SC4Terraformer Support

[Romaq 18]

Yeah, I've been doing all my work between SC4TF <--> 16bpc PNG <--> 16bpc TIF <--> Terraform.TER <--> WorldMachine and altitude remains consistant IF I follow the chain stated above. I hope that with the link I gave to the *.TER format, wouanagaine will be able to shorten the chain to SC4TF <--> *.TER <--> WorldMachine saving two conversion steps without image scaling. But even with the conversion steps, I have no scaling issues on any axis. It sounds like beskhu3epnm is getting hit with Z-axis scaling on import.

EDIT: I've been thinking about the issue a little more, and perhaps I can explain what beskhu3epnm is hitting. Suppose I start with an 8 bpc greyscale image (0 is black, 255 is white). I import this image into SC4TF using a scale factor that works for me and gets me what I want. I edit the image in SC4TF, and then save it into 16 bpc greyscale PNG (0 is black, 65535 is white). I open the image in, for example, GIMP. GIMP will automatically convert my 16 bpc image to 8bpc. I notice the image has become very dark compared to my original image. Note that 16 bpc greyscale is known as a 'deep grey' image. It is often used in medical research because subtle changes in shading are critical for X-rays and medical diagnosis. Software can isolate the subtle difference in 'deep grey' shading. Movies also use 16 bpc full color for getting the best picture.

Anyway, the PNG export is noticably darker than the original 8 bpc source image. That's because your elevations are roughly between the values of 0 (250 meters below sea level) and maybe 10000 (750 meters above sea level) out of a maximum value of 65535 (pure white color). Your eye MIGHT see the difference between 0 and 1 on a scale of 0 to 255. Your eye won't likely see the difference between 0 and 1 on a scale of 0 to 65535, so your exported image will be VERY dark, with the peaks showing as a dark grey.

Anyway, if I took this exported 16 bpc image and load it into GIMP, the image is converted AND SAVED at 8 bpc. If I reimport the 8bpc PNG file, almost everything is now underwater, and it sounds like this is what beskhu3epnm is experiencing.

The solution is to be sure that you are using a 16 bpc image editor, and you ONLY use 16 bpc image formats for import and export. Recognize that the highest value editable in SC4 is about 61% (4000 / 65536) which works out to the same as 156 on a scale of 0 to 255 with your normal 8bpc image editor.

Anyway, I hope this extra stuff helps and points the way to a solution. Best of luck, beskhu3epnm!

[embersofme 0]

Hi there, well, I downloaded the Terraformer and had to delete it, and re-download it. I still get a message when I try to run the terraformer and it says, 'See the logfile " C: Program Files\SC4Terraformer\SC4Terraformer.exe.log' for details

I have no clues as to what this is supposed to mean, Can anyone help?

[embersofme 0]

Hi there, well, I downloaded the Terraformer and had to delete it, and re-download it. I still get a message when I try to run the terraformer and it says, 'See the logfile " C: Program Files\SC4Terraformer\SC4Terraformer.exe.log' for details

I have no clues as to what this is supposed to mean, Can anyone help?

[embersofme 0]

Hi there, well, I downloaded the Terraformer and had to delete it, and re-download it. I still get a message when I try to run the terraformer and it says, 'See the logfile " C: Program Files\SC4Terraformer\SC4Terraformer.exe.log' for details

I have no clues as to what this is supposed to mean, Can anyone help?

[prince_of_sims 0]

like i said, that cannot be the entirity of the error message. we need more information.

[prince_of_sims 0]

like i said, that cannot be the entirity of the error message. we need more information.

[prince_of_sims 0]

like i said, that cannot be the entirity of the error message. we need more information.

[embersofme 0]

Well I don't know what to say, That Is the entirety of the error message, I'll copy and paste the Link to the message<br /><br /><br /><a href=" "> </a><br />

[embersofme 0]

Well I don't know what to say, That Is the entirety of the error message, I'll copy and paste the Link to the message<br /><br /><br /><a href=" "> </a><br />

[embersofme 0]

Well I don't know what to say, That Is the entirety of the error message, I'll copy and paste the Link to the message<br /><br /><br /><a href=" "> </a><br />

[prince_of_sims 0]

oh. that's a new one.

umm, what operating system do you use? what are your system specs? main info needed is processor and graphics card.

[prince_of_sims 0]

oh. that's a new one.

umm, what operating system do you use? what are your system specs? main info needed is processor and graphics card.

[prince_of_sims 0]

oh. that's a new one.

umm, what operating system do you use? what are your system specs? main info needed is processor and graphics card.

[embersofme 0]

The computer I use is, A toshiba A65 Windows XP 2.80 GHz 960 MB of RAM

And forgive me for being a $%&^! but How do I get the graphics card info?

[embersofme 0]

The computer I use is, A toshiba A65 Windows XP 2.80 GHz 960 MB of RAM

And forgive me for being a $%&^! but How do I get the graphics card info?

