What's the best way to make a nice map_heights ?

[Meneldil]

I'm currently heavily editing a map_heights.tga file in order to complete the AoVaF map.
Problem is, although I can edit existing heights without screwing everything up, I kind of suck when it comes to create a whole new mountain. Whatever I do, I can't find a way to make realistic and nice heights.

Here's the kind of ugly stuff I usually end up with.



Nothing similar to some new maps or even to vanilla RTW map. Fact is, I dunno what to do to make heights smouther. Anyone got tips for me ?

[Monkwarrior]

Could you please post an image of map_ground_types and map_heights of that area?
That would help.

[Meneldil]

Of course

[Monkwarrior]

Why don't you use the method described by bdh?
This is the result:

coming from those files (they are magnified to double size):


I think that your heights seem to be steps, instead of slopes (I don't know how to explain better). The transitions in the grey scale are too "hard" instead of soft transitions (they must be similar to clouds), leading to "plateaux" instead of mountains.

Another point is that it seems to me that you distribute the different ground types in too small parts. You should cover larger areas with the same ground type, to give the map a better aspect.

I hope this will be of help to you.
Best wishes!

[Lentonius]

another option, instead of BDH's method, is to find your 'hard grey blocks' and smudge them onto the black to make it more sloping....

good luck

[Meneldil]

Thanks to both of you.

Why don't you use the method described by bdh?
This is the result:

I'm not using BDH's method because I'm using rtw vanilla map for the most part. We just added scandinavia, Island and northern Russia.