Map Retexturing

[Buck50 0]

I'm new at map modding and am interested in how to retexturize an existing map (taking the GR Caves map and turning it into a desert/mountain map). Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks!

[TheBlakeness (HotPants) 0]

I think way back in the day, Mike Schell retextured the caves map into a desert map. that was WAY back before DS came out.

You may try and hunt down that mod for pointers.

[San 0]

It's called retexturing/relighting... for map modding you'll need 3dsm.

Things you'll need :

1. Photoshop + RSB-plugin (ITcd)

2. RSBEditor (not needed but helpfull)

3. Lighting-tool (ITcd)

OK what I do is look at the original textures first and see which needs to be changed in brightness (for day2night/night2day). That's what RSBEditor is for. It creates a thumbnail overview of the RSB's in the folder.

Open the files in Photoshop and fix them, save with same name (so they override the originals once activated in game).

Now use the lighting-tool to correct the lighting for the map. Add/remove lights, save it. It'll get a different MAP-name so you gonna need to edit the ENV file too.

Good luck. For more info on the lighting-tool do a search here (El_Oso has a basic tutorial, that's all what's needed.)

Oyeah another thing : objects in the map have sound-properties (like a floor=concrete or sand, trees=wood, car=metal etc.). If you change the texture for grass into sand for example it will still sound like grass. These properties are made in 3dsm, but also with the RSBEditor.

If you do something dramatical like woodland to desert or visa versa I suggest you do the map-sounds too (birds/insects/wind etc.). This is done in Igor.

ehm I think this is what I know, yeah

Edited August 26, 2004 by San

[Buck50 0]

Thanks San!

Your info was helpful. I'm already beginning work on my map. Thanks again.

[Buck50 0]

One last question...

Can a .map file be edited? I know how maps are created in 3ds max, but can a .map file be converted back into a .max file for editing? If not, is there a way to edit them and how?

Thanks!

[Stalker 0]

but can a .map file be converted back into a .max file for editing

impossible

[San 0]

With Mike Schell's skinner tool or what its called you can edit the MAP-file so it'll match the renamed texture-files(RSB's) if you renamed them. This way it will have unique names so you don't override original files. Now you can play the original AND retextured map without having to deactivate your mod.