# Background Terrain

Maps4FS now automatically generates ready-to-use i3d background terrain files for **Farming Simulator 25**, eliminating the need for manual Blender workflows!

## 🎯 Quick Overview

When you generate a map with the following settings enabled:

* **Download Satellite Images** ✅
* **Generate Background** ✅

Maps4FS will automatically create optimized i3d files that can be directly imported into Giants Editor.

## 📁 Generated Files

After generation, you'll find the following files in your map's `assets/background/` directory:

```
map_directory/
├── assets/
│   └── background/
│       ├── textured_mesh/
│       │   ├── background_textured_mesh.obj
│       │   ├── background_textured_mesh.mtl
│       │   └── background_texture.png
│       └── background_terrain.i3d  ← Ready to import!
```

## 🚀 How to Use

> **Windows App users:** If you are using the Windows App and the i3dConverter is available (it is downloaded automatically on first run), all of the steps below — conversion to binary i3d, material setup, and positioning on the map — are done **automatically**. You can skip straight to opening the map in Giants Editor.

### Step 1: Generate Your Map

1. Enable **Download Satellite Images** in the Satellite component
2. Enable **Generate Background** in the Background Settings
3. Generate your map normally

### Step 2: Import into Giants Editor

1. Open your map in **Giants Editor 10.0.0+**
2. Go to `File` → `Import...`
3. Navigate to `your_map/assets/background/`
4. Select `background_terrain.i3d`
5. Click `Import`

That's it! The background terrain is automatically:

* ✅ **Properly scaled** and positioned
* ✅ **Textured** with satellite imagery
* ✅ **Decimated** for optimal performance
* ✅ **UV mapped** correctly
* ✅ **Center removed** (if enabled in settings)

## ⚙️ Settings Control

You can control the automated generation through these settings:

### Background Settings

* **Generate Background**: Enable/disable background terrain generation
* **Remove Center**: Automatically cuts out the map center
* **Background Texture Resolution**: Controls texture quality (auto-calculated based on map size)

### Advanced Settings

* **Decimation Factor**: Automatically calculated based on map size for optimal performance
* **Z-Scaling**: Matches your main terrain settings

## 🎮 Game Compatibility

| Game Version             | Status                | Method         |
| ------------------------ | --------------------- | -------------- |
| **Farming Simulator 25** | ✅ **Fully Automated** | Use this guide |

## 📊 Performance Benefits

The automated process includes several optimizations:

* **Smart Decimation**: Reduces polygon count based on map size
* **Texture Optimization**: Automatically resizes textures for background use
* **Memory Efficiency**: Optimized for minimal in-game impact
* **LOD Ready**: Pre-configured for distance rendering

## 🔧 Troubleshooting

### No background\_terrain.i3d file generated?

* Ensure **Download Satellite Images** is enabled
* Ensure **Generate Background** is enabled
* Check that satellite images were successfully downloaded

### Import fails in Giants Editor?

* Use Giants Editor 10.0.0+ for maps
* Make sure the i3d file isn't corrupted
* Try importing the .obj files manually (see legacy docs)

### Terrain appears too high/low?

* Adjust the terrain position in Giants Editor
* Check Z-scaling settings match your main terrain

## 💡 Tips

* **Quality vs Performance**: The automated process balances quality and performance. For ultra-high quality backgrounds, consider the [legacy manual process](https://maps4fs.gitbook.io/docs/advanced-topics/legacy/legacy_background_terrain)
* **Custom Textures**: You can replace the generated texture with your own if needed
* **Multiple Maps**: The automation works with any map size and automatically adjusts parameters

## 🔄 Upgrading from Manual Process

If you've been using the manual Blender workflow:

1. **Update your workflow**: Simply enable the automated settings
2. **No more Blender needed**: The i3d files are ready to import
3. **Same quality**: The automated process produces equivalent results
4. **Legacy docs available**: Manual process docs moved to [Legacy section](https://maps4fs.gitbook.io/docs/advanced-topics/legacy/legacy_background_terrain) for reference

***