Google Maps API - What I've been working on.

[Robbie]

So basically each zoom level has its own image, and then that image is sliced up. So for instance if I wanted to do something similar to Intermagus, I would start with the way my world map from FT looks lets say, then I would turn on the various layers to display more detail and save that as another file but with a higher resolution. Rinse and repeat. Is that correct?

That is almost absolutely correct. You'd start at the maximum zoom level and submit an image that is within the size requirements for that zoom level. Then it gets sliced up and you submit an image for the next zoom level that is proportionately larger and it gets sliced up...rinse, and then repeat...exactly.

For the first draft, if the map doesn't fill the whole space, it will be centered at each zoom level and padded accordingly. First draft won't include the tools to line things up and move them around an subsequent zoom levels. Initially, each subsequent zoom level has to be a larger version of the previous zoom level. Twice as large to be exact. And it has to be equal based on its center point, it can't be offset from center...its kinda hard to explain right now.

[RPMiller]

I think I get it. The centering means that when it is zoomed in and sliced in quarters the intersection of those 4 slices has to be at the center of the previous pic and then "radiates" out from there stacked like a pyramid. With the 0 zoom at the top and the highest zoom at the bottom.

[keithcurtis]

Depending on what you want to do with the final map, you might save youself a lot of hassle by using Zoomify. It's an easy-to-use web tool for doing Google Map style panning and zooming. It's pretty imited at the free level, but it might be enough to fit your needs.

[RobA]

There is a similar java tool available to cut up high res images to view them using a googlemap interface:

http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/software/g...magecutter.asp

A couple of examples here:
http://digitalurban.blogspot.com/200...-released.html

here:
http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/googlemaps/QuadHDR.html

and here:
http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/googlemaps/house.html

Though it seems to base everything on the large image, so detail/lables will be lost in each successive zoom out.

-Rob A>

[Robbie]

yeah...this project has pretty much been dropped because of the complexity and availability of other methods. Thanks for the links!

[Robbie]

I am however considering writing a quick tutorial on how to implement google maps api for your rpg maps like this...any interest?

[RPMiller]

*raises hand*

I would be interested!

[pyrandon]

I am however considering writing a quick tutorial on how to implement google maps api for your rpg maps like this...any interest?

DO IT....DO IT NOW!!!!!!