Excellent tutorial, thank you very much, I spent a lot of time reading about this without having much clue where to even start but managed to knock up a working config map after watching this, very clear and understandable, 5 stars, well done.
Just to clarify.......I have Win 7 OS and using this technique with Sim City 4 Deluxe edition. Works perfectly. Make sure when drawing the map out you are using the pencil tool with the smallest size setting. Also make sure to save the .bmp file in the correct location i.e. Documents - SimCity4 - Regions - (Create your own folder and name it whatever). When saving the .bmp file, make sure you name it config. Hope this helps for anyone who is having trouble. Also a big thumbs up to the uploader
PROTIP: I used Paint(dot)net to create my maps. It's simply a custom version of paint that uses the .net architecture, and it's just as good as Photoshop and Fireworks, if not better considering it's free. The UI is really clean and you can easily adjust the canvas size. It also has a pixel grid which is perfect for making regions, seeing as each pixel represents a city on the .bmp file. It's great, 10/10 for SimCity, really recommend it.
@Clambercty I've seen on some fansites some fan-created terrains. They're based on a black and white image of the region's topography, just as the boundries are determined by a red-green-blue bitmap as shown in this video. I can't remember where to look off the top of my head, but do a little searching on the bigger fansites and you'll find some.
@Ep123Ap Yes. If you look at the region files that are already created, you'll notice .bmp files. Programmers use them to make the regions that are built into the game.
@thepayne0 A few suggestions: Did you name your file "config" in lower case? Did you make sure the city boundries you painted were the correct size? (IE: no blue or green areas with odd numbers of pixels.) Did you create a folder for your region?
@Clambercty Make sure you create a new folder in your SimCity 4 regions folder. Then in that new folder you just made. Right click and click on bmp. Name the file "config" (without the quotes). Now make sure you don't have any 2X2 blue squares or 4X4 red squares. Remember, large cities have to be 4X4 squares. Green squares are medium cities and have 2X2 squares. Red squares are small and have to be 1X1 squares.
@Clambercty Found an article on custom maps, but can't seem to paste the URL in for some reason. Use Google to search for "simcity 4 knowledge tree" Use the "Fetch" thing to find article 1103.
I might be a bit late for this but what exactly can u not do? If you can make the .bmp file, right click on it and edit. re-size the art board within paint (24px x 24px). Add custom colours to pallet i.e 255, 0, 0 = red, 0, 255, 0 = green, 0, 0, 255 = blue, Make sure you use the pencil tool at the smallest size to draw with and keep the area size matches the colour you are using Blue = 4x4 (Large City) Green = 2x2 (Medium City) Red = 1x1 (Small City)
Thanks for the video! I just tried this and it worked great! Also, I know what your screensaver is. It's the construction of the new I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, the one that collapsed 5 years ago (From when I posted). I know what because I live in the Twin Cities. :D
Only issue so far is how in one corner of a map I'm making, it has annoyingly merged a cluster of 1x1 and 2x2 cities I laid out in a cross shape in the config, and has instead aligned them as a square of 2x2 cities. I can't seem to get it to recognise my layout.
@SimCityEnthusiast Wow, i didnt know you could go back into god mode, thank you man, this was a very informative video. Can i also ask, are you able to pull up a region that you already have worked on and add to that?
is it any different in sim city 4 deluxe edition, cus im following these instructions exactly and my region simply does not show up...i even tried creating a region and then editing the bitmap, that didn't work either.
nice tutorial, i have a problem though: when i go to paint, it doesn't have the "Image" tab next to the "View" tab. I have a feeling something's wrong, any help?
i did everythin you said but it didnt work, i named the picture config and saved it on the folder and when i started the game, it didnt came like i wanted help me, plz
@eslington - Thank you so much for this, I have been going bonkers and all I needed was ctrl+shift+alt+r and choose the right grey scale image, that simple (although it takes what seems to be forever to create and load the city (Sydney). As I always say ' if it don't fit, make it fit and as long as it works'
I have done as you did but it wont show when I want to load it, like it wasn't there. I put it in the regions folder and named if config, made it all blue and saved it to config. How did you save it and what did I wrong?
@cwebb123321, I can assure you it isn't fake. Just make sure to zoom in on paint as far as possible for accuracy, then make sure the blue is in bits of 4*4 pixels, green is in bits of 2*2 pixels, and please note that red is a good filler. Just check and specify your custom colors are as according to the above video.
when i create a new city folder under regions, and after i put my bitmap image in there, i open up the game but the new city is not there. Can anyone help?
@simcity4rocks it will just be a little different since win7 dose not come with paint windows movie maker and other programs and file locations will be different as well
Nice (Y). What I do is make the region in Simcity 4, immediately exit. Then EDIT the config. Then I can just copy and paste the large, blue city tiles (I only use large tiles anyway lol). Helpful though : )
thanks for the tutorial. I made a region: 16 by 16 of the biggest patches of land possible! You taking notes here EA? You might learn something for when you sorry asses decide to fix the City sizes in the new sim city!
