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Using the map tiles tool

Using the map tiles tool

In this guide we'll generate a scene from inside a cave, with stairs leading up to a treasure chest. We'll constrain ourselves to a 128x128 pixel image in Aseprite. Since the model is trained on 16x16 pixel tiles this will give us an area that has a width and height of 8 by 8 tiles.

Setting up the scene

First, let's open the map tiles tool. It's always a good idea to provide an init image together with the text description of what we want our selected area to look like. We'll start from this:

Map tiles init image

Tell the model what to generate

We'll use the setting paint in selection and select a 4 by 4 area of tiles using Aseprites selection tool.

The model uses inpainting. Since this is the first part of the image, we want the model to generate everything inside the selection. To achieve this, we'll fill the inpaint layer with black inside the selection.

Your canvas should now look something like this.

The initial image with the inpaint layer filled with blackThe initial image with the inpaint layer filled with black

We'll use "stairs in a cave" as description and press generate.

Note

The 4 by 4 tiles selection tells the model what part of the map to generate.

The inpaint layer tells the model where, inside the selection, that it can modify the image.

Settings of the map tiles tool before generating

The first generation

After a few retries the model produced this result which seems like a decent starting point.

Result of the first generation

The first result does not have to be perfect, as a lot of things can be fixed later with inpainting, but it's good to have something that is close to the style we're looking for.

Note

Because of how the model has been trained, to produce the best results the description should describe what's in the middle of the selected area.

Expanding the image

We'll now expand our generated image. Let's start by expanding it to the right.

  1. Select an area that partly overlaps with what we have already generated.
  2. Draw a rough sketch inside the selection.
  3. Draw black in the inpaint layer where we want to generate.
Result of the first generationResult of the first generation

Note

The model can only see what is inside the selection when generating. If we want to have a consistent style and smooth transistions between tiles it is important that we don't inpaint the whole selection area, as that leaves no reference for the model to use.

Generating the new area

Next, we'll update the description, adjust the init image strength and then generate the new area. You can see the values used in the picture.

The settings used when generating the new area

Drawing the rest of the map

We can repeat step 4 and 5 to fill out the rest of the tiles. Below is an animation of the process.

Animation of the process of drawing the rest of the mapAnimation of the process of drawing the rest of the map

Final touches

After all of the map has been generated we can use inpainting to add detail and fix what we don't like. The workflow is the same as before. For our image the following changes where made.

Animation of the process of the final touchesAnimation of the process of the final touches

The final result

The final result