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Basic Mapmaking Questions--am I wrong?
https://ryandor.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=529		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  GreyRider [ Thu Jan 30, 2003 11:46 am ]
Post subject:  Basic Mapmaking Questions--am I wrong?
I think I am going about this all wrong.

I have a copy of Photoshop 5.5, Dragon, Worldbuilder, and WorldForge. I create a map in Photoshop with the proper size settings, etc, and load the colortable. First problem....the colors aren't "lined up", so I have NO idea which color is supposed to be which, other than that the blue that is on the color table is *supposed* to be "water -5". How can I tell?

Next problem....how do I determine what the grass is? Am I missing a step to have my colortable line up the way it shows up in the .ACO?

Next problem...my coastlines are all still dagger-jagged and fookled. I have run Dragon to create my .mul, then DragonSP to fix the Statics. However, my coastlines still look like teeth, and still have jagged edges.

Last problem (for now)....How do I get rid of buildings that I placed? When I re-run DragonSP using a different Map0.mul, shouldn't those clear out? Do I need to create a blank Staidx0.mul and Statics0.mul?

I don't need a n00bie guide.....I need an *ultra* n00bie guide... :roll:

As a feeble attempt to save some face, here.....I *do* try playing with this stuff, and I *have* read the FAQs, but I am still a little lost. I am not trying to start off with something grand....I just want to make a simple little island, populate it and so on....and *then* move on...

Any advice from the masters?

Thanks!
Author:  Dian [ Thu Jan 30, 2003 4:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
Okay, well I have uses PSP all the way through my map making, and never had any troubles with useing it, I know PhotoShop would have done me better.. but Oh well.
It sounds as if you dont have the color Pallete loaded in to PhotoShop.

As far as your Coast lines, are you making them at too high altitude? another thing with coast lines, you need to really make them smooth.. I dont have pics setup for examples atm.. but hopfully you know what i mean. I could send some small examples to you, if you give me a page.

For statics, yes, When you run DragonsSP.exe you should get prompted to Remove Old Statics? Yes / No
If you select yes, it will clear them.
If you still have trouble with it, you can use World Forge Fill/Clear to completly clean them, and it will even fill your map0 file with whatever you want.. I fill it with water -5.
Only other thing i can say about that, Is your buildings Static? or still items in your EMU that you just need to wipe..

Hope that helps some, anyways.. sorry, I dont know about PhotoShop.
Author:  Dragonfire [ Thu Jan 30, 2003 8:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
You didn?t say what version of Dragon you are using & I?m not sure if I understand your problem with the pallet correctly, but I use Photoshop 7 so I?ll try to help you..

If you are using the Mod 9 version you can go to your Photoshop and open your Swatches box. There on the right hand side near the tabs is a small arrow. Press it and go scroll down to ?Replace Swatches?.
Now aim it at your Dragon/addon file and choose ?dragon-mod9-labeled.aco?. This will load a labeled pallet so when you hold your curser over a color on the pallet it will show you ?grass 5? etc.

If you are using an older version of Dragon you can just go to your Dragon/addon file and open colortable_eng-mod8.bmp. This will show you what the colors mean in a separate window.

Don?t forget, all the windows in Photoshop are sizeable. So you may have to change the shape of your pallet to get the colors to line up.

Hope this helps! :wink:
Author:  GreyRider [ Fri Jan 31, 2003 8:47 am ]
Post subject: 
Dragonfire, I thank you for the key to what was ailing my poor map: 'Replace Swatches'......I had totally missed that.

Last night was something of a miraculous event. I replaced my swatch with the correct version (I am using version 8 of Dragonfire, I assume) and created a new map. I modified my scripts to put only the trees and plants that I wanted, and went to work. I compiled, held my breath, and entered into my new world.

It was beautiful. The coastlines were clean. The grass was right. I could set a boat down and actually sail. I did happy dance after happy dance, exulting in the fresh air of a new creation.

However, I am still getting remnants of old buildings, despite having created new Staidx0.mul and Statics0.mul files. I get some doors and signs from the Britannia map, and also some buildings that I placed in prior maps (now winding up in the ocean, for example). *That*, I will have to figure out.

But for now, I have what I needed......a way to create the world that I have been waiting to create.

Thanks!!!
Author:  Dragonfire [ Fri Jan 31, 2003 8:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hehe You?re very welcome GreyRider! :wink:

While I would like to have made it, I can?t take the credit for the program. It?s just ?Dragon?. (No relation! lol ) I have modified many of the scripts for our own use, but that?s anther story..

As for your doors and signs etc, you can edit your world file. Or even easier is just to nuke from one corner of the map to the opposite corner.

Anyway.. glad I could help! :D
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