The most important part of any software application, in my opinion, is the user interface.
A well designed interface will provide better and faster productivity, with a lower learning curve for new users. To this end, the interface on HMES has been tweaked a number of times to create a better user experience. The interface is very visual, with most of the editing dialogs including large customizable 2D and 3D preview windows, and graphical state displays.
The software operates in two independant modes, Map Space and World Space, with the capability of passing the current heightmap between the modes. Map space is similar to using high-end paint software and provides import, export, conversion, and editing of heightmaps with dimensions up to 32768x32768. World Space is similar to using high-end modeling software and provides a wide variety of terrain creation, terraforming and geomorphing functions.
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