2D Map Creation – Arma Reforger

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In order to display a 2D map when using the map item in-game, a MapEntity.et must be placed.
It is possible to use custom geometry and/or texture using the following fields:

  • Map Geometry Data - this file contains road network, buildings, airfields etc information for them to be displayed on the 2D map
  • Satellite Background Image - this file contains the map background texture: forests, shaded relief, etc.
    This tutorial explains how to generate a Terrain Rasterization Background Image to be used as Satellite Background Image, but any other texture can be used (e.g a satellite map).


1. Export Map Data Tool button
2. Export Map Data Tool tab
3. Export button

Generate Map Geometry Data

The Map Geometry Data field takes a topography data file (.topo extension).

Generate TOPO

  1. Run World Editor with the wanted world
  2. Locate Export Map Data tool in toolbar (marked as 1)
  3. Click Export Map Data tab (marked as 2) to display the tool's panel if needed
  4. Set the Type to Geometry2D
  5. Set up the settings under the Geometry 2D category, such as color and scale
  6. Click the Export button (marked as 3)
    Be patient, as the Geometry2D export operation will take time.


Generate Terrain Rasterization Background Image

The Satellite Background Image field takes a .edds file.

Generate TGA

  1. Run World Editor with the wanted world
  2. Locate Export Map Data tool in toolbar (1)
  3. Click Export Map Data tab (2) to display the tool's panel if needed
  4. Set the Type to Rasterization
  5. Set up the settings under the Rasterization category, such as color and scale
  6. Click the Export button (3)

This will have generated the 4096×4096 upside-down worldname.tga file - it now needs to be converted to PNG in order to be properly imported in Enfusion to the .edds format.

Convert to PNG

TGA can be converted with an image editor - here Paint.NET and GIMP will be used.

Paint.NET

  • Open Paint.NET
  • Open the TGA file Ctrl + O
  • Flip it vertically: Image > Flip Vertical
  • Use the Save As option Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + S
  • Save as PNG using the dialog's dropdown

GIMP

  • Open GIMP
  • Open the TGA file Ctrl + O
  • Flip it vertically: Image > Transform > Flip Vertically
  • Use the Export As option Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + E
  • Select PNG file type and click Export

Import PNG

  • Place the PNG file in the Data\UI\Textures\Map\worlds directory
  • Navigate to the PNG file in Resource Manager
  • Right-click > Register
  • Go to the Import Settings tab, set Color Space to ToSRGB
  • Click the Import resource button at the top of the tab to generate the .edds file.


Setup

  1. Find the world's MapEntity by using the Hierarchy tab's Search field - if it does not exist, create it by drag-and-dropping a MapEntity.et Prefab into the world.
  2. Fill Map Geometry Data with the .topo file generated previously
  3. Fill Satellite Background Image with the .edds file generated previously