[MUD-Dev] MAPPING: Creating a bitmaped graphic from map coordinates

["John Bertoglio" <alexb#internetcds,com>]

 

Graphic wizards please take a look at this problem. I suspect the solution
is trivial but it is beyond me!

Here's the problem:

We have a mud world with main grid of 1200 by 800 cells. Each of those cells
is stored in a database along with x,y coordinate information, cell color,
terrain type, etc. I have written a simple mapping function which maps local
areas using HTML tables. These work pretty well but since the minimum size
on a 17 inch monitor is about a 1/4 inch square, it is not possible to
render large areas or even consider the whole map.

Here's what I need:

I can write my data to any text configuration. The only format I am aware of
which has a native text format is Postscript. This is impractical since I
don't want to try to write a million cells to this format since it would be
huge. Also, I would have to learn the innerworkings of postscript, which
look like real work. I know this is possible because tiled games do this
(our maps would just be single pixel tiles...) on a smaller scale. I know I
am missing something here.

Any help would be appreciated greatly.

We have the latest PhotoShop so any format supported by that product would
work.

Thank you.