Help:Topology editing

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=Understanding topology editing in Surveyor=
=Topology editing in Surveyor=
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The Surveyor Topology shaping tools provide a variety of ways to deform the terrain. The best way to find out how each of them work is to use each of them and play around with the dials.  
Shaping terrain can be both enjoyable and frustrating. The Surveyor Topology shaping tools haven't changed much since [[Trainz 1.0]] was released in back in late 2001, when the {{wp|Auran Jet}} {{wp|game engine}} was challenged by mimicking model railroad layouts. Since Trainz was developed by Railfans that were also experienced {{wp|Model Railroading}} enthusiasts the basic tool set was very good for it's day. You'll find the biggest limitation to making a terrain look good is the ten meter baseboard subdivisions, for you can not raise or lower the terrain abruptly without spanning at least two of the vertices of each subboard square. This basic {{wp|meter|10 metre}} (32.8084 ft) square also limits texturing ability to some extent, and the borders of land and water.  
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==Topology Height Up==
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One of the important considerations when shaping the terrain is to understand the nature of the terrain "mesh". Each of the yellow grid squares is 10 meters apart and the grey squares are 5 meters apart. The terrain mesh itself is built up of a series of triangles with sides that are 10m x 10m x 14.14m in length (on the flat). When raising the apex of a triangle, the triangle stretches and each adjoining triangle also moves (since the triangles are welded together down one edge.  
Use this tool to create mounds, hills and mountains. <BR>
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[[File:10m grid.jpg||400px|thumb|left|Showing 10m grid]]
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However, no matter how far you raise the apex, whilst the sides are getting longer, the system still treats the length as 10m (which is why the textures stretch on very steep sections of terrain).
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[[File:10m grid stretched.jpg||400px|thumb|left|Showing 10m grid with sides and texture stretched]]
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Click on the Height Up tool icon to change to Height Up mode. Move your cursor from the tool tab onto the 3D world and you will see a "circle of influence". Left click and drag your mouse around the 3D world to raise the terrain.<BR>
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Note that from TS2009 onwards, it is possible to change the terrain to a 5m grid (5m x 5m x 7.07m triangles). This allows for finer grained height adjustment, but with a performance penalty. (A 5 x 5 grid has 4 times the polygons as a 10 x 10 grid).
  
Use Radius and Sensitivity to adjust the size and sensitivity of this tool. To adjust your view of the world as you mould the terrain, right-click on the terrain to move your camera focal point and use your cursor arrow keys to move the camera. Use Undo if you don't like the results you see.
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[[File:5m grid.jpg||400px|thumb|left|Showing 5m grid]]
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=== See Also ===
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Click the Topology Tools link below for more help.
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== See Also ==
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* [[Help:Surveyor_Topology_Tools]]
 
* [[Help:Surveyor_Tools]]
 
* [[Help:Surveyor_Tools]]
 
* [[Help:Surveyor]]
 
* [[Help:Surveyor]]
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[[Category:Help]][[Category:TRS19]]

Latest revision as of 14:29, 3 August 2018

[edit] Understanding topology editing in Surveyor

The Surveyor Topology shaping tools provide a variety of ways to deform the terrain. The best way to find out how each of them work is to use each of them and play around with the dials.

One of the important considerations when shaping the terrain is to understand the nature of the terrain "mesh". Each of the yellow grid squares is 10 meters apart and the grey squares are 5 meters apart. The terrain mesh itself is built up of a series of triangles with sides that are 10m x 10m x 14.14m in length (on the flat). When raising the apex of a triangle, the triangle stretches and each adjoining triangle also moves (since the triangles are welded together down one edge.

Showing 10m grid

However, no matter how far you raise the apex, whilst the sides are getting longer, the system still treats the length as 10m (which is why the textures stretch on very steep sections of terrain).

Showing 10m grid with sides and texture stretched

Note that from TS2009 onwards, it is possible to change the terrain to a 5m grid (5m x 5m x 7.07m triangles). This allows for finer grained height adjustment, but with a performance penalty. (A 5 x 5 grid has 4 times the polygons as a 10 x 10 grid).

Showing 5m grid

Click the Topology Tools link below for more help.

[edit] See Also

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