Need Help with Island .RAW Files

According to LL web site, default water level is 20 meters. I would assume that this meant sea level was set a greyscale of 20 and that land would begin at a greyscale of 21. When I examined the .RAW file for the Island #2, however, this didn't appear to be the case. Can anyone help me understand where my land level should begin, in terms of the greyscale in the Red channel, given that I want to build some beach and then increase elevation from there?

Thanks,

Rokutman Westinghouse

As I understand it, (from offline practicing while awaiting my island), you can set SEA LEVEL at any elevation you choose. 20m is what is used, by custom, in all mainland sims and most private islands. (otherwise, you might see a huge towering wall of water over your head as you moved close to sim boundaries
The Gray Scale is elevation without regard to Sea Level. You contour from elevation 0 to elevation 255, Black to White. And then Add water--like a bathtub--to the desired level.

So. Therefore, you can contour your land, beginning at ZERO elevation and higher. If you use 20m as sea level, then figure on sloping beaches from about 17-18m elevation up to about 22-23m. Fill with water to 20m.
If your beach is roughly 20m wide this is about a 25% slope...and that may be too steep. From what I've seen, 'sea level' is quite exact. There are no 'waves' rushing ashore. So you could also make your beach exactly 21m in elevation. It would be flat, but always above water.

I've not played with island 2. Can you post a link? I'd like to see what they've done.

Thanks for the response, Sterling. The LL Concierge emailed the island #2 .raw file to me, so there isn't a link. I tried to email it to you but noticed you didn't want emails. Let me know if there is another way to get it to you.