Attached Link: http://silverblade.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ecosystem_tut.jpg

Ok, being a thick sod (Hey, I have an excuse ;>), I find working out the whole "ecosystem driven by image maps" a bit confusing at times. Anyway, two of Vue's real geniuses, Phillipe Bouyer and David Brdick were explaining this issue on the E-on forums, and finally, it all "twigged" for me. From their info (*genuflects*, We are not worthy, we are not worthy!), this is a simple guide to the subject of making precision ecosystems from images. I know this has been covered before but hey, there's still newbies, and this is an easy way to see it all :) 1) make a terrain 2) Copy terrain from Terrain Editor to 2d application (paint Shop Pro for me) 3) Edited the image as you wish to get desired end result, wqhite areas = populated, black = no ecosystem materials. 4) Edit the Ecosystem material in Vue. 5) make it MAPPING-PARAMETRIC 6) Go to the DENSITY tab 7) Tick Variable Density 8) Right click the sphere, EDIT FUNCTION 9) Click REPLACE BY TEXTURE MAP, connect to the Density function 10) Image offset, X and Y change to 1.00 for both Voila'! biiiiig thanks to Phillipe and David for that :) I'll get round to putting the tutorial on my main site when possible.  Vo

Thank you :) Bookmark Mazak

Excellent tutorial - the image offset tip is really key - thanks

Good stuff!!! Have to play with this when I get home from work on Sunday!!! Thanks!!! Jim

Oh please note I have found an odd bug: some times the black and white map for the image needs to be rotated (in Vue will do) 180 degrees. It's not consistant, no idea why, very odd!

thanks so much for posting this valuable info. I really appreciate it. cheerio lululee