Map Tutorial: How to import a greyscale image (8-bit map) to Sim City 4

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Map Tutorial: How to import a greyscale image (8-bit map) to Sim City 4

Most of maps that you found around the web is by a greyscale image, a greyscale its a white and black map that defines different heights at the rendering. You'll learn how to create a region from a greyscale in this tutorial 

If you want to create a greyscale (8-bit map) please visit this intermediate tutorial Map Tutorial: Adobe Fireworks (Hand made-terraforming 8-bit)

Requirements for this tutorial:
-Windows (preference XP, thats what im using for this tutorial, if you are a macintosh user i dont know differences for both operative systems)
-SimCity 4 (preference Rush Hour or Deluxe, not sure how this works at normal SimCity 4)

Notes from the author: Im using a spanish windows XP operative system, please follow this tutorial carefully and instructions.

Step Optional: For web downloaders
If you downloaded a greyscale image from the web, usually at sites like Simtropolis ST-Exhange, usually you have to click on right mouse click and save image as...

In the same window make a new folder inside your Documents/SimCity 4/Regions/<your-new-region-name> and put the region name on it

Open the new folder you made and save the image inside of that folder, doesn't matter the name of the image. Save it!

Done you've got the image file, now lets get the config.bmp file, this files establishes the position and size of your cities in your region, its important if you decide to use the authors one or make your own config (follow step #)

Usually while downloading the config file at Stex, it puts on default where you get your downloads, please specify the route o that config to your Documents/SimCity 4/Regions/<your-new-region> its important that you make sure the name of that file is config.bmp

Your folder should look like this now...


If the file you downloaded is all in a zip, just unzip all the content of the file (usually a jpg/png image and the config.bmp) to the new region folder you created.

Notification to the user:

If you going to put a custom terrain mod, please install it in your plugins before to make the Step A process, please view this tutorial Map Tutorial: How to use a terrain mod (get it installed right)
(includes tips for rock, beach and water mods)

Step A: Import image to the game!
Open your SimCity 4 Rush Hour or Deluxe, and load your new region you created

At the same time click on control+alt+shift+r and a purple window should appear...

Look for the map jpg/png image that is located at your documents/SimCity 4/Regions/<your-new-region>  and open it!

Please wait until your region its ready, it can take from 10 to 30 minutes depending of your computer specs.

Heres the final result! congratulation you figured how to get a greyscale image into the game, ejoy!