modifying config.bmp files before importing greyscale

[a_muses 39]

I've had no trouble importing the old-fashioned kind of maps onto my Macbook setup and rendering them, but I don't like building large city tiles and a lot of the older maps are littered with them. I've tried modifying the included config.bmp files before rendering, but then I get an error message, or the map simply doesn't render. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong? Is there some link between a greyscale image and its accompanying config.bmp file in one of those older map uploads? For instance this one: http://www.simtropol...5263-cloverra/. It's a great map (despite the height rendering slightly wrong, but I can deal with that), but I'd like to work on it in small city tiles mostly. Why can't I change the config.bmp file successfully?

  Edited March 12, 2012 by a_muses  

[IssacOzzman 179]

Hello A_Muses,

I have try a program Called Simcuty 4 Region & Config Creator it should help with making A config.bmp

Simcity 4 Region & Config Creator

IssacOzzman

[a_muses 39]

Hi Issac, Thanks for the link but you didn't read my post clearly. I'm on a Macbook, so a Windows program won't work. I have to edit the file with a bitmap editor, and that's where something's going wrong.

[Izidor44 112]

I have to edit the file with a bitmap editor, and that's where something's going wrong.

Hi A_Muses,

As fas as I can tell, the only way to create a region inside the SC4 game engine is to :

- create a subfolder in your default SC4 region folder

- in this sufolder, create a config.bmp file

- launch the game and select the new region (named the same wy you named this very subfolder)

- hit Shift+Cntr+Alt+R if I remember correctly, please check- browse the new appearing menu to select your greyscale map file

...and the engine will generate itself your new region.

Please check that Creating region tutorial.

Solution might be about the way to edit a correct config.bmp file : fill in plain green your file and you will have medium cities everywhere...

Does it help

Ok, where's my glass...?

Izi

[a_muses 39]

I have to edit the file with a bitmap editor, and that's where something's going wrong.

Hi A_Muses,

As fas as I can tell, the only way to create a region inside the SC4 game engine is to :

- create a subfolder in your default SC4 region folder

- in this sufolder, create a config.bmp file

- launch the game and select the new region (named the same wy you named this very subfolder)

- hit Shift+Cntr+Alt+R if I remember correctly, please check- browse the new appearing menu to select your greyscale map file

...and the engine will generate itself your new region.

Please check that Creating region tutorial.

Solution might be about the way to edit a correct config.bmp file : fill in plain green your file and you will have medium cities everywhere...

Does it help

Ok, where's my glass...?

Izi

Hi Izi,

Thanks, but I knew all of that already. I can fill in all the green (or blue, or red) that I want, but if I've downloaded a greyscale image from here and try to use my config.bmp instead of the one included by the uploader of the greyscale, I can't render the map. Does that make it clear what my problem is? I can make all the new regions and use all the downloaded greyscale images I want, but I can't change a downloaded config.bmp file to what I want and still have the region render. And yes, I'm not trying to change the config.bmp after rendering, but before.

[Izidor44 112]

... but if I've downloaded a greyscale image from here and try to use my config.bmp instead of the one included by the uploader of the greyscale, I can't render the map. Does that make it clear what my problem is?

Yop ! Quite clear.

Two probable causes :

- your config.bmp file has not the correct dimensions and greyscale image doesn't fit

- your config isn't a .bmp anymore, or not 8-bit

I would suggest to open the config.bmp file downloaded at first, check its dimensions and size in ko. And edit it the way you like. No trying to create a new one from scratch

Too early for a beer, a coffee then...

Izi

[a_muses 39]

So, basically, a downloaded greyscale/config file combination is not limited to the downloaded config file, right? I should theoretically be able to use any config file with any greyscale?

I use Seashore for my image editor (it's a GUI for the GIMP engine), and I'm definitely saving as a bitmap. Maybe the problem is that it's turning into a 16-bit bitmap instead...

Well, even though I haven't got a solution, I at least know where the problem isn't. I'll keep fiddling with it, then.

  Edited March 19, 2012 by a_muses  

[Izidor44 112]

Yop again

A greyscale map is not "attached" to any config. You can modify it the way you want.

For example, I recently felt in love for a Drunkapple's map called "Cathlamet", but, I have completelly changed the config in order to have interleaved big square tiles... ...instead of traditionnal grid.

The only thing you must keep is dimensions, which must fit :

The configuration bitmap should be 1 pixel across for every kilometer of region size. Since my region is 12 kilometers square, I'll make a configuration bitmap that's 12 pixels square.

(...)

Large cities are 4 pixels square and blue.

Medium cities are 2 pixels square and green.

Small cities are just 1 pixel and are red.

The way it works is that the large cities (the blue ones) needs to have blue set to 255, and red and green set to any value other than 255. The medium cities (the green ones) need to have green set to 255, and red and blue set to any value other than 255. And the small city (the red ones) need to have red set to 255, and blue and green set to any value other than 255.

(...)

Once finished, it's saved out as a 24 bit bmp file, called config.bmp.

Please check your confg.bmp file, which must be 8-bit channel (ie. 24 bit).

Now here, it can be time for a beer,

Izi

[a_muses 39]

Please check your confg.bmp file, which must be 8-bit channel (ie. 24 bit).

Now here, it can be time for a beer,

Izi

Okay, that's probably where I'm going wrong, then. My graphics editor is most likely changing some setting without telling me, then!

(Ah, what beer be your pleasure, matey? Over in my time zone we have weak Japanese beer #1, weak Japanese beer #s 2 and 3, and weak and nasty Japanese beer #4. We do have an excellent selection of sake-based highballs and plenty of strong stuff!)

[Izidor44 112]

Okay, that's probably where I'm going wrong, then. My graphics editor is most likely changing some setting without telling me, then!

Glad to see those things getting better !

****

Ok, you're probably in Japan, I'm in Paris, France. Then, the time setting makes you drink a beer at night when I start up my day with a black coffee... ...and I enjoy a nicey Duff © in front of telly at night when you actually wake up, what can we do ?

From japanese beer, I know imported one, like Asahi and Kirin, which are dry and tasty... ...here in France, we're not so bad at this too, but we also enjoy Belgian mastery

Izi