Help rendering a new map

[gbdias 6]

I simply cannot create a new map, are there any tricks?

Created a new folder in the Regions folder

Put in the .bmp file downloaded from the STEX

Loaded up the the game, and opened up the new region, everything ok

Using CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-R opened the grayscale .jpg file and nothing happens! 

Already tried with multiple maps, but the CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-R command does nothing, no rendering whatsoever.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

If you'll post a linky to the map you are attempting to render, we can look at that first in case it's borked in some way.

Otherwise, the times I've seen absolutely nothing happen after selecting the grayscale image is when I'd mistakenly saved it as indexed color even tho it was devoid of color visually. Another thing that can happen when it won't render is if the size the config.bmp dictates doesn't match the calculated size needed for the grayscale image, but when that happens there will be a popup message from the game saying what size it expects the image to be.

And just to check, are you using a Mac? If so, the complete path to the grayscale has to be pasted into the selection box rather than drilling down thru the folders to find it.

[gbdias 6]

On 3/10/2022 at 8:51 AM, CorinaMarie said:

If you'll post a linky to the map you are attempting to render, we can look at that first in case it's borked in some way.

This is the map I originally tried to render: 

I also tried other ones, with no success, the CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-R command won't do anything after selecting the grayscale .jpg file.

 

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

1 minute ago, gbdias said:

This is the map I originally tried to render: 

I'll give it a try and let you know soon. Btw, are you using a Mac?

[gbdias 6]

28 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

I'll give it a try and let you know soon. Btw, are you using a Mac?

Oh, sorry for not answering that, but no, I'm not using a Mac, I'm using Windows 10.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

@gbdias

You are correct. The grayscale image is a wee bit borked and will not render in the game as-is. (I've corrected it and @Cyclone Boom is fixing the STEX entry. He'll post when it's ready.)

The details you need not read:

The image is a 16-bit Grayscale which the game itself does not recognize. Per their instructions to use Terraformer, the region can be created with that tool and looks like this once rendered:

^ As you enter and save each city tile the game then updates to whatever terrain and water mods you have installed in Plugins (or the Maxis ones if you don't use overrides).

 

For rendering in the game via the CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-R command it needed first converting to true grayscale and then also the size of the image was off by one pixel each direction. I've fixed both. (In Terraformer it notices the discrepancy and alters the size.)

With the new version CB is uploading to the STEX you will be able to render it in the game and see this:

^ I rendered with Maxis terrain and water.

 

Here's the same, but rendered in game with my terrain and water mods in place:

 

So, stand (or sit) by. CB will reply here soon to let you know when the new file is ready.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

Me again.

CB and I did more research and the quality of the final rendered region is much, much better defined via Terraformer. The port area has the proper shape edges which the in game render cannot produce.

So, backtracking a wee bit. We feel it'd be improper for us to replace the file they created since the one which can be created in the game is simply not as good. (You can render theirs using Terraformer because it understands the 16-bit grayscale and it'll notice the image is 640x640 when it needs to be 641x641.)

Plan B:

CB will add a second option to their download of the Terraformer rendered region so it's ready to use without any other faffing about.

Hang tight until he has that ready.

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

@gbdias

And we got there. All sorted now.

On the Two Mountains file entry, the region can now be installed from inside the zip which can be obtained from the main Download button.

[gbdias 6]

34 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

Me again.

 

6 minutes ago, Cyclone Boom said:

And we got there. All sorted now.

Many thanks to you both! Have a great weekend! 

BTW I also tried to get the Terraformer working, but couldn't, something to do with how old the software is, I even saw a tutorial, any easy way to get it running?