How do I get a grayscale image

[borutaj 2]

Hello, everyone.

I want to download a custom region from STEX, I've found a beautiful one, but I don't know, how to import it into the game. I've read various articles about this, but I'm doing something wrong... Let me describe my situation. I downloaded my desired region to newly created folder named same as the region itself. Then I've unzip the file and launched the game. There I selected the region named as the folder with downloaded stuff. It seems to be OK. In order with the config.bmp file the region is large enough and is parceled into desired parts representing the cities. But there isn't region surface, all the land is flat green. I know that now is necessary to pres Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R, find the GRAYSCALE image, open it and wait until the region is correctly created. BUT, where do I get the grayscale image? When I unzip the downloaded file, there's just: one file.SC4M, two images.JPEG (screenshot of entire region and a colored one looking similar to a ordinary physical map), one config file and one readme file. That's it. So, please, can you tell me where to get the desired grayscale image or how to create it?

I'm desperate and I will be very grateful if somebody can help me. I'm not a computer guy really...

[jacksunny 741]

Some maps use a different format than grayscale. This tutorial should help you out.

[borutaj 2]

OK, I'll try that. But... Will it work with Windows 7?

Answer is... NO! I've just tried it.

  Edited January 31, 2012 by borutaj  

[jacksunny 741]

Try using SC4Terraformer instead of SC4Mapper. They do the same thing.

[Yuu Caa Sim 55]

Seeing as the download gave you a .sc4m file, you will almost certainly need to use the SC4Terraformer or SC4Mapper as Jacksunny stated above. The .sc4m file is a new kind of file that is read by either of those two programs to automatically generate a region terrain outside of the game. {The Omnibus has a tutorial on how to import these sort of files into the game}. As you have already downloaded a file, you would be starting at step 6. You can download the SC4Terraformer {here}.

If you still have issues, please post a link to the terrain you downloaded.

  Edited February 1, 2012 by yunxiang  

[Jack³ 291]

It will most likely work on W7. I have to computers that are compatible with sc4terraformer, which is used to render the maps. It is a little tricky at first, but soon it becomes clearer. SC4Mapper does not work on either of mine, though.

About CRTL-Alt-Shift-R, that is the old way the game rendered maps before sc4terraformer was used. They greyscale image and SC4M file are both compatible with SC4Terraformer. You just need to import the image. (Global Tools>Import Image)