Confused about resources (DEM)

[klavan]

I would like to learn about mapping and i've already downloaded lots of tutorials to build up my personal info depot.
I'm interested in DEM maps and how to convert 'em to be suitable for wrpedit, so i went to  geocommunity only to (apparently) discover that dem maps are only for US territories.
What the hell can i do if