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| falcon4:terrain [2007/10/11 08:01] – added shared ocean segment info snakeman | falcon4:terrain [2024/07/31 09:07] (current) – links added. snakeman |
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| ====== Terrain Tutorial ====== | ====== Falcon 4 Terrain Tutorial ====== |
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| | [[https://www.pmctactical.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=47|Falcon 4.0 Forum]], [[:falcon4|Falcon 4 Home]], [[falcon4:campaign|Falcon 4 Campaign]], [[falcon4:cockpits|Falcon 4 Cockpits]], [[falcon4:database|Falcon 4 Database]], [[falcon4:file_formats|Falcon 4 File Formats]], [[falcon4:srtm|Falcon 4 SRTM Terrain]], [[falcon4:terrain|Falcon 4 Terrain]], [[falcon4:textures|Falcon 4 Textures]], [[falcon4:tools|Falcon 4 Tools]] |
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| Read also our [[falcon4:terrain:airbaselevel|Airbase Leveling]] tutorial. This tutorial is somewhat obsolete as CATE does the same function now automatically. But the tutorial is still here if you want to do manual work. | Read also our [[falcon4:terrain:airbaselevel|Airbase Leveling]] tutorial. This tutorial is somewhat obsolete as CATE does the same function now automatically. But the tutorial is still here if you want to do manual work. |
| XOO | XOO |
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| ====== Initial map creation ====== | ====== Initial Terrain Creation ====== |
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| This tutorial is for Julian "Codec" Onions superfast [[falcon4:tools:dem2terrain|Dem2Terrain]] spherical converter. | This tutorial is for Julian "Codec" Onions superfast [[falcon4:tools:dem2terrain|Dem2Terrain]] spherical converter. |
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| Get the DEM data from [[http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/seg/ff/nph-newform.pl/seg/topo/subset|here]] if you're creating default [[falcon4:theatersize|64 segment theater]] map (10 x 10 degrees), we suggest you download 12-13 degree data's, this way Spherical Converter has the extra data to process. {{ http://tactical.nekromantix.com/f4/images/THR_Tut-01.jpg}} If you decide for 128 segment theater map (20 x 20 degrees), then you should download 25-30 degree data's, the more the better, if you want to choose the best location for your theater, you might want to make few previews first to get the most interesting places etc. | Get the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) ie heightmap data from [[http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/seg/ff/nph-newform.pl/seg/topo/subset|here]] if you're creating default [[falcon4:theatersize|64 segment theater]] terrain (10 x 10 degrees), we suggest you download 12-13 degree data's, this way Spherical Converter has the extra data to process. {{ https://www.pmctactical.org/f4/images/THR_Tut-01.jpg}} If you decide for 128 segment theater terrain (20 x 20 degrees), then you should download 25-30 degree data's, the more the better, if you want to choose the best location for your theater, you might want to make few previews first to get the most interesting places etc. |
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| You need to select the terrain size from main view, there is dropdown button for this selection. {{http://tactical.nekromantix.com/f4/images/THR_Tut-02-2.jpg }} There you can actually can select smaller than 64 maps if you wish to experiment such things. Usually you would want to use default 64 (Korea) size or 128 for larger theaters. The ultimate 256 is not fully supported on [[falcon4:superpak|SP]] series and for example [[falcon4:campaign|campaign]] will not run on it, its a shame but something we have to live with. | You need to select the terrain size from main view, there is dropdown button for this selection. {{https://www.pmctactical.org/f4/images/THR_Tut-02-2.jpg }} There you can actually can select smaller than 64 terrains if you wish to experiment such things. Usually you would want to use default 64 (Korea) size or 128 for larger theaters. The ultimate 256 is not fully supported on [[falcon4:superpak|SP]] series and for example [[falcon4:campaign|campaign]] will not run on it, its a shame but something we have to live with. |
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| There is also option selecting the map view size, this only effects the Dem2Terrain map output, it has nothing to do with the actual files converted for your falcon usage. If you have very large DEM file and want to "zoom" in to the terrain, then adjust the Size button. | There is also option selecting the map view size, this only effects the Dem2Terrain map output, it has nothing to do with the actual files converted for your falcon usage. If you have very large DEM file and want to "zoom" in to the terrain, then adjust the Size button. |
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| The Units dropdown can be used to change the measurements of the theater. These are Feet, Kilometers, Meters, Miles and NauticalMiles. Default is NauticalMiles. This is the main display when you got DEM data loaded. {{ http://tactical.nekromantix.com/f4/images/THR_Tut-02.jpg}} Here you select the correct location for the theater. You'll notice that it will take maybe couple of tries to get it align right. There just might be that one airbase which you want to include but then in the other hand something is left out in the other side of the theater... | The Units dropdown can be used to change the measurements of the theater. These are Feet, Kilometers, Meters, Miles and NauticalMiles. Default is NauticalMiles. This is the main display when you got DEM data loaded. {{ https://www.pmctactical.org/f4/images/THR_Tut-02.jpg}} Here you select the correct location for the theater. You'll notice that it will take maybe couple of tries to get it align right. There just might be that one airbase which you want to include but then in the other hand something is left out in the other side of the theater... |
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| pppoly.e00 == countryname-city.e00 | pppoly.e00 == countryname-city.e00 |
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| In dem2terrain after you have selected the location for your map, click the Load E00 Files icon or press CTRL-L and select the e00 files for all the countries in your theater. If you select too much at once it will fail (I think its 16 or something), we suggest you select one country's features at one time. | In dem2terrain after you have selected the location for your terrain, click the Load E00 Files icon or press CTRL-L and select the e00 files for all the countries in your theater. If you select too much at once it will fail (I think its 16 or something), we suggest you select one country's features at one time. |
