photoshop by hand.....


DESTROYER DM - 11-2-2005 at 05:57 AM

well i am very glad u want to help me with this...

but unfortunately i dont understand what u mean... (i think it es because i have the dutch version of photoshop)

it would be great if u could make some screenshots from what u do and post it here... (if u want) or that u can maybe explain it on msn once...?
i mean.. i dont know what u mean with create a height map.. WHERE CAN I DO THAT? ( i usually only use the standard things for making sigs etc...)

(BTW I really want to learn it)

Ty, greetz

Q-dad~TAG - 11-2-2005 at 08:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by m21I use photoshop only...don't like those terrian maker programs...takes the fun out of making your own terrian.

Well, I wasn't referring to those programs where you push a button and it automagically makes a surprise terrain for you, but rather those where you can visually model your terrains in 3d. Far between them, but they exist...

sgt roc - 1-11-2006 at 04:35 AM

Take your picture in photoshop and go to the "image" menu" and select image/image size/ and check the "constrain porportions" box, then change the pixels in either the height or width to 1024. make sure the dpi is 72.

Then go to image/mode/ and select greyscale and 8bits .

Save that as a pcx file with a name. The name has to read like this. your map name_d For example dimm1_d and saved as a pcx file.

LoA - 1-14-2006 at 06:01 AM

ok pay attention, in order to make a height map "cpt" you first need to make a image 1024 by 1024 then click on the top tab that says image, then mode, then greyscale.

paint your image useing diffrent levels from black to white. black will be the lowest "rivers and canyons" white will be higher levels of elevation "mountain tops and hills". i sugest staying away from absolute black id#0 cause you will not be able to place tunnels in the terrain in those areas.

once you have your height map painted you would check for seems to do this at the top of adobe select filter,other,offset when the offset box pops up put in the horizontal put 512 and in the vertical put 512 and select wrap around then click ok, that will wrap all your outer seems in to the middle in a cross patern do what you need to do to work them out whether you just paint over it or use the blur tool. once done hit flatten if you added new layers then go back to filter,other,offset when the window pops up just hit ok. and it will wrap the height map back to the way it should be. be sure to check the edges real close for seems when you do this sometimes a artist may over spray.

with all that done you should have a fully functional greyscale. the above method works for every version of nova game. now to save it.

df1 to tfd should be saved as index .pcx file.so before saving just go to top tab select image,mode then index now save your terrain as myterrain_d.pcx

now for bhd through jo/dfx

keep your image as a greyscale when you save it save it as a myterrain.raw if it ask use 8bit, then procede to run it through the bhd terrain converter

now for jo dfx you have a cpt that you just got from the terrain converter now run that cpt through the the DPTH2CDEP that comes with the unofficial jomod tools, feel free to remove the jo it adds at the end of your converted cpt..

and there you have it the basics on height maps one thing that can not be explained is technique sry. hopefully when your done you will have something like this