Heightmap customization - Azgaar/Fantasy-Map-Generator GitHub Wiki

The heightmap editor allows you to create and customize the heightmap manually, giving you more control over the world's terrain, unlike random generation.

To access the Heightmap Editor, you can either:

1. Navigate to Tools > Heightmap in the menu. (Look at the image below)
2. Use the hotkey shift + h.

The heightmap editor offers three different modes to choose from. Its recommended to save your map beforehand.

1. Erase:

   • This mode regenerates all data on your map, including cultures, states, biomes, and more.
   • It offers the most customization features, such as the image converter and template editor.

2. Keep:

   • This mode allows you to retain most of the map's existing data.
   • However, it does not allow changes to the coastline.

3. Risk:

   • This mode allows you to keep most of the map's data while also allowing changes to the coastline.
   • Note that using this mode can potentially cause some errors.

The Heightmap Editor includes tools to help you create and customize your map. Below is a detailed list of all available features:

• Paint Brushes:

  • Automatically opens and allows you to edit the map.
  • Use different brushes to draw and modify the height.

• Template Editor:

  • Edit, load, or create templates for your heightmap.

• Image Converter:

  • Convert images into heightmaps.

• Preview:

  • Displays a monochromatic image of the map in the bottom left corner.
  • You can click the image to download it.

• 3D Scene:

  • Opens a 3D version of the map in a new window.
  • Allows for a more immersive view of the map's shape and features.

• Enable Ocean Cells:

  • Enable or disable ocean cells on your map.
  • Useful for defining water bodies and coastlines.

• Allow Water Erosion:

  • Simulate water erosion effects on the terrain.
  • Adds realism to the map by shaping the landscape according to water flow.

Once you are satisfied with the Heightmap, click on Exit Customization in the bottom right.

• Radius (top slider): Controls the radius for brushes.
• Power (bottom slider): Controls the intensity of brushes.
  • Note: This has no effect on align tool.
• Raise: Increases cell height by power value; drag for continuous usage.
• Elevate: Drag to gradually increase cell height by power value.
• Lower: Decreases cell height by power value; drag for continuous usage.
• Depress: Drag to gradually decrease cell height.
• Align: Fits cell height to the first tagged cell; drag for continuous usage.
• Smooth: Smooths cell height; drag the map for continuous usage.
• Disrupt: Randomizes heights slightly; drag for continuous usage.
• Checkbox “change only land cells”: Prevents changes to the coastline.
• Line Tool: Creates mountains or trenches in lines.

• Un-do: Steps back, works only for Heightmap customization.
• Re-do: Steps forward, works only for Heightmap customization.
• Rescaler: Slider to rescale all cells.
• Condition: Conditional height rescaler.
• Smooth: Smooths all heights a bit.
• Disrupt: Randomizes all heights a bit.
• Clear: Sets all heights to 0.

Please see Template Editor.

Once opened, you'll be asked to select an image from your files.

• Upload Image:

  • Here you can upload a different image you’d like to convert into a heightmap.
  • Recommended are monochromatic images with black representing the ocean.

• Auto-Assign Colors Based on Luminosity:

  • This option assigns the colors to heights based on their luminosity.
  • Good for monochromatic images.

• Auto-Assign Colors Based on Hue:

  • This option assigns the colors to heights based on their hue.
  • Suitable for maps with differing colors.

• Auto-Assign Colors Based on Generated Scheme:

  • This option assigns the colors to heights based on Azgaar's bright color scheme.
  • Ideal for maps made with the generator.

• Set Maximum Amount of Colors:

  • Allows you to set the number of colors you can assign.
  • Can be any number from 3 to 255.

• Cancel the Conversion:

  • Cancel the image conversion and revert back to the previous map.

• Complete the Conversion:

  • Fully loads the map into the Fantasy Map Generator.
  • All unassigned colors will default to ocean.

To assign a color by hand, click the color you want to edit and then click the height you want on the set height slider.