The basics

Import a grayscale heightmap PNG (white = highest, black = lowest) or open a saved .rutforge project, and set the real-world size in metres (X width, Y length, Z height range). Then paint ruts on top - everything is measured in metres against your map. Heightmaps larger than 2049px work but can be slow; a smaller map is smoother to edit.

Tools

Drawing ruts

The channel automatically digs toward the inside of a curve (so a circle digs toward its centre), whichever way you draw it. Hold Shift while drawing to flip the side.

Rut shape

Depth and Height are independent (each has its own width and sharpness). Depth Edge rounds the channel's outer wall; Fade blends the berm's outer edge. Taper fades the rut in and out to ground at the start / end of a stroke. Rut Opacity scales every rut for both display and export. Save your favourite settings as a Preset.

Layers & groups

Every rut you place appears in the Layers tab (right panel). Click one (or click it on the canvas) to select it - it flashes so you can find it - then adjust the shape sliders and hit Apply to reshape just that rut. Multi-select with Ctrl / Shift-click and Group them with a name to edit several at once. Each rut can be renamed, hidden, reordered, or deleted.

Heightmap views

Keyboard & mouse

Single-key shortcuts work while the pointer is over the canvas / 3D view.

3D view

Toggle the 3D button to see the true-scale ground deform as you paint, shaded like the Default view. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, and Space / Shift / right-drag to pan. Drag the divider to resize it.

Saving & exporting

Save / Open store a .rutforge working file (original + your edits + layers + settings). Export Heightmap lets you pick an output size (defaults to the source) and offers: