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Hey, my name is Stéfhan and I have made this guide for everyone who has trouble with mapping. This is an in-depth and clear guide for dummies who want to make mappings and maybe even join the SA-RP Mapping Team on the long run. Personally I think mapping is fun to do especially when you are bored, my time in the Mapping Team has been great and I've had a lot of fun making mappings for people. I have had a lot of Skype friend requests asking me to help them with their Mapping. I'd always redirect them to Nate's tutorial but apparently it was 'Not detailed enough' even though it is pretty clear for me. Anyways, I'm making a Mapping tutorial now for anyone who feels like becoming a mapper.
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The first step is downloading a program to map with. I'd higly recommend you to use the SA:MP Map Construction software,
and not MTA. The reason for this is that MTA might not work properly on SA:MP. You can download SA:MP Map Construction here. Be sure to put all the files into your Grand Theft Auto San Andreas installation folder ( here. ) to make sure the software will run correctly. After you've done that, it is handy to make a shortcut of the editor.exe and place it on your desktop, if you don't know how to do that, click here. I'd highly recommend that you do it. It prevents you from having to open your GTA folder all the time just to start the editor. Alright, so double click editor.exe and start the software. When you start the software you'll notice a lot of confusing stuff. That's alright, just ignore everything and click the big https://i.gyazo.com/8455d73c53a57f33...37f07bec04.png
button. Alright, now you will see Area 51 infront of you. To move around, hold RMB ( Right mouse button ), and just press and hold the W, A, S or D button to move around. To look around, hold RMB and move with your mouse. Alright, now, after learning this, fly to where you want to go, I will be flying to Grove Street in Los Santos. Upon arriving there, I am going to save my position so I can instantly teleport to Grove Street if I want to. If you want to save a position aswell, click on views at the top right of the editor, then click on add. It will instantly add a new saved camera bookmark ( location ) named Unnamed view. If you want, click once on Unnamed view, then click rename, and name it to whatever you want. I will be naming it Grove Street. https://i.gyazo.com/70df67e780f37b37...89bf1b258d.png
After learning this, you are ready to move on to the next step.
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Now that you know the basics, it is time to start and create your very own first mapping! Go to the location you want to map at, I will be using Grove Street. Now, bear in mind to stay under the object limit and remove limit, it might update, so be sure to check out this thread to see the limit. Alright, upon arriving at the location you wish to create your map at, press LMB ( Left mouse button ) on an object near the place you are going to map. It will become red. This means you have selected the object. https://i.gyazo.com/d48bc5616ca40850...2b157612aa.jpg
Now click on https://i.gyazo.com/d5df7f9bc658d8ab...fdccd1c4e3.png
and enter the object ID of the object you wish to add. For a list of objects, visit this site. You can also use the build-in object search function, by clicking on Objects next to views, in the right top of your software. Then click on add, then enter a name of an object you need such as fridge in the box named 'Search for'. https://i.gyazo.com/9dc76807e0169b78...0943526615.png
Alright, now click on https://i.gyazo.com/d5df7f9bc658d8ab...fdccd1c4e3.png again, and fill in the object ID of the object you want to use, then click 'OK.', it will spawn on the object you selected previously, click on it then go to the movement tab next to views & objects. Now select Movement ground. Now you can hold LMB and move around with your mouse to change the position of your object. https://i.gyazo.com/1ff0b69c4e02cc1a...952dda52af.png
Place your object at the position you want it to be at, if your object needs rotation or a change of height, you can easily do this by using the nudge tool in the movement tab. Click on the box next to R-X ( Rotation towards the X coordination. ) and set it to either 90, 180, 270 or 360 to make a smooth object flip. As you can see on the screenshot below. https://i.gyazo.com/e7f6bc5adbeb0465...6d5ceb21b4.png The nudge tool is very handy to give your objects the 100% exact position you want them to be at. If you want to duplicate an object, click on the duplicate button near the insert object button. After doing this, a new exact copy of the object will spawn on the exact same coordinates of the object you had selected and duplicated. Click on the object and move it to where you want to move it. https://i.gyazo.com/1cce618b4eff49e0...193e3278ff.png
Now, maybe you have found an object you'd like to save so you don't have to find the ID again. This is possible, click on the objects tab near movement & views, then
click on add, click on the IDE box and type the object ID of the object you'd like to save for later use, then click on add and it will be added in your list of favorite objects. https://i.gyazo.com/38e3215b06fa0532...04d1f684b4.png
Now whenever you feel like using the object again, just click on the objects tab, select it from your favo list, click on insert object, and it will automatically place that object for you. Now it is time to save your mapping, click on show code near insert object & duplicate, then click on rebuild and then click on export.pwn to save the mapping, name it whatever you want and save it.
