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l3dt:userguide:ops:masks [2017/08/31 05:52] (current) |
| + | ====== Mask map operations ====== |
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| + | L3DT may be used to generate custom 'mask maps', which are 8-bit greyscale images that may be used for a variety of purposes, such as traversability maps in game engines, vegetation coverage maps in 3D renderers, etc. Mask maps are generated from [[l3dt:algorithms:masks|mask generators]], which may be created and edited in L3DT using the [[l3dt:userguide:res:masks:maskedit|mask editor]] window. |
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| + | ===== Generating mask maps ===== |
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| + | To generate mask maps, select the '//Operations->Mask maps->Generate masks//' menu option. This will open the //Select masks// window, shown below, in which you may select the masks to be generated. |
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| + | <html><div align = "center"></html> |
| + | | {{:l3dt:userguide:ops:masks:selectmasks.png|:l3dt:userguide:ops:masks:selectmasks.png}} | |
| + | ^ The 'select masks' window. ^ |
| + | <html></div></html> |
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| + | Please note that the //Select masks// window only lists the [[l3dt:algorithms:masks|mask generators]] that have been installed in L3DT's resources directory, which is: |
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| + | ^ Win 7 / Vista | C:\Users\[username]\L3DT\Resources\[L3DT version]\Masks | |
| + | ^ Win XP / 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\L3DT\Resources\[L3DT version]\Masks | |
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| + | To select multiple masks, use the left mouse button and the CTRL or SHIFT keys. |
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| + | Once you click OK, L3DT will generate the mask maps, and place them in the project. You may view these masks using the [[l3dt:userguide:view:selmap|map layer tab bar]] at the top of the window, or by using the '//View->Show map layer//' menu option. |
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| + | <html><div align = "center"></html> |
| + | | {{:l3dt:userguide:ops:masks:masks_in_project.png?600|:l3dt:userguide:ops:masks:masks_in_project.png}}| |
| + | ^ Viewing a mask map. ^ |
| + | <html></div></html> |
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| + | ===== Editing mask maps ===== |
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| + | L3DT has only [[l3dt:userguide:tools:byte_brush|rudimentary brush tools]] for editing mask maps manually, which you may access using the '//Tools->Edit active map layer//' menu option ([[l3dt:userguide:tools:activemap|user guide here]]). |
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| + | Instead, users are recommended to export the mask maps as images ([[#Exporting masks|described below]]), and edit the images in image editor programs such as Photoshop, Paint.NET or the GIMP. |
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| + | ===== Exporting masks ===== |
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| + | To export a mask, use the '//File->Export->Export map layer//' menu option ([[l3dt:userguide:io:export:active|user guide here]]). The recommended file format for mask maps is PNG, as it uses lossless compression. |