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| {{http://tactical.nekromantix.com/f4/images/THR_Tut-03.jpg }} Like here for example, you can select more than one country at time but there is some limit you run into. | {{https://www.pmctactical.org/f4/images/THR_Tut-03.jpg }} Like here for example, you can select more than one country at time but there is some limit you run into. |
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| ====== Create Terrain ====== | ====== Create Terrain ====== |
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| {{ http://tactical.nekromantix.com/f4/images/THR_Tut-03-2.jpg}} When its done, click Generate Terrain or CTRL-G. dem2terrain then shows the Build Terrain options | {{ https://www.pmctactical.org/f4/images/THR_Tut-03-2.jpg}} When its done, click Generate Terrain or CTRL-G. dem2terrain then shows the Build Terrain options |
| **Mea File** is used to store the elevation data of the terrain, radar's use this to plot line of sight (LOS) for targeting and such. | **Mea File** is used to store the elevation data of the terrain, radar's use this to plot line of sight (LOS) for targeting and such. |
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| **Map file** is the important one which stores coordinates of the theater and information of the fartiles and other terrain file measurements. If you select this, dem2terrain wants to read your .PAL file, this is the Jasc PaintShopPro created color palette file from you terrain's fartiles. You should really refer to the [[falcon4:textures|texture category]] for more details. | **Map File** is the important one which stores coordinates of the theater and information of the fartiles and other terrain file measurements. If you select this, dem2terrain wants to read your .PAL file, this is the Jasc PaintShopPro created color palette file from you terrain's fartiles. You should really refer to the [[falcon4:textures|texture category]] for more details. |
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| **Large (4 byte) Terrain** is not to be confused with 128 terrain's! Its merely a selection for 2 byte or 4 byte L2 file creation. [[falcon4:tools:cate|CATE]] reads only 2 bytes and we highly recommend you choose not to use this option. You'll can use the [[falcon4:tools:theatermaker|TheaterMaker]] packages LODFixer to convert 2 byte terrain to 4 byte terrain format. | **Large (4 byte) Terrain** is not to be confused with 128 terrain's! Its merely a selection for 2 byte or 4 byte L2 file creation. [[falcon4:tools:cate|CATE]] reads only 2 bytes and we highly recommend you choose not to use this option. You'll can use the [[falcon4:tools:theatermaker|TheaterMaker]] packages LODFixer to convert 2 byte terrain to 4 byte terrain format. |
| ====== Using CATE with Terrainview ====== | ====== Using CATE with Terrainview ====== |
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| Since the first draft of this terrain tutorial page came out, we did not have the luxury of having the awesome CATE Configurable Auto Tiling Enchancer program by Skyfire. We used to hand tile the terrain's and I can assure you its not something you want to do. Now we use CATE and do the same things in couple of minutes than took us **YEAR**(s) before. However if you are interested here we have the old tiling method help documents listed: Read Manfred "Schumi" Nelle's excellent HowToTile.doc which explains the terrainview usage and basic tiling instructions and tips, along with good screenshots. (You need word viewer or something to see the .doc format). Download Schumi's how to tile guide, and T-Bone's Tiling Guide [[http://tactical.nekromantix.com/f4/downloads.php|here]]. | Since the first draft of this terrain tutorial page came out, we did not have the luxury of having the awesome CATE Configurable Auto Tiling Enchancer program by Skyfire. We used to hand tile the terrain's and I can assure you its not something you want to do. Now we use CATE and do the same things in couple of minutes than took us **YEAR**(s) before. However if you are interested here we have the old tiling method help documents listed: Read Manfred "Schumi" Nelle's excellent HowToTile.doc which explains the terrainview usage and basic tiling instructions and tips, along with good screenshots. (You need word viewer or something to see the .doc format). Download Schumi's how to tile guide, and T-Bone's Tiling Guide [[https://www.pmctactical.org/f4/downloads.php|PMC Tactical Falcon 4 Downloads]]. |
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| We have done small web based Tiling tutorial, check it out [[falcon4:terrain:tilingtutorial|here]]. | We have done small web based Tiling tutorial, check it out [[falcon4:terrain:tilingtutorial|here]]. |
| But please remember that its not the current way of tiling a terrain, its just for old times sake historical reference mainly. We can take tips of course from the tiling primers and such for CATE usage, but terrain's get build by CATE - hey I'm not going to spend FORTY WEEKS for tiling. How about you? | But please remember that its not the current way of tiling a terrain, its just for old times sake historical reference mainly. We can take tips of course from the tiling primers and such for CATE usage, but terrain's get build by CATE - hey I'm not going to spend FORTY WEEKS for tiling. How about you? |
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| ====== Using larger than life DEM packets ====== | ====== Using Larger Than Life DEM Packets ====== |
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| Sometimes we want to create theaters bigger than usual, or far north or south. Download size from GLOBE is restricted, so we got to merge several downloads into one big file. To accomplish this, we got to make thin wide slices to download in sections. Start from north with the first file, and then proceed with slices south of the first one with the same with and height. | Sometimes we want to create theaters bigger than usual, or far north or south. Download size from GLOBE is restricted, so we got to merge several downloads into one big file. To accomplish this, we got to make thin wide slices to download in sections. Start from north with the first file, and then proceed with slices south of the first one with the same with and height. |
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| (Credits for this tutorial goes to Javanree who came up with this merging idea and for 87th Striker to actually writing this text. Thanks guys, appreciated!). | (Credits for this tutorial goes to Javanree who came up with this merging idea and for 87th Striker to actually writing this text. Thanks guys, appreciated!). |
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