Thank you so much for this old post, still playing in 2019, started 2002
Thank you for this, sir. All other info I've read or viewed has assumed I knew all this. Thanks for this basic primer!
Excellent tutorial, thank you very much, I spent a lot of time reading about this without having much clue where to even start but managed to knock up a working config map after watching this, very clear and understandable, 5 stars, well done.
I love your desktop background.
I also made a region with a white dot in the middle and it actually put a hole in the region!
Just to clarify.......I have Win 7 OS and using this technique with Sim City 4 Deluxe edition. Works perfectly. Make sure when drawing the map out you are using the pencil tool with the smallest size setting. Also make sure to save the .bmp file in the correct location i.e. Documents - SimCity4 - Regions - (Create your own folder and name it whatever).
When saving the .bmp file, make sure you name it config.
Hope this helps for anyone who is having trouble.
Also a big thumbs up to the uploader
Straight to the point, loved it.
PROTIP: I used Paint(dot)net to create my maps. It's simply a custom version of paint that uses the .net architecture, and it's just as good as Photoshop and Fireworks, if not better considering it's free.
The UI is really clean and you can easily adjust the canvas size. It also has a pixel grid which is perfect for making regions, seeing as each pixel represents a city on the .bmp file.
It's great, 10/10 for SimCity, really recommend it.
Now people who wonder about how to make custom regions have a tutorial. Great job!
@Clambercty I've seen on some fansites some fan-created terrains. They're based on a black and white image of the region's topography, just as the boundries are determined by a red-green-blue bitmap as shown in this video. I can't remember where to look off the top of my head, but do a little searching on the bigger fansites and you'll find some.
Thank a lot for this video, exactly what I was looking for before playing Sim City 4 again. Now if only I could find a random terrain generator.
@Ep123Ap Yes. If you look at the region files that are already created, you'll notice .bmp files. Programmers use them to make the regions that are built into the game.
@blackkingdragon13 You can use MSPaint. If you're on XP, I think it'll be under "Programs -> Accessories".
Then save your map in .bmp format.
@thepayne0 A few suggestions:
Did you name your file "config" in lower case?
Did you make sure the city boundries you painted were the correct size? (IE: no blue or green areas with odd numbers of pixels.)
Did you create a folder for your region?
@Clambercty Make sure you create a new folder in your SimCity 4 regions folder. Then in that new folder you just made. Right click and click on bmp. Name the file "config" (without the quotes). Now make sure you don't have any 2X2 blue squares or 4X4 red squares. Remember, large cities have to be 4X4 squares. Green squares are medium cities and have 2X2 squares. Red squares are small and have to be 1X1 squares.
@Clambercty Found an article on custom maps, but can't seem to paste the URL in for some reason.
Use Google to search for "simcity 4 knowledge tree"
Use the "Fetch" thing to find article 1103.
I might be a bit late for this but what exactly can u not do? If you can make the .bmp file, right click on it and edit. re-size the art board within paint (24px x 24px). Add custom colours to pallet i.e 255, 0, 0 = red, 0, 255, 0 = green, 0, 0, 255 = blue, Make sure you use the pencil tool at the smallest size to draw with and keep the area size matches the colour you are using
Blue = 4x4 (Large City)
Green = 2x2 (Medium City)
Red = 1x1 (Small City)
give this guy a cookie
Is there a way to do this whithout erasing the topography?
Thanks for the video! I just tried this and it worked great! Also, I know what your screensaver is. It's the construction of the new I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, the one that collapsed 5 years ago (From when I posted). I know what because I live in the Twin Cities. :D
Is time for making myself regions and cities for fun! I loves SIM CITY forever!!!!
Old school Trance as background music in a old school game ❤
It worked, thanks man.
Only issue so far is how in one corner of a map I'm making, it has annoyingly merged a cluster of 1x1 and 2x2 cities I laid out in a cross shape in the config, and has instead aligned them as a square of 2x2 cities. I can't seem to get it to recognise my layout.
Hello, can I do this with a existing region with builded cities? To change the size of the cities? Thank you!
worked like a charm. thanks bro
@jdfatcatsam Are you sure you're making the blue squares 4X4, green squares 2X2, and red squares 1X1?
@SimCityEnthusiast Wow, i didnt know you could go back into god mode, thank you man, this was a very informative video. Can i also ask, are you able to pull up a region that you already have worked on and add to that?
is it any different in sim city 4 deluxe edition, cus im following these instructions exactly and my region simply does not show up...i even tried creating a region and then editing the bitmap, that didn't work either.
I just wonder, what happends if you make a 3x3 square of blue (large) instead of 4x4?
How do you make custom landscaping? I know that the file is like a greyscale heightmap, but how do you do it?
nice tutorial, i have a problem though:
when i go to paint, it doesn't have the "Image" tab next to the "View" tab. I have a feeling something's wrong, any help?
