# Pearl Harbor (John Prados, GDW, 1979)

**URL:** <https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/pearl-harbor-john-prados-gdw-1979/611>\
**Category:** Module Design\
**Created:** [May 15, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/pearl-harbor-john-prados-gdw-1979/611 "2008-05-15T22:41:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Brent\_Easton](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/brent_easton/32/10_2.png) [@Brent\_Easton](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/Brent_Easton)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 12:20pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/pearl-harbor-john-prados-gdw-1979/611/21 "2008-05-19T12:20:18Z")

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Hi Yangtze,

> [@](#):
>
> Success! The module is uploaded.
> 
> Note, the process didn’t like Safari but uploaded in seconds using Firefox.
> 
> My pieces are 8kb and 50x50 pixels in size (which fits the map nicely).  
> Does that sound the right size in terms of bytes?

I strongly suggest you download and have a look at how people have built modules for other similiar vintage games. It will give you lots of ideas on hex and counter sizes.

How many counters might stack in a hex? More than a couple and it will get very crowded.

With simple counters like this, you might like to look at Game Piece Images which allow you to build counter images inside Vassal itself.

8Kb is huge for a 50x50 counter, but it is hard to much with jpeg scans. Have a look in the FAQ and tutorials section of the Vassal site for tips.

Regards,  
Brent.

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**Author:** ![tar](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/tar/32/21_2.png) [@tar](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/tar)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/pearl-harbor-john-prados-gdw-1979/611/22 "2008-05-19T16:58:26Z")

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On May 17, 2008, at 6:30 AM, yangtze wrote:

> [@](#):
>
> Tom suggested scanning at 150dpi to end up with a map (and counters)  
> about twice lifesize. I presume this can then be scaled up (unlikely  
> to need it) or down in play by use of the zoom buttons? Will this  
> cause a problem stitching the scans together in the graphics  
> program? Or should any such program worth its salt be able to cope  
> with such an image? If I scan at 300dpi then scale down 50% will  
> this give me a twice lifesize image but at better visual quality?

My advice was based on the idea that you would be using the scans  
directly. If you plan on manipulating the results in a graphics  
editor, then you are better off starting with more resolution and then  
having the image processing program do the scaling. They have more  
flexibility (usually) than scanning software, so you can control the  
quality of the scaling better.

I think that for the final result you want to end up with about twice  
life-size for your final graphics, and use that as the most magnified  
zoom level. Scaling down works better than scaling up, because there  
are better ways to guess what to keep from the extra information than  
trying to guess what to add when the information isn’t present in the  
file at all. This, by the way, is also the basis for Joel’s advice on  
the 300dpi scanning.

> [@](#):
>
> The tutorial material I’ve read says to never save anything as a  
> JPEG. Unfortunately, the Canon doesn’t seem to give the option to  
> save scans as a PGN file, which seems the favoured option. I only  
> have TIFF or PICT as other options for the initial save.

TIFF should work fine for line art. It is a loss-less format and can  
be converted using your image program. I would stay away from JPEG  
for anything except photographic images. The typical thing that you  
will see if you use JPEG with any compression is that lines get  
halos. This is annoying for things like hex grids, and really obvious  
around text, where you really want a sharp boundary to aid readability.

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**Author:** ![tar](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/tar/32/21_2.png) [@tar](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/tar)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/pearl-harbor-john-prados-gdw-1979/611/23 "2008-05-19T17:02:54Z")

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On May 17, 2008, at 10:44 AM, Joel Uckelman wrote:

> [@](#):
>
> On the other hand, scanning a printed map at a higher  
> resolution than it was actually printed is pointless. For example,  
> on some really old maps you can see the dots from the 4-color printing  
> if you scan at 600dpi, and often you can see this on counters as well.

Yes, the half-toning process used in most printing is also the source  
of a lot of artifact in scanned images. Some of the nicest maps (like  
Gary Krockovers modules for The Gamers Civil War Brigade Series) are  
redrawn by hand and are thus able to use solid-color fills. That  
avoids the problems with the artifacts and half-tones from scanning.  
Also, if combined with allowing Vassal to draw the hex grid, it allows  
a lot more image compression, since there are large areas of solid  
color.

It is a lot more work, though.

See, for example:

\<[http://www.vassalengine.org/community/index.php?option=com\_vassal\_modules&task=display&module\_id=260](http://www.vassalengine.org/community/index.php?option=com_vassal_modules&task=display&module_id=260)

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**Author:** ![yangtze](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/yangtze/32/6746_2.png) [@yangtze](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/yangtze)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 7:05am UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/pearl-harbor-john-prados-gdw-1979/611/24 "2008-06-04T07:05:27Z")

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Ok, I’ve got what I think is a fully functional module. I’m aware the map is a bit of a patchwork and it’s earmarked for improvement (still, it works!), but if anyone cares to critique or comment upon any other aspects I’d be very grateful.

In the end I just used simple jpegs and it comes out at 4.4Mb.

When I come to redo the map, can I just swap out the map image and restretch the grid without disturbing my campaign scenario setup?

Also, does anyone know of a good freeware (preferably) hexmap creation programme that would be useful in ‘hand drawing’ a new map?

One thing I learnt by bitter experience was that each image used must have a unique name on your PC, though they can share the same name within the module, e.g. in the pieces palette.

Thanks very much everyone for all input so far.

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**Author:** ![tar](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/tar/32/21_2.png) [@tar](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/tar)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/pearl-harbor-john-prados-gdw-1979/611/25 "2008-06-04T16:53:19Z")

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On Jun 4, 2008, at 12:05 AM, yangtze wrote:

> [@](#):
>
> When I come to redo the map, can I just swap out the map image and  
> restretch the grid without disturbing my campaign scenario setup?

Sorry, I don’t know if this will work.

> [@](#):
>
> Also, does anyone know of a good freeware (preferably) hexmap  
> creation programme that would be useful in ‘hand drawing’ a new map?

Well, a lot of people just use ordinary drawing tools. The easiest  
way to do that is the following process:

1. Create a blank map with the hexgrid you want.
2. Export that as a picture
3. Use that as a layer in your drawing program so you can align the  
map you are drawing
4. Save the newly drawn map, but WITHOUT the hex grid layer
5. Import the map image and let Vassal draw (and number) the grid

Some free ones are mentioned in the FAQ:

\<[http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/doku.php?id=faq\_modules#are\_there\_any\_free\_graphics\_programs\_available](http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/doku.php?id=faq_modules#are_there_any_free_graphics_programs_available)

See also \<[http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/doku.php?id=faq\_modules#how\_do\_i\_align\_the\_vassal\_hex\_grid\_with\_my\_scanned\_mapsheet](http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/doku.php?id=faq_modules#how_do_i_align_the_vassal_hex_grid_with_my_scanned_mapsheet)

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**Author:** ![Rindis](https://forum.vassalengine.org/user_avatar/forum.vassalengine.org/rindis/32/14_2.png) [@Rindis](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/Rindis)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/pearl-harbor-john-prados-gdw-1979/611/26 "2008-06-06T16:23:38Z")

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> [@tar](#):
>
> On Jun 4, 2008, at 12:05 AM, yangtze wrote:
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > When I come to redo the map, can I just swap out the map image and  
> > restretch the grid without disturbing my campaign scenario setup?
> 
> Sorry, I don’t know if this will work.

I know this will not work. If you change the size of the grid, you will find that counters from old saved games will maintain their original absolute positions, not their grid coordinates. I changed grid sizes once on my F&E module, so I’ve seen it happen.

Though, if you can size your new map to the old grid correctly, you can change images without any trouble at all.

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