[Buck_Compton]

Hey Guys,

the interface has generally been done. I just need some work on the stratmap screen but that isn't in much of a hury. So I decided to give things a go for the new Rhineland Maps.

My first issue was which textures should I use? In my opinion sticking tight to the stock textures wasn't really and option. I also didn't like most of the textures used in LSA so I chose to go with something 'new' I've been working on maps for PT's Ortona mod. He has his maps mainly based on textures from Dodam. So I gave it a go using Dodams texture's.

I've made a map just to try out certain things as you can see. After discussing certain elements of these maps I came to conclusion which ones I was to use and I got to work.


One of the maps I found rather interesting is the battlefield of the Hochwald. I've chose to dedicate about 5 maps to this region, which is quite a lot I guess.


Ok the first steps are done quite easily. Certain things remain the same. Like how to paint roads buildings and forest ground etc. Next issue would be how to create depth in to the map. I could choose to paint it on to the map. But that never looks realistic. I had a discussion with Jim about that issue and he suggested modo to me. After a couple of hints on his part i set my self to it:


After adding the height layer I ran in to trouble:



As you guys might be able to see the map has a lot of rinkles in it. I got some help on a modo forum. Which resulted in the following.




Next step would be to to take this result and put it in as a layer in the actual psd and get to work with the defences the forest the roads railroad the small town etc etc. I'd guess another week or so and these maps should be close to a more definite form.

CHeers Buck

[CC_CO]

Looks really cool. Is there a special program you use for making these maps?

[platoon_michael]

I still think the hills look the same to me.
Seems as if almost every hill depicted in CC comes to a sharp point when people use shading to depict hills.

I find it to be somewhat unrealistic.

Just my 2 cents,It's not intended to be negative.

[Buck_Compton]

Hey Michael,

It has been a while ago! Yes I believe those hills are the hardest thing to paint in a map. But if i had to choose between fooling around with a bevel and emboss layers, a black or white painted layer or this 3d technique I'm choosing most definitly for this one! It took me about 15 minutes to realize this.

Cheers Buck

[southern_land]

yep hills are a bitch

this is what I tried for the Meuse mod on the stonne map   Added definition by adding a stone/rubble layer around the summit and defined where rain has eroded small gulleys.  far from perfect but it's another idea

[platoon_michael]

I've only made one map and I didn't like the hills I did.
I thought I got lucky in a few areas but I don't remember how I did it now.

[Buck_Compton]

Hey Michael,

I'm not familiar with painting snow maps! But that small stream looks quite ok to me. It's always a hard thing to paint a decent hill. I know the burning tool also works quite ok.

@SL That hill looks quite ok to me!

Cheers Buck

[platoon_michael]

Thank-you.

That part of the map was from an original CCIV map I copy/cut and pasted,as was the plane crash.

[Buck_Compton]

You're welcome! I've never really painted Snow maps but to create a lighter side would be pretty hard if the texture is allready white! Those craters are based on Dodam's tutorials?

I could advice you, if you ever plan to make new maps, to use Dodams texture's they are awesome!

Cheers Buck

[Buck_Compton]

Ok I have been buys for quite a while now. Been trying and trying especially with the layer which would create the depth in to the map. It's basically done it might need some extra detailing. You guys might have noticed that I have removed 1 map this was done after some discussion about which parts of the operations should be included and which not I will post separately which maps have been chose at this moment. Hope you guys like this one! I have allready started a set of new maps.

Cheers Buck

[img]http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/hochwaldmaps.jpg/[/img]

[CSO_Talorgan]