How do we make maps?

[-72-]

I would also like to create maps too!
I would also buy the Mapmaker!
But where?

I do work for JTS; in my case, 'map maker' is a person that specialises in making maps.

not all series have even the OOB tools

- this is incorrect - use notepad, it is all text based; arguably easier to use than a wysiwyg editor.  Just don't accidentally slip in a comma somewhere -it can royally mess up an OOB file (worse if you have to fix someone else's... and I have).

Other point is that mods are a free way t... not possible lose money with something you never are going to release.

Maybe... sure, but if you are going to put all of the effort into something -and I mean as a 'modder' - why would you chuck the thousands of dollars into research materials and software just to get some community accolades? Frankly I would wonder about guys with that type of time on their hands, with that sort of disposable income. Or put another way, if there is some way to recoup some of that -then why wouldn't you?  And then at that point I guess technically you are a 'bad' person because you are no longer a 'modder'.

Returning to thread... here i have a little question about hexes+elevation... i dont know if is possible to made elevations easier to see reduce the size of border hexes to use the extra space to create more visible borders... something like you can see in "Steel panthers" for example... of course is an art point but maybe have an option to activate one version or other... sure help a lot.

 

It takes some trial and error testing -but go for it -- create a mod to do it --- each series varies... what I am working on is going to be about converting 8 - 24 bit -which change things around some (probably a lot), but that isn't to say that if there is a hexside graphic out there that you want changed that you can't go and do it and see what happens.

From a work perspective I am not touching PzB graphics unless I want (or am asked) to show that it would be easy to add in another native graphics level to the series that I am working on -and then it would become more a matter of inserting the graphics that I am using -and creating a test bed as an example.  In my experience having examples is a decent way to make an effective presentation/proposal (in anything). But I wouldn't do it unless I knew that there was a possibility of making it happen - if not -- it does take up too much time.

But that is getting away from the point ... it should be possible to do what you want, Xaver - but you might have to find someone to do it for you.  I don't see anything that would technically stop it from happening.

-Personally I would love to use png files instead of bmp - I think it would be a lot more flexible (and allow for true transparent backgrounds).

art ... limits...

Don't be too sure - changing bmps to pngs would change around your limits  - I guess technically it would involve an engine change in that the programming would need to point to a different type of file - but your 'limit' would become changed markedly (written from the point of view of a person that does a lot of work with pngs).