Rendering a Height Map

1. Download a suitable library for the file format you want to read.


2. Unpack and build said library.


3. Read the fine manual for the library.


4. Include and link against library and call suitable functions in library.


5. Get a buffer from the library with the raw image data.


6. Enjoy.

hi,

well.....assuming that i have the buffer with the image data loaded... how can i render it so it can be display as a height map?

Build a grid of vertices and iterate over the image buffer to get the corresponding y-values (height). Use the width and height information provided by the image formats you mentioned. The library you use should provide that information somewhere in the object you use to access the image buffer.

thanks a lot!

Basically, it shouldn't matter your source format, when you're rendering the terrain. Your terrain data should just be a bit array of heights, the height values are pulled fro your source image (either averaging the color per pixel, or taking one value, or the max value, or etc). If you started out with the raw image, then you don't have to worry about encoding, you just pick a way of getting a height from each pixel, and use that. For specific image formats, just add the decoding/loading step before that. Load the image into your raw buffer, then read your height out from that. :D

yep, i got a good tutorial on that, now that's clear to me.

Now i have another question:

1.- Does anybody knows a good program for creating height maps?
2.- How would be an algorithm for creating random height maps?

Quote:

Original post by BlackWind 1.- Does anybody knows a good program for creating height maps?

Heres a couple you could try:
L3DT
EarthSculptor

Quote:

Original post by BlackWind 2.- How would be an algorithm for creating random height maps?

Theres some articles here on GameDev about generating random heightmaps.

thank you!
i'm gonna take a look on those......