HMP File Format (.hmp)
An HMP file is a binary heightmap written for Conitec's 3D GameStudio engine, storing a rectangular grid of elevation values that the engine's Terrain Engine tessellates into landscape geometry at load time rather than shipping the triangles directly.
HMP at a glance#
| Full name | 3D GameStudio heightmap |
|---|---|
| File extension | .hmp |
| Category | 3D Models |
| Developer | Conitec |
| Compression | Uncompressed |
| FileFlip support | FileFlip reads this format but does not write it |
Strengths and limitations of HMP#
What HMP does well
- A grid of elevation values is far smaller on disk than the equivalent triangle mesh would be
- Loads straight into 3D GameStudio's Terrain Engine without a separate import step
- Simple enough that a heightmap can be generated programmatically from any grayscale elevation data
Where HMP falls short
- Several incompatible internal versions exist (HMP4, HMP5, HMP7) tied to different 3D GameStudio releases
- Tied specifically to 3D GameStudio; essentially nothing outside that engine and its tooling reads it
- Stores only elevation, so texture splatting and object placement live in separate engine data, not the HMP file itself
Use HMP when terrain needs to load directly into 3D GameStudio's Terrain Engine.
Convert HMP to a mesh format when the terrain needs to become explicit triangle geometry for an engine that doesn't understand GameStudio's heightmap format.
How to open a .hmp file#
A .hmp file opens in the programs below, grouped by the platform you are on. If you would rather not install anything, FileFlip converts HMP into a format your machine already opens, and it does it in the browser tab rather than on a server.
| Platform | Programs that open it |
|---|---|
| Windows | 3D GameStudio |
| Web | FileFlip |
HMP questions people ask#
What is an HMP file?
An HMP file is a heightmap for Conitec's 3D GameStudio engine, storing a grid of elevation values that the engine's Terrain Engine turns into landscape geometry when the level loads. It holds elevation data, not a finished mesh.
What software opens HMP files?
3D GameStudio and its level editor are essentially the only software built to read HMP files, since the format is specific to that engine's terrain system. There's no general-purpose 3D application that opens it natively.
Why would I convert an HMP file to a mesh format?
An HMP file only stores a grid of elevation values, and only 3D GameStudio knows how to turn that into terrain geometry. Converting it to a mesh format like OBJ tessellates the heightmap into actual triangles that other 3D software and game engines can load directly.
Converting HMP files#
Convert HMP to another format
FileFlip does not write .hmp files, so nothing on the site converts into this format. It works as a source only.
Every conversion runs inside your browser. The file is read from your disk, the work happens on your own machine, and nothing is uploaded. How FileFlip works names the engine behind each family and how to verify that for yourself.