About BaseTileMaker

BaseTileMaker allow you to cut TGA image and save the parts directly in dds format ready to use in Orbiter. Designing surface tiles often require several change on the original image and the existing tool don't allow to cut the image in one click, thus the process is very long and become a pain. Hoppefully BaseTileMaker will speed up and simplify the process a lot.



IMPORTANT NOTE: This software is not meant for beginner that want a all-in-one tile utility. By searching a bit you can find several tutorials that explain the process. But a "cut to dds" utility was lacking and so this soft will be very usefull and save a lot of your time.

Step by Step process

Note: BaseTileMaker will remember your setting for each TGA image so you only need to click "Save DDS" next time.




Tiles's filename

Orbiter use tiles filename to detect planet, resolution, and location. (Example: "Mars_1_w0139_n0026.dds", "Earth_5_e0273_n2093.dds") in BaseTileMaker you should give the top/left Tile's filename,and the other tiles will be named automatically. You must give an exact and valid name else it will not work in Orbiter and/or BaseTileMaker.

This documentation doesn't explain how to find this name but you can see some explaination and utility below:

  • Surface Tile calculator v5.0a   excellent utility.



  • Optionnal: Use "_raw_" keyword instead of Orbiter's filename

    Use this keyword if you want to use your tile in another soft than orbiter. The tiles will be saved with format "[tga filename]_Col[number]_Row[number].dds" example: "Demo_Col000_Row000.dds" "MyImage_Col001_Row000.dds".




    Transparency format



    NOTE: To create dds with transparency your TGA image should have a transparency layer painted. Search on the net if you don't know how to do create one with your graphic software.