Stamping on Megatextures Overview

 

The following overview provides basic information on the process of adding foliage and stamps to a megatexture.

To begin, we need to open up a megatexture. We will be using the map that was built in the Advanced Environment Construction tutorial.

In the World Editor, select File -> Open -> Megatexture from the Main Menu, and locate and open the map. The Mega Editor will open in a new tab.

 

Adding Foliage

Some of the toolbars in the MegaEditor are hidden by default in the editor. Toolbars can be hidden or shown by right clicking in the toolbar area, and selecting from the drop down menu. For this section, show the MegaEditor Foliage and MegaEditor Mode toolbars. 

To begin adding foliage to the megatexture, click the Foliage Add Mode button on the MegaEditor Mode Toolbar, or press Shift + 1.

Navigate to the Foliage Browser, and select from the foliage options available. Then, using the foliage add mode tool, click in a desired location on the megatexture to add the foliage.

To remove foliage, select the Foliage Remove Mode Button, and click on the foliage you wish to remove.

The MegaEditor Foliage toolbar offers additional options for placing foliage:

1. Foliage Color Type : different settings for foliage color and luminance. Drop down options include:

a. Sample Terrain	the foliage will sample the post lit terrain color
b. User Specified	the foliage will use the custom color and the terrain for luminance
c. User Specified, Ignore Luminance	forces the custom color to be the color and luminance value
d. Decl Specified	uses the color specified in the foliage material

 

2. Foliage Color : choose from a library of color values, or pick a new value

3. Toggle Foliage Surface Normal : uses the surface normal to determining the direction of the foliage

4. Density : the density of the foliage (keep in mind the performance bars)

5. Scale : scale of the foliage (use the human scale foliage for reference scale)

6. Brightness : the brightness of the foliage

7. Foliage Memory : the texture budget for foliage textures

8. Foliage Scene Performance : this bar indicates the amount of foliage being drawn (if this bar gets high, try reducing the density)

9. Color Step : randomizes the color value of each foliage sprite

10. Resize Step : randomizes the size of the foliage

 

Stamping

Stamping utilizes the stamps browser, and the MegaEditor Stamp and Stamp Projections Toolbars.

 

Stamp add mode =  Ctrl+1

To stamp to bottom of stack = Ctrl+Left Click

Stamp remove = Ctrl+2

To sample, (while in remove mode) Ctrl+Middle Click

Stamp modify = Ctrl+3

Stamp reorder = Crl+5

To level a stamp to the top, Left Click.

To level a stamp to the bottom, Ctrl+Left Click