Another great tutorial! Thanks for this awesome video!
i did everythin you said but it didnt work, i named the picture config and saved it on the folder and when i started the game, it didnt came like i wanted help me, plz
how do i add mountains, rivers, oceans etc.?
Would this technique work in the Steam version of SimCity4?
@eslington YES! but when i get into the game, the region doesn't show up
It worked on my Windows Vista. Thanks!
@SoStarStruck777 The steps should be the same with Windows 7. Did you try these same steps with Windows 7 yet?
@LukePeetsMusic Can you just get the pencil tool out and create the squares yourself? It is a lot easier to do it that way.
cannot find bitmap image when i want to put it in my new region folder. any suggestions?
How do you get the brush to make pixels? I have windows 7 and all i get is a cross-shaped brush
this is very cool but, how do you custom in a fast way the mountains, rivers, etc ??
Did just like this, but my custom region doesn't show up when trying to load it in the game. Does this work on Windows XP?
@eslington - Thank you so much for this, I have been going bonkers and all I needed was ctrl+shift+alt+r and choose the right grey scale image, that simple (although it takes what seems to be forever to create and load the city (Sydney). As I always say ' if it don't fit, make it fit and as long as it works'
I have done as you did but it wont show when I want to load it, like it wasn't there. I put it in the regions folder and named if config, made it all blue and saved it to config. How did you save it and what did I wrong?
@cwebb123321, I can assure you it isn't fake. Just make sure to zoom in on paint as far as possible for accuracy, then make sure the blue is in bits of 4*4 pixels, green is in bits of 2*2 pixels, and please note that red is a good filler. Just check and specify your custom colors are as according to the above video.
What happens if I accidently made one of the squares the wrong size?
when i create a new city folder under regions, and after i put my bitmap image in there, i open up the game but the new city is not there. Can anyone help?
Should I save the bitmap image before exiting?
@simcity4rocks it will just be a little different since win7 dose not come with paint windows movie maker and other programs and file locations will be different as well
Wow thanks mate, that was PUKKA, and it worked on XP :)
blue collor for big city , green for mediam , red for small .. please tell me what collor use for water
ok. thanks
I did all this,made my map just how i wanted it but there was a problem,why did my computer start to slow down? can anybody anser this question?
Nice (Y). What I do is make the region in Simcity 4, immediately exit. Then EDIT the config. Then I can just copy and paste the large, blue city tiles (I only use large tiles anyway lol). Helpful though : )
thank you very much man, salutes
Why not use the Landscape Designer 0973 Beta version? It much easyer! Only a hint. Search for it on Simtropolis
The video is from 2010, was it available at that time?
Thank you but does your other region save?
Mute and go.
Very helpful. Thank you
Very Good! It works, Just follow the video properly
wy is it not working for me i do the same exact thing you do
thank you soooooo much for this video!
i found how to do this in windows 7, all you need to do is click on the options tab and click attributes or something and there you go! :)
What if you don't have a bitmap or photoshop?
hey, i did EXACTLY what you did, but it didn't show up in the game. any help?
Can you make an Equal size squares?
it won't work for me. i think its in the new internet explorer update
how can i use custom regions in simtropolis
Thank you. Old trance is the best. 2000. BTW great video.
my paint layout looks completely different from yours and I can't do any of the things you're doing.
I don't really know if I'm doing this right... my paint is windows 8 and yours is 2010... :S Different buttons and stuff...
Awesome! I so have to do this.
humm for some reason when ever i finish painting the config i get over laping cities
then i say ............... WTF!!!
dose it work w/out deluxe?
thanks for the tutorial. I made a region: 16 by 16 of the biggest patches of land possible!
You taking notes here EA? You might learn something for when you sorry asses decide to fix the City sizes in the new sim city!
But it not working on windows 8.1 professional
does anyone know the song's name?
How to make a greyscale for sc4 ? make a tutorial for it dude!
OMG it works thanks!
Thank you so much! Just did this (:
Is it possible to do it with Win 8? Thx a lot...
this helped me alot, thanks
Wait? So you can have more than 1 region?! (Reply as soon as you see this)
A big thank you.
does anyone know if it would work with a mac?
How to make it work.
Step 1. Throw Mac in garbage.
Step 2. Buy a PC.
Step 3. Have fun.
CaptainCrape very helpful thanks
Music please.
where do i find the bitmap image?
Thanks a lot
@simcity4rocks I won't answer that question until you try it with Windows 7.
what patch did you use to run simcity 4?
song is awsome 8^D! what is it?
Thanks, U helped me loads
Awesome Thank you
Roland Klein- Nexus Point (Jay Frog Mix)
@jdfatcatsam Windows 7 comes with paint.
Thank you
@simcity4rocks yes it will
Nice, but, how can i increase cities size, only cities.? Who know?
it says hypercam 2 at top :V
@SimCityEnthusiast LMAO! But thanks for the video I love doing this and then using terraformer to make awesome regions.