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Now to load your save file, click on import.pwn, then select the save file you want to load and click on import.
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The editor will show an error message that you can't click away if you click on https://i.gyazo.com/d5df7f9bc658d8ab...fdccd1c4e3.png, and enter an object value higher then the amount of objects in the game, for example 199011. If you click OK or anything else when the error message pops up, it will pop up again and again and again, and you will be unable to save your work. Which means all your work is lost unless you saved it before it happenend. An example of this frustrating glitch can be seen here. ( Warning, the video in the example restarts constantly, that's why the error message dissapears in the end, that's when the video starts over, it doesn't dissapear, the error message will stay there forever no matter how many times you click 'OK', just save your work a lot and you're good to go. )
When making a mapping for SA:RP, keep in mind gates are made in game, and not by the editor, ofcourse you can place a temporary gate to see if it fits and looks good, but be sure to remove the gate before you submit your mapping. This also goes for vehicles.
If you think you lack creativity to find good objects in the editor software itself, here are some sites that can give you inspiration on what objects to use, it is also great for finding objects you can't find in the editor software.
Object site 1
Object site 2
And last but not least, with making mappings, be sure not to use too many 0.3e walls, the Mapping Team doesn't appriciate those walls, you can use them, but don't use them too much.
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Question: How do I change the texture of an object in the editor?
Answer: You can't, the editor doesn't support changing textures, changing textures isn't mapping, it is scripting. It however isn't that hard to do, and you can use this site to find the texture that you want to use. The SA:MP Forums have a 'Scripting help' thread where you can ask whatever you want, they reply fast and their replies will teach you how to retexture objects. There is also a tutorial about it found on SARP's forums, which you can find by clicking here. Bear in mind, you'll need to have to download a server from the official SA:MP website to script with the included Pawno program.
Question: How do I add a text with a specific font in my mapping with the editor?
Answer: To make text with the editor, place thin objects like paintings, then send the codes of your paintings to the SA:MP Forums at the thread 'Scripting Help' if you don't have basic scripting knowledge, and they will be there to back you up. Bear in mind, you'll need to have to download a server from the official SA:MP website to script with the included Pawno program.
Question: How do I change the size of objects with the editor?
Answer: For as far I know this is completely impossible, what I do to make my objects 'smaller' is hide other larger objects inside them to overlap them. For example you can place a fence next to a house, but if it is too long, you can put half the fence inside the house, so the house overlaps the fence, it will make the fence 'smaller' so it fits in place.
Question: How to make a good mapping application?
Answer: You can make your Mapping Team Application by clicking here. Be sure to show your work to your friends or basically anyone you know before making an application, and ask them for their honest opinion, if they like your work, and you are confident yourself that you got the skills required, feel free to apply. My personal advice would be to map atleast 2 exteriors and 2 interiors to give yourself a high chance of being accepted. Bear in mind that this is only personal advice and it is not a requirement to join the Mapping Team.
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That's it, now you know how to map.
If you have anymore questions or any other possible feedback, feel free to reply below and I'll be happy to assist.
Credits: Stéfhan Baratheon
