Need a do it all tool

[Fissler]

Very new to map making. I have tried to follow quite a few post and tutorials, but cant send to get what I want.

I have so far done the /loc of the whole map to a log file. I have converted the log file to a .svg file. I have taken that into Inkscape and made a bitmap image.

Here is my problem. I know the vector file has all the coords in it, but cant figure out how to create a grid over the image that is scaled correctly. I would like a way to imput the 100+ POIs that places them automatically in the right place on the map and with identifying text.

As soon as I save the file as an image file I lose all sense of scale and proportion. I can print it out and do it by hand but seems like there should ba an easier way.

Sure would appreciate so advice/tools/info.

[SaintPeter]

Haha! Don't we all.

Nomas's Simple Map Modifier does much of what you describe, but I don't know if it works with raw maps.

At this point, making maps is still a dark art. I was able to learn it in a week, just reading tutorials and asking questions here.

As far as I know, there is no /loc -> image utility . . but I am able to go from /loc to ALMOST map in a single click. The last bit is doing the zone-rect calculations. Tony's tool makes that a heck of a lot easier, but it's still tougher than clicking on a magic button.

How's your programming?

[taco-man]

once you know the zonerect just use the old tool i made a long time ago, its uses a formula that i figured out when playing with the zonerect formula (its the same formula i put on the eq2map website to position all the points properly on the maps when they are submitted. its in the utilities section of the downloads area, heres a link http://www.eq2interface.com/download...fo.php?id=3395
by the way if you dont know the zonerect the same tool can calculate it as well.

[Fissler]

OK, the zonerect tool may be what I was looking for if I can figure out how to set up the relationship between in game /locs and my map image. I see in the tool the default size 436 x 506 and I understand that is the size EQ2 uses in game.

Now here is my problem:

My current image is about 6500 x 7000 and currently at 300 dpi (for printing) The in game /locs fit a grid of about 0,0 to 1800, 1800. So the map is roughly 12x the size needed for in game use. Map has not been scaled at all went from log>svg>inkscape>photoshop as a .eps for higher res.

I have a list of about 100 POIs atm. I want to put them on the map and use the printed map until it is available in game (DoF beta maps) so I need to keep the image large so info can be read.

For map image coords do I just need to approximate them based on my image size? Can I change the image size in the tool to match my large image size?

Hope this is making sense.

Update: I tried to use th ZoneRect tool. I plugged in a in game /loc from upper left and lower right. I photoshop I found those same 2 points on the map and entered the x,y coord from info tab. I calculated the zonerect. I went to the next tab and entered another know in game /loc to get coords. The coords it gave me were way way off.

Here is the exact info I used:

in game /loc a: 883, -1597
in game /loc b: 315, -738

image size: 6306 x 6071
image coord a: 8.84, 1.94
image coord b: 15.2, 11.34

I used the default image size and the actual image size but both returned the same info for new map coords even though they had diff ZoneRects.

I used /loc 462, -1506 to check map coords...tool gave me -24, 3 actual coord from Photoshop info is closer to 13.5, 2.7

What have I done wrong?

[taco-man]

the image coordinates should be in pixels not whatever unit you are using that is giving you those small numbers that are decimals you put for your image coordinates. please let me know if this fixes your problem, or if it doesnt fix it, and if you need help you can contact me on one of my instant messengers on my profile and i will help you (just tell me who you are so i know)

[Fissler]

OK I changed it to pixels instead of inches and had to use a neg number for image size -6306 x 6071 , but seems to be dead on.

Now I can locate my POIs just need to find an easy way to place them at the coords and label them.

[taco-man]

why did you have to use a negatie size #?

[Fissler]

I am not sure why, this is my very first attempt at making in game maps. I think it may be because the new DOF zones dont have coord 0,0 in the middle of the map. This particular map has 0,0 at the bottem right of the map and line in the positive x plane and the neg y plane all in the NW coordinate.

When I changed my image size to a neg width (y dir) the zonerect returned the right coords and every poi I put it was dead on.

This is the first zone of the beta I have tried to map mainly because I was laways getting lost. What I have noticed is that "zones" overlap each other now and the in game /locs seems to be flowing from one zone to the next.

I will try to post a jpeg later when I have it all laid out. Also once the zonerect was correct I could place an accurate grid over the whole map by imputting /locs and moving the grids lines.

Thanks again.

Here is a grayscale version minus all POIs:

[taco-man]

It looks very well laid out

any possibility i can get you to post(or email) the image in psd format or whatever you used, and mark the 2 points you used to get the zonerect and post thier /l location as well as mark a third point and post its location so that it can be used as a test to verify the zonrect is correct? Then we can add it to eq2map. credit will of course be given to you, and then you will really have an in game map that functions in game with the red arrow and everything.

[Fissler]

I zipped the file and got it down to 46 megs. I left all the info in that I have so far. It is in .psd form with all layers intact.

The three purple dots are the ones you ask for and I named the layers to match. Here is the info I used:

Point A (upper left) /loc 883.36, -1597.59 image coord: 2651,582
Point B (lower right) /loc 314.86, -738.10 image coord: 4559,3402
Check Point (upper middle) /loc 462.8, -1506.02 image coord: 4061,880

image size: -6306 X 6071
Zonerect: -1452, -2089, -2804, -3046

Not sure if upload went...looks like I got a page error. Can I FTP it to you?

[taco-man]

yes you can ftp it, thats fine.
check your private messages fissler, it sent you a pm that has all the ftp info in it (address password ect).

[Fissler]

OK FTPed the file. Seemed to work fine.