View source for Help:Topology Tab

The Topology Menu provides
the tools for creating various
types of terrain. In this section
you will learn how to make
hills, valleys, mountains, lakes
and rivers.

Click on the Topology Tab (or
press the F1 key) to open the
Topology Menu. Here you
will see a number of different
tools that can be used to shape
the terrain. Hold your mouse
cursor over each one to see a
short description as well as the
appropriate Hotkey to press. To
see the whole menu as in the
iamge below, click on the
“Advanced” button to expand
the menu.
[[File:Topology.jpeg|400px|left]]
{{clear}}

= Main menu =

== [[File:Height up.jpg]]  Height up (U) ==

Click on the Height Up icon to select the
Height Up tool, and notice that your mouse cursor changes
to a circle. This circle is the “area of influence” for your cursor
when using the land shaping tools.
Click LMB once near the center of your baseboard. The terrain is stretched upwards, if you hold LMB it will continue to rise. 
{{clear}}

== [[File:Height down.jpg]] Height down (D) ==
Move to a flat area then make an indentation by clickin LMB where you want
to lower the terrain. The size of the cursor circle determines the amount
of land that is lowered and the sensitivity determines how
quickly it lowers.
{{clear}}

== [[File:Height adjust.jpg]] Adjust height (A) ==
Adjust Height allows finer control of the up
and down movement. Click LMB and hold then
push your mouse away from you to raise the
terrain. Click LMB and hold then pull the mouse
towards you to lower the terrain.
{{clear}}

== [[File:Radius.jpg]] Radius ==
Click LMB on the Radius Tool and move to either side to change the circle of influence. Right to enlarge (“+”), left to minimize (“-”). 
{{clear}}

== [[File:Sensitivity.jpg]] Sensitivity ==
Click LMB on the Sensitivity Tool and move to either side to change the amount of height changed each time the circle of influence is affected. Right to enlarge (“+”), left to minimize (“-”). 
{{clear}}

== [[File:Height get.jpg]] Get height (G) ==
Select Get Height (G), then Click RMB on the side of
a hill. Notice that the number in the Height Value
field changes. You have captured the height of the
spot you clicked on. 
{{clear}}

== [[File:Height use.jpg]] Use height (H) ==
Click on Use Height (H) Then Click LMB to apply the
selected Height Value to the terrain. The Use Height
tool creates a plateau at your selected height and
the radius of your cursor circle determines the
amount of land that is leveled at one time.
Click LMB+H then move your mouse around the terrain to
plateau a broader section.
{{clear}}

== [[File:Plateu.jpg]] Plateu (P) ==
Plateau (P) creates a plateau at the current height of the
compass. Click LMB on the side of a hill to create
a plateau at that level by raising or lowering the
terrain.
{{clear}}

== [[File:Height value field.jpg]] Height value field ==
As an alternative to Get Height to select a Height Value, you
can also enter specific height in the Height Value field. You
can enter positive or negative values. Negative values allow
you to depress the terrain.
{{clear}}

== [[File:Water add.jpg]] Add water (W) ==
Click LMB on Add Water (W)
and paint the water texture along the
desired area by moving
your mouse around. The radius of the
cursor circle determines the texture panel size. 
{{clear}}

== [[File:Water remove.jpg]] Remove water (Q) ==
Click LMB on Remove Water (Q) and you then delete
the water texture one panel at a time by Clicking
LMB on each water panel.

{{clear}}

== [[File:Water adjust height.jpg]] Adjust water height (E) ==
Select the Adjust Water Height
tool and Click LMB and hold (on the water texture) then drag
your mouse forward and back, adjusting the water texture
height until it is the appropriate
height.
{{clear}}

== [[File:Ground add.jpg]] Add ground (X) ==
Select the Add Ground
(X) tool. Click LMB in the void just off the edge of
the baseboard to add another baseboard in that direction.
{{clear}}


== [[File:Ground remove.jpg]] Delete ground ==
Click LMB on the Delete Section button. Then Click
LMB on any baseboard section to delete it.
{{clear}}


= Advanced =
The Advanced features menu can be opened and closed by
using Shift-F1 or clicking on the Advanced Tab.


== [[File:Displacement map.jpg]] Displacement map ==
A displacement map is a grayscale image
used to create an instant height map.
{{clear}}


== [[File:Direction.jpg]] Direction ==
Move the direction dial in the directon you wish the grayscale map to be put down on the baseboard.
{{clear}}


== [[File:Threshold.jpg]] Threshold ==
Move the Threshold dial to increase the size of the height change set on the displacement map.
{{clear}}


== [[File:Area select.jpg]] Select area (B) ==
Click on Select Area (B). Click LMB and drag the
mouse to make a large square as shown below.
The size of the square (or rectangle)
determines the area that will be affected by the next
operation.
{{clear}}


== [[File:Area fill.jpg]] Fill area (F) ==
Scroll through the Displacement Maps, then click on Fill Area (F). The
terrain is instantly transformed into the shape determined by
the grayscale images of the displacement map chosen.
{{clear}}


== [[File:Area cancel.jpg]] Cancel selection (D) ==
Click LMB on Cancel Selection (D) to cancel the
selection.
{{clear}}


== [[File:Area grab.jpg]] Get displacement (B) ==
Click on Select Area (B). Click LMB on the baseboard
and drag the mouse to make a large square that
covers an existing area of modified terrain. Now
click the “Get Displacement” button and you’ll notice that a
displacement map has been derived from the shape of the
terrain. This can now be used to apply the same terrain effect
in another area.
{{clear}}