Introducing FantastiCoast

[xentrix 1]

Hello all!
I proudly present FantastiCoast in this post.

FantastiCoast is a tool, aiming to support the map creation process for SimCity 4 (SC4).
Its main functionality is extending the coast towards the undefined sea areas and creating a realistic sea bottom.
The product images of this application can be used either by SC4Terraformer/SC4Mapper (SC4T/SC4M) or by SC4.
It can also be used as a conversion tool for various SC4/SC4T/SC4M compatible image formats.
The initial cause for developing this application was to fill in the sea tiles in maps created from Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data.
 
Features:
• Opens files of type: 24/32bit bmp, 24/32bit png, 8/16 bit grayscale png, ascii DEM.
• Saves files of type: 24bit bmp, 24 bit png, 8/16 bit grayscale png.
• Computes missing sea tiles, using an interpolation algorithm.
• Configurable sea depth, minimum and maximum slope.
 
Prerequisites:
Microsoft .NET Framework 4 must be installed. You should need it for other applications soon, anyway.
Download it here.
 
You can find an installer and a standalone exe attached in the end of this post.
 
 
A quick tutorial
You can open a picture file displaying a map, using one of the following options:
• Grayscale maps, 8 bit (these are low detail by definition) or 16 bit (excellent detail, same as RGB bmp/png)
• Color maps, using SC4T/SC4M color schemes, as described by nhp in SCTF RGB importer tool. Such maps can be created by Global Mapper, using the custom shader file, also attached in this post.
• ASCii DEM files. You can find where to get them here.
Any type of map you load, will be displayed in SC4T/SC4M color scheme. Don't be surprised!
 
If your map has undefined areas (they have to be black, if they are not, edit the picture and paint them black), click "LAUNCH" and enjoy!
• Here is an example:
(Map with undefined areas)

 
(After processing)

 
If you play with different configurations, you can make smoother or steeper coastlines:
(Minimum slope=1.5, Maximum slope=3)

 
(Minimum slope=10, Maximum slope=30)

 
Then, you can save the picture in various formats.
• For use with SC4T/SC4M, save as bmp or png or 16 bit png.
• For use in the game (Shift-Ctrl-Alt-R), save as 8 bit png. Please note that this format has 255 times less detail than the others!
 
I think that's all you need to know to use FantastiCoast.
 
Happy terraforming!
xentrix

FantastiCoast.exe.zip

FantastiCoast v1.0.0 setup.exe.zip

Global Mapper custom shader for SC4.zip

[joshriddle 29]

Cool. I';ll get it when I fix my computer.

[mudk 0]

Hey, this is probably a really elementary question but im trying to make a map of Chicago and the subdivisions between the longitudes and latitudes are not squares. they are 84km by 111km.But FantasiCoast gives 1200by1200 squares. Also, as expected the latitude's lengths and thus sub-lengths change due to the spherical earth. This does not show up in the figures though.So i guess the best i can do there is just ignore the latitudes and create a scale using the longitudes.

So 2 questions I guess, what can I do to over come the rectangular input getting distorted into a square output, And is is ignoring the latitudes the best way to go about this.

Also in your previous post, you mention MallowTheCloud's post which is very incomplete and he/she had revisited and made it clear that there will be no further progress on that post. Maybe you could try to combine the 2 and/or put them in the omnibus?

[TheNewTeddy 5]

I'm having some problems with this program. I managed to make it open, but I cannot save. It is telling me there is a problem with GDI+

(as a continuation of the problems I outlined at the end of this thread: ttp://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=120&threadid=117059&STARTPAGE=1&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear )

EDIT - oh wait, now its working... I think... give me a minute.

Yes. I had to press the "launch" button >.<

[sachizm 65]

Does anyone know how to unzip the ASC files? I have been stuck on that for days. I've tried downloading the TIFF files and going through microdem but that deosnt work. I have googled extensivley and can't find any help.