[bux]

Hello,

After some days of  map editing, i can release the first playbale version of map. The map is based on IGN photo (Institut national de l'information géographique et forestière) of little town in south Alpes mountain range.
My objective is to build a little campain/operation with few maps like that.

Edit: Two maps are now available

Preview:

Village mini:

Village Elevation:


Bastide mini:


Bastide Elevation (some tiny bug in elevation, will be fixed in next release):


You can download .rar pack here: http://sk.bux.fr/bux/cc/AlpineInsurrection_0.2.1.rar (compressed folder is a folder to place in MODS folder of JSGME).
To play it, play "Alpine insurection" campain.

I would be happy to receive  note or advices.

[mick_xe5]

Downloading now. Did you use digital elevation data or code the elevation manually?

[ScnelleMeyer]

Congratulation on your first released map. - It is hard work making ones first map!

I have always been sceptical about photorealistic maps in Close Combat, but I went ahead and tried a battle on your map.
I am suprised to say that I found it to be quite pleasing graphics wise and the all natural tree placement and buildings make it interesting to play.

- Noticed the coding or graphics doesnt tell you how many floors are in the buildings. - Would be nice if coding and and numbers could be implemented.

- I think the colors directly from the satelite imagery is too de-saturated - too washed out - especially on buildings. And shadows are too dark making too high contrast with surrounding terrain for my taste.
The de-saturated colors on buildings someplaces makes it hard to see where the building roof line is.

I had to check for myself if this could be adjusted somewhat in Photoshop. - Below is my result after quickly using adjustment layers and adjusting some of the shadows.

[platoon_michael]

Google Roofs....And Google Maps Suck!

[ScnelleMeyer]

Did some more testing on this concept. This time using aerial photos from an online free map service.

Map picture is a screencapture that was edited quickly using adjustment layers and sharpened using High-pass filter on low setting.

This shot is scaled to 8 pixels pr meter as PITF/GTC - The Stug is 10pixels pr. meter scale.
How about a Platoon attack on a small map like this? - Even the AI would give opposition here given the right teams:)

[bux]

Thank's for your times.

My first goal is to build mini campain for friends who lives in a little valley with two little town (the map is one of these).

[bux]

Forgotten question:

[ScnelleMeyer]

Google streetview can be your friend:)

[bux]

Good idea !

[ScnelleMeyer]

Ok I did this with Photoshop, but let me try to explain it for Gimp as best I can.

Try something like this or adjust it to whatever you think looks good:
Start by sharpening the image using a High pass filter - There is a Plugin for Gimp that can be downloaded and installed. I find this the best form of sharpening.

1. COLORS - HUE/SATURATION: +20 Saturation / -10 Lightness
2. Adjust red color by using COLORS - LEVELS - RED CHANNEL. -Might check out the Blue and Green channel too. - I am not so familiar with gimp controls for the levels so I could not get a very good result, but I am sure with more time to learn it it could be similar as Photoshop result.
This video explains some of the color levels usage in Gimp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwXAHhcRchQ
3. COLORS - LEVELS Input level to 15 on the Dark side.
4. COLORS - BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST to brightness 4 / Contrast 10
5. Color filled all map with this green: 52643e set at 25% in layermode Color burn. - Could use other colors too -use one that suits the image - this is to blend everything together.

There are many ways to reach the image you want, but I think this is a good start for your map. - But YOU are the artist and you decide what looks good on your map:)

[bux]

Thank's for how to ! It's not easy for beginner like me :p

I success with steps 1, 2, 3, 4. But don't found "layermode Color burn" of bucket fill tool. My actual result:

[ScnelleMeyer]

Very nice Bux -Well done!  - I think your map image now has a lot better colors. - But did you sharpen the image ?
To follow up a bit on my last post I have tested some more with Gimp using your last after photo.

Here are some pictures: - Remember - you decide whats looking best to your eyes:)

Color Burn is just called Burn in Gimp. Sorry about that. - You can see it is the layer MODE in the picture below - Not related to the Bucket tool.
I fill with bucket , THEN adjust layer mode and opacity percentage.

Hope this helps. - I know it is hard - I have learned this the long way myself:)

[ScnelleMeyer]

And this adjustment for colors - I found it now:)

[mick_xe5]

Some general observations -

tanks need 3 elements of passable terrain between obstacles
some of the bldg shadows on your map look to be at least 2 stories high
areas like the top left are rough enough to be coded as high grass instead of grass field
any foliage that casts even a tiny shadow should be coded as something other than grass (brush, bush etc)
places where there is a distinctive change between the terrain texture usually indicate a fenceline
I see a number of empty pools or water storage sumps
Code the rows of harvested hay as fodder stacks
more terrain types is better = if it looks like a unique object on the map try to give it a unique element type

You have mostly avoided putting bldgs on a slope, a very common mistake. What happens when you do is this...

...which can cause weird effects like units having fire fights through the roof. The steeper the slope a bldg is placed on the worse these effects

Am curious where this map is in Europe? Looking forward to v0.2

[bux]

Thank you all for your tips and advice ! It is a real pleasure to start close combat modding with your help !

I success with the burn green color, brightness and contrast adjustments. I don't apply yet wavelet sharpen, i installed this plugin but i don't know where is the menu . There is the actual result in attachement.

[ScnelleMeyer]

Wow Bux !

- I think you have improved your original map image immensely!

My wavelet is placed under FILTERS - ENHANCE - WAVELET SHARPEN.

Please also try the High pass filter method for sharpening - Here are two different versions for Gimp:
http://registry.gimp.org/node/25652
http://registry.gimp.org/node/7385

Tutorial on use: http://www.richardvanderlip.com/2014/06/image-sharpening-using-high-pass-filter.html
 
Looking forward to V2  and your second map as well:)

[mick_xe5]

This image is a better illustration of the problems caused by elevation changes within a bldg. As the elev of the floor changes so does the elev of the roof 8 increments (= 4m) above the floor. This creates gaps in the roof allowing units in the bldg to see and be seen (shoot and be shot). This mistake is all too common on original as well as custom maps.

[bux]

Okay, i can now work with wavelet and hight pass filter. Thank you very much ! Actual map image in attachement.

[mick_xe5]

5CC doesnt make it easy to see if your bldgs are on level elevations. Either you can see the bldg elements which dont always correspond to the roof/interior images, or you can see the elevation contours. The best method I have found is to do a general check in the elevation view. Then mouse over the bldg elements in terrain view and checktheir elev in the Coordinates window.

[bux]

Thank's for the tips. It's usefull.

With new background image i have a problem when play map in game. Black zone are visible. They are white zone in image. Cf. attachement. Whe these black zones ? Any idea about remove them properly (i can edit image to replace white with other colour) ? Note: bmp files are exported in 32b 24b.