Editing Image work needed.
 

I want to create a map .. I've the TGA file, but it's resolution is too small, and I want a bigger map, of at least 200 provinces.

There's someone that would be so glad to modify the map resoltion without lessening its beauty for me?

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Hmmm enlarging an image means that where there was a green dot, you now have a green box. There are various tools that will scatter the pixels abit and then smooth them out but you might lose some of the clarity of the map.

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

You could just edit the #defaultmapzoom directive: Dominions II will then automatically magnify the map for you so that the castle icons are bigger or smaller, depending on your tastes. It's impossible to "enlarge" really anyway, since that would involve having to create fictitious data to fill in the problem of "large pixels"...which will just make the map look more like mud instead. This is not really an improvement.

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

You could enlarge the map, and then go in by hand to restore (recreate) the detail that was lost.

Not where my skills happen to lie, but many others have talents such as these.

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Actually there is some remarkably good software for enlarging low-res images to higher res with often very good results, which I happen to have access to. I'd be happy to see what it can do with your map.

PvK

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

The file is too big to be sent via email.
Have you any PtP software like IRC or Icq where we can meet and I can send you the file?

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

I haven't deleted the file off of my site yet Cohen. If you haven't modified PvK could grab it from here http://home.earthlink.net/~adamschroeder/magnamund2.tga


Also PvK, I would be interested in the software you talking about. What is the name of it? What types of images does it do a good job of enlarging? Thanks!

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

I'ven't but there're still 6 white pixels concentrated in the left bottom corner ... so I've 6 sea provinces massed in the corner!!!
Well at least six! Dunno if they're more.

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Ok, I'll give it a try tonight when I get home.

It's a Photoshop plugin (actually, a series of products) by LizardTech called Genuine Fractals (or PrintPro).

It uses a fractal algorithm to extrapolate what an image should look like when enlarged. In some cases the results are quite amazing. Other times less so. I think it would do very well for most maps.

I've used it to create larger Versions of very small sprites and thumbnails with good success.

It's main intended application though is for very large image files, such as for large high-quality prints and posters and so on, where it offers a very high-fidelity yet compressed format which is easily scalable to any size.

PvK

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Ok, I made an enormous Version, which you'll probably want to shrink down, and maybe apply some Photoshop sharpening to.

Unfortunately, your original image was not only low-res, but apparently came from a lowish-fidelty JPEG of a scan.

But I don't think it reduced the fidelity in increasing the pixel size. I think it actually looks a little better, but ideally, a higher-res scan would be the best way.

Anyway, there is a 50-meg zipped Version here.

Let me know when you're done with it, and I'll probably take it down.

I could also make another size, if that would help.

PvK

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

I've started the DL.

I hope there won't be any totl white pixel (RGB 255 255 255).

Now I've a question for experience map editors.
The pixel for the provinces, should be done with a grahical software, or the Map Editor can create them?

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

I didn't scan for all-white pixels, so there may be some. It's also fairly simple to remove them in Photoshop. Maybe you can let me know what final size you want, and any other details, and I can spend a little more time making another Version, if that would help.

PvK

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Where can I get this plugin? I hope its a free download. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

You need to put in the white pixels. The map editor program will assign them numbers, make a guess at neighbors (its helped out if you have borders with some red in them). And it can make it easier to assign terrain

By the way it apparently works better if you give it a .map file to overwrite. It doesnt seem to like creating one from nothing.

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Where can I get this plugin? I hope its a free download. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">http://www.lizardtech.com/solutions/gf/ is the publisher's page about it.

Buying direct from them it is $50 for the limited Version (limits on size and stuff), up to $300 for the full Version.

There may be other places to buy it, and/or competing products, though.

Edit:
There's also an intermediate $160 Version, and there is a free trial demo download, though it has a limit of 20 uses, at:

http://www.lizardtech.com/download/d...hp?page=trials

PvK

[ June 02, 2004, 16:54: Message edited by: PvK ]

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Thanks. I guess I will use demo as much as I can, since full Version is simply too expensive for me at the moment. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

That is actually fairly impressive. I had used a similar fractal enlarger 3 or 4 years ago and was not impressed by the results.

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Ya. It depends on the image, but I've seen some surprisingly good results trying to blow up small images with very little to go on, such as tiny low-res game sprites.

PvK

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

I believe around 3000*3000 it's nice.

If you can get rid the map of each total white pixel you'll do a nice job, since I'm not able in using Photoshop, however I believe I can click there and there with the photoshop paint to put the provinces ...

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Ok, I'll do that tonight.

PvK

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Ok, varsogod, eccoli, and all that.

These are both about 3000 x 3000 (three times original size).

The first one is here.

The second one is here and has a "sharpen" filter applied to it. It makes it less blurry-looking, but different. I suppose it's a matter of aesthetic taste which one every person will prefer.

I think both are free of pure white pixels.

They are all also slightly richer in color than the original. I thought this was an improvement and probably closer to the original artwork, but if you prefer, I can re-do it with the original's lightness.

PvK

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Thanks!
The sharpened one is very good ... however there're still the white pixels in the corner, unless it's an error of the map editor ...

However now I try to do something with Photoshop to see if I can solve it by myself!

I hope to finish that map soon and to create a game with it on Mosehansen server.

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

It's a Dom2 Map Editor bug ...

I zoomed the map in the corner and there'ren't any white pixels...

I hope it's something about he needs to put at least 6 provinces and creates them where he sould start numbering provinces.

Now I try to put white pixels there and there and I'll see.

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Oks, Houston, I've a problem!

I'm putting everywhere white pixels, but the editor keeps not recognizing them and giving me 6 provinces in the bottom left corner!!!

How do I put provinces, so on?

[ June 03, 2004, 08:27: Message edited by: Cohen ]

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Oks again, Houston, I was an idiot!

Dominions should be restarted if you change the map ... it isn't sufficient to save the TGA, close the editor and open it again...

[ June 03, 2004, 08:27: Message edited by: Cohen ]

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

Hey, hey, hey! By the prickling of my fingers I feel a Lonewolf mod coming. Am I right?

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

A map, not a mod ...
Sadly for now it's impossible to play on a server without manual settings with Mods...

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Hmmmm actually, you could create the game on a server. Then gather the uploaded god files (the initial .2h files) and create the game on any machine using the mods, then send the files created (like the fatherland file) back to the server... Hmm no wait, that wont work. The server would need to have a complete copy of the game in another directory and use it with the mods loaded.

Has anyone brought this up to Johan K? He might find this interesting.

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

No, but I'm thinking that that might be a good idea. The server really needs a --usemod=mymod.dm switch.

Re: Editing Image work needed.
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Has anyone tested this? Maybe the fatherland file controls it. That would mean that making the file and putting it in the game directory might be adequate if each fatherland file would force the use of the appropriate mods the way it forces the use of the appropriate map.

Otherwise making a seperate full copy of the game will work. Ive got multiple copies on my machine with no problem. But yes a switch would probably be better.