First, search online for a map you wish to use, or create your own map, as a 2d image. If you plan to use the One World mod created by TattleTale, I would recommend adjusting the image size to 1600 x 945 pixels, in order to properly fit the default custom rectangle table.

Using your choice of graphics editing program, such as Photoshop, GIMP, or Krita, cutout the floor of the image leaving just the walls, or cutout the higher elevations of the map. I prefer to use the polygonal lasso tool, as edges do not need to be exact.

Once you have only the walls, or higher elevation remaining, copy the section and paste it to a new canvas, but make sure the new canvas is slightly larger than the cutout images, even if it is only 10 pixies added to each side, this will help TTS shape the image.

Then save the image (or multiple images if I want to have them at different angles / elevations) as a PNG.



Side note; Large sharp dips toward the center of the cutout token, or holes with the middle will later leave a white line, be filled in completely white, or have the image stretched across the center of the object where you would wish it to be transparent, as TTS will try to adjust the shape of the object to simplify things for itself.

This means you can not make a donut, but you can make two arches and line them up together in TTS, or having a line cut out leading outside the center, turning it into kind of like the letter C.

Now that you have everything cutout you are ready to launch Tabletop Simulator, and start a new game. Once inside, you might need to change the table. You can do this by selecting Objects on the top bar, and selecting Tables from the drop down menu. You then want to select custom table, as it will allow you to place your map image onto the map, and will cause several menus to pop up.

Choice Browse Local Files on the side, then navigate your folders until you find the one with the map you adjusted to fit the table, and select it. Upload the file to the Cloud if you want others online to see it, or select Local if you are not playing online, then select Import to apply the image; (Anyone using One World can instead follow the instruction videos within the One World mod on how to place a background down).

Now you need to upload the other cutout images into the game as a custom token. You can locate tokens within objects, components, custom, and select token. If I am using an image that is the same size as the background image on the table, I use the gizmo tool to center it and enlarge it using the scale tool, (+ on the keyboard), until it fits the map.




You can also use the Gizmo tool to adjust the shape, but only on the X and Z axis. Adjusting Y works only until you scale another axis, or reload the map. This is because when you spawn a token you choose the Thickness (or Y axis), using a scale, 1 being the thickest, 0.1 being the thinnest. If you wish your cutout image to be taller, just stack a few of the tokens on top of one another until you reach the desired height.

Token Thickness Example:



Another value you can adjust when spawning a token is Merge Distance, which determines how much detail the cutout will capture around the edges. Most of the time I raise this to its maxium 25.00, which will soften the edges, lowering the value will give you more detail of your cutout, but also require more processing power for everyones PC.

Token Merge Distance Example:

Repeat steps 2 and 4 until you have the landscape / city you want, and then add other props, such as plants, buildings, or much more. You can find a large variety of props throughout the Steam workshop, such as, but not limited to; Vess's Tool Vault, and Models, Various, both of which provide a plethora of models.

You can also use tokens from the eariler steps to create buildings, such as the buildings which make up the City of Tyr Map, where all the buildings, and walls are made using tokens. Structure like the ones in the Mage Campus map, are props from Vess's Tool Vault, which are then locked, and moved into place using the gizmo tool.

Example Map Making:


The completed map can be found here, while a collection of other maps made using this technique can be found in my Steam Workshop.

Hopefully you have found this guide useful, and with it have the ability to build any map you wish! Note that if you are using One World, you will need to remain within the center of the table, or the objects will not be packed when you wish to change maps.

Do you like my work? Why not check out my Twitch Stream[www.twitch.tv]. I'm live most of the day of Monday and most evenings (MST) Tuesday - Friday!