Scrub Terrain

[NW 2156]

Hi,

Are there any good tutorials for generating terrain transition textures?

Like the so called scrub textures in some routes.

I recall there being a write up on doing seamless terrain transition textures. Just don't remember where?

Thanks.

Robert

[Darkhorse427]

Robert,
Are you talking about terrtex files what contain 2 different textures? or just a custom home made terrtex texture to use between two others to provide a more subtle transition? I use paint.net to make custom textures for terrtex files. I made myself a template with black and white template with 2 blank layers between each B&W layer. I use the select tool on the B&W layer to select the black portion and then delete that on the top texture 1 pasted into the blank layer leaving the other one below it whole. then use the clone tool to blur the transition line between the two after I merge the top one down to the lower one.
image.png
Once I have all the layers done I delete the B&W template layers and save as a PSD with the name of the two textures. I can then save each layer as its own bitmap for conversion to .ACE texture or directly as a .DDS depending on what I am doing with the route.
P.S. I always keep the original template in read only format so I don't accidently save it with any changes and it opens as a blank each time.
image.png

[Darkhorse427]

here is the template incase anyone would like to use it.

[NW 2156]

"Are you talking about terrtex files what contain 2 different textures?"

Yes.

Robert

[qballbandit]

I just paint. I have a folder in my Terrtex folder called "terrain files" (dozens of files collected over the years to use for varied terrains, tarmacs, lots, yards, etc.), and then I use TSRE5 to paint to the result you are inquiring about. Simply select whichever file I need from "terrain files" and paint away.

[NW 2156]

The issue I have is I wanna redo an existing route's textures as close to the originals. But different shades of colors.

[Darkhorse427]

Well The easiest way would be to manipulate the Hue/Saturation and or color balance / RGB curves of the original textures to change them to one you are more happy with.

More complicated would be to create all new textures from multiple sources using blending and transparency layers to achieve ones that are similar in theme but different shades/saturation than the originals. the example I showed above were created out of several images each layered and blended until I was happy with how they looked.

[dlfrenchmd]

The MSTS Technical Documents have a section on Terrain textures that emphasize the need (with pictures), to do what Darkhorse did above in making sure they can rotate to make seamless looking terrain. I used them in Photoshop to make transition terrain textures. Darkhorse's templates should do it. I shamelessly used freeware ground textures and shaded them as he suggested for my routes.
Dan