Build-a-map - beta

Here is a small non-interactive tool to create a high definition beautiful image of a map, in PHP, from a standard source image.

This result should fit for printing for table games, or used in video games.

Features

• Source correction (pixelisation, noise)
• High definition (and beautification) with multiple bicubic interpolation and supersampling
• Mercator projection to equidistance correction (if needed)
• Free, open-source, and with support on demand

Download

Download here

This script is under GPL

See a sample result on the right =====>

How to

Needed

• A web server supporting PHP 5. A lot of free and easy web-server for Windows are available, e.g. : EasyPHP, WAMP...
• A drawing tool supporting layers, e.g. Gimp, Paint.net...
• About 1h of work
• 1 to 10 hours for computation

Prepare a map

The source image must be a .GIF file, with all places clearly defined and colored (so, as .gif is limited to 256 colors, and 1 of them will be for the sea, only 255 different domains may be drawn - more will not make the script fail).

The source image can have any size (but the higher definition the better). No transparency is used.

A good way to do it is :

• Open an basic image of a map as a background layer in a multi-layer image in your drawing tool
• Resize it if needed
• Create a second layer on it, fully white, and hide it for now.
• Create a third layer, and, following the background, draw the domains, one color for each. The color of the sea is the color of the very first pixel (top left).
• Show the second layer.
• Save it (as a copy) as a .GIF file.

The result should be like the image on the right

Run the script

• Put the PHP script in the root folder (or "webfolder") of your web server.
• Test it, the address should be like : http://localhost/buildmap/buildamap.php.
• Verify that result.png has been created (and there are no php errors).
• Put you source .GIF image next the script.
• Open the script (any notepad will fit), and change the options in the beginning. You should particulary increase "OUT_TX" and "OUT_TY" (pixels). Don't use already a very high value (eg. 3000 * 2000).
• Launch it (always the same address above). It should be a lot slower if you increase "OUT-TX", "OUT-TY" or "MLT".
• Ajust...

Use the map

You should end your work by painting items, stamps... on your map, using any drawing tool.

Help !

Ask for any help, or propose modification here.

askywhale, 2009