Create a map
with the editor.

STEP 01

Open the workshop

Install the current skieo-custom-map tools with Python 3.10+ and pipx using the installation guide. Qt and the OpenGL dependencies are included. You need a graphical desktop and an OpenGL-capable driver.

pipx install --force --index-url https://skieomap.emillon.fr/downloads/pypi/ skieo-custom-map

Launch the editor from a terminal:

skieomod editor

Click New, or Create a map on the welcome panel. An empty map opens immediately with the base terrain. If the workshop reopens your last map, New starts another.

• Left: brushes and their settings, overview and project files.
• Centre: the 3D terrain, Source/Last built selector and output panel.
• Right: Terrain, Nature, Map and Objects tabs.

The top toolbar contains Save, Build, Test and Play, plus separate editors for triggers, resources and object defaults. After launching, this walkthrough uses the graphical controls.

Checkpoint: you can see the base terrain and rotate it. Authoring works without the game; Play needs Ski-E-O! or its Steam demo on Windows or Linux with Proton.

STEP 02

Choose a terrain

You can sculpt the base terrain and go straight to step 3. Import is optional. If you already have a heightmap, click Import, choose your R16/RAW or 16-bit grayscale PNG, and enter the Sample spacing in metres from your exporter.

For the practice file, use these import settings:

Checkpoint: the practice import reports 513 × 513 samples • 4096 × 4096 m. Click Fit map to see your whole terrain.

STEP 03

Navigate and shape the slopes

Keep Source terrain selected above the viewport. This is the editable terrain.

Choose Raise or Lower on the left, set a brush radius and left-drag on the terrain. For practice, start with 60 m radius and 1 m height per dab. Each brush dab changes the elevation; inspect the result from another angle before adding more.

Use Level for a small resort base. Leave Level height (m) blank to pick the elevation at stroke start, or enter a height. Use Smooth to soften its edges. Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y undo and redo entire strokes; Escape cancels a stroke. Choose Select when finished.

Checkpoint: you can shape a small area, undo the stroke and redo it.

STEP 04

Name and save the project

Open the Map tab on the right. Set Name, Authors, Package ID, Version, Licence and Description. For your own map, use an ID such as yourname.alpine-valley and a version such as 0.1.0. Keep the ID for future releases and credit imported resources.

Leave the location fields blank for an imaginary place. If you supply a location, enter both latitude and longitude. Leave dependencies empty for this first map.

Click Apply settings → Save or press Ctrl+S. The first save asks for an empty writable folder. Create one in the chooser if needed, select it and click Save map here. Later saves use the same folder.

The source folder contains your editable project. Keep it for future changes. The built .skieomap is the playable archive. To resume editing, click Open and choose the source folder containing custom-map.json, or use File → Recent maps.

Checkpoint: the map has its new name and a saved source folder. You can reopen it with Open.

STEP 05

Add a forest

Choose how you want to author trees. For a manual forest, select Plant trees, set the radius and Tree spacing, and paint. Use Erase trees to clear a route or the base area. Painting switches Nature to Manual.

For an automatic forest, open Nature and choose Automatic. In Alpine Valley, try Tree line (m): 1900, Trees / hectare: 12 and Tree limit: 10000. Click Apply settings. Generated trees appear after Build in Last built terrain.

Adapt the tree line to your map’s elevations, especially if you used relative heights. Automatic clearings use exclusion rectangles; erasing with a brush switches to Manual.

Checkpoint: manual trees are visible immediately, or Automatic is selected and ready for Build.

STEP 06

Place a small resort

Switch to Source terrain and open the Objects tab on the right. Search for Ticket Office, choose it from the palette and click Place on terrain. Left-click a level area at the resort base. Press Escape afterwards so the next click does not place another building.

Search for a lift, such as Chair lift (one seat), and click Place on terrain again. Click the lower terminal first, then the upper terminal uphill. Keep both inside the map. Press Escape to return to selection.

Select an instance in Objects in this map or near its footprint in the viewport. Edit its name, position, rotation or height offset; lifts also have Upper terminal coordinates. Use Move… to pick a new position or Delete to remove it. Undo/Redo works for placements too.

The right-hand tab edits individual instances. The separate Objects toolbar button opens the Object Editor for defaults shared by an object type; you can leave those defaults alone for this exercise.

Checkpoint: your object list contains a building and a lift. A heightmap or lift does not draw pistes; lay them out in the game while testing the resort.

STEP 07

Build, validate and play

1. Save → Build. Read the output below the terrain. A successful build selects Last built terrain, showing the compiled forest. Your playable .skieomap is in the source folder’s bin/ directory.
2. Test. Wait for Project validation passed. This checks the project without launching the game. Fix any reported problem in its panel; build again if you changed the map.
3. Game → Configure Steam installation… For your first Play, close the game and choose the Steam game folder containing SkiResortSimulator. Setup installs Custom Map/UE4SS and remembers the paths. On Linux, launch the game through Steam once beforehand to prepare Proton.
4. Play / F5. The editor saves, rebuilds, installs your map and starts a separate test instance. Check the slopes, forest, buildings and lift. Try making a piste and using the resort.

Build, Test and Play save current editor changes before running. Play starts a fresh resort with your authored objects. After editing, press Play again to rebuild and reload the same test instance once loading has finished. Existing game saves retain their own buildings and removals; use the editor test for a changed starting layout.

To edit after Build, return to Source terrain. Brushes and placement are disabled in Last built terrain. The workshop preview uses simplified terrain colours and tree geometry; check snow, game materials and gameplay in the game.

If an update is available, use Game → Update Custom Map loader with the game closed. Upgrade the tools separately through Game → Upgrade skieomod….

Checkpoint: Build produces the archive, Test passes, and Play lets you inspect the resort in the game.

STEP 08

Share and continue

Choose File → Show project folder, open bin/ and send the versioned .skieomap to a tester with the matching Custom Map loader. Keep the source folder separately. Zip the source folder for a collaborator who will edit the map.

For an update, keep the Package ID, increase Version in the Map panel and build again. A local build creates the package; it does not publish a community listing. See the Workshop guide and mapmod distribution guide for publication routes.

Continue with visual scripts and scenarios to set starting money or add objectives, the Ticket Office model tutorial to import a model, or mapmods for reusable behaviour.

Troubleshooting