procedure generate terrain using a Jpg

Questions & Answers
1

I was wondering how I can use a jpg instead of a raw file to generate a terrain in unity via code.
What I want to do is to get a jpg off a server or my computer and then use that to generate the terrain. So far all Ive seen has been using raw format.

So basically I was thinking like this
1: Apply a texture i.e. the height map of the terrain i want to model to a mesh.
2: Loop though each vertex of the mesh and get the color of the pixel 0-1 value
3: Base the height Y of the mesh on that value according to the max height index like 1500 ft for a mountain or what not.

I think this would work it seams like it would any thought or improvement to this?
Thanks for any help with this

2

Your algorithm sounds good to me. Maybe it would be easier after all to convert to PNG, if you can find a library for the conversion.

Also for your algorithm, since you only do it once on start-up, I would probably do it on the CPU, instead on the GPU for easier debugging and stuff.