[embersofme 0]

The computer I use is, A toshiba A65 Windows XP 2.80 GHz 960 MB of RAM

And forgive me for being a $%&^! but How do I get the graphics card info?

[Rayden 7]

Originally posted by: embersofme The computer I use is, A toshiba A65 Windows XP 2.80 GHz 960 MB of RAM

And forgive me for being a $%&^! but How do I get the graphics card info?quote>

 

If you're using windows, type in the run box  dxdiag . It will give all the info you need, graphic card, directx version, audio info, etc...

To get to the run box, press Start/Run and then enter that command above

[Rayden 7]

Originally posted by: embersofme The computer I use is, A toshiba A65 Windows XP 2.80 GHz 960 MB of RAM

And forgive me for being a $%&^! but How do I get the graphics card info?quote>

 

If you're using windows, type in the run box  dxdiag . It will give all the info you need, graphic card, directx version, audio info, etc...

To get to the run box, press Start/Run and then enter that command above

[Rayden 7]

Originally posted by: embersofme The computer I use is, A toshiba A65 Windows XP 2.80 GHz 960 MB of RAM

And forgive me for being a $%&^! but How do I get the graphics card info?quote>

 

If you're using windows, type in the run box  dxdiag . It will give all the info you need, graphic card, directx version, audio info, etc...

To get to the run box, press Start/Run and then enter that command above

[embersofme 0]

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/8062/untitledza2.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

[embersofme 0]

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/8062/untitledza2.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

[embersofme 0]

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/8062/untitledza2.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

[SC4BOY 20]

Your system looks ok from that one page. Go through all the "tests" for the various things like "directdraw" etc and for all those taht "pass" enable the function on your pc. But before you do that you may want to go to your Toshiba web site and go to support and update all your drivers and bios to the latest revisions for your pc.. especially the video card drivers.. This should be done even if you don't want to run SC4. You probably should also update to the latest DirectX too from microsoft (or it may be available from Toshiba site..) and you may as well get the latest microsoft patches too from WindoewsUpdate web site.

[SC4BOY 20]

Your system looks ok from that one page. Go through all the "tests" for the various things like "directdraw" etc and for all those taht "pass" enable the function on your pc. But before you do that you may want to go to your Toshiba web site and go to support and update all your drivers and bios to the latest revisions for your pc.. especially the video card drivers.. This should be done even if you don't want to run SC4. You probably should also update to the latest DirectX too from microsoft (or it may be available from Toshiba site..) and you may as well get the latest microsoft patches too from WindoewsUpdate web site.

[SC4BOY 20]

Your system looks ok from that one page. Go through all the "tests" for the various things like "directdraw" etc and for all those taht "pass" enable the function on your pc. But before you do that you may want to go to your Toshiba web site and go to support and update all your drivers and bios to the latest revisions for your pc.. especially the video card drivers.. This should be done even if you don't want to run SC4. You probably should also update to the latest DirectX too from microsoft (or it may be available from Toshiba site..) and you may as well get the latest microsoft patches too from WindoewsUpdate web site.

[prince_of_sims 0]

i dont know for sure if SC4TF was ever tested on mobility Graphics cards. i don't know enough about low-level communications that occur to tell you if the problem is caused by your laptop itself. but more than likely it's not.

as SC4BOY said, you should download and install the latest DirectX (Microsoft releases a new one every month that isn't part of autmatic updates). you should also make sure that you have the latest updates as well as the .NET updates and patches. to find out if you need them, go to http://update.microsoft.com and search for updates. if you've hidden any, unhide them. install any High Priority updates as well as any .NET updates.

[prince_of_sims 0]

i dont know for sure if SC4TF was ever tested on mobility Graphics cards. i don't know enough about low-level communications that occur to tell you if the problem is caused by your laptop itself. but more than likely it's not.

as SC4BOY said, you should download and install the latest DirectX (Microsoft releases a new one every month that isn't part of autmatic updates). you should also make sure that you have the latest updates as well as the .NET updates and patches. to find out if you need them, go to http://update.microsoft.com and search for updates. if you've hidden any, unhide them. install any High Priority updates as well as any .NET updates.

[prince_of_sims 0]

i dont know for sure if SC4TF was ever tested on mobility Graphics cards. i don't know enough about low-level communications that occur to tell you if the problem is caused by your laptop itself. but more than likely it's not.

as SC4BOY said, you should download and install the latest DirectX (Microsoft releases a new one every month that isn't part of autmatic updates). you should also make sure that you have the latest updates as well as the .NET updates and patches. to find out if you need them, go to http://update.microsoft.com and search for updates. if you've hidden any, unhide them. install any High Priority updates as well as any .NET updates.

[embersofme 0]

Well thank you all very much, I will now go find updates and See if this is the problem, and again Thank you.

[embersofme 0]

Well thank you all very much, I will now go find updates and See if this is the problem, and again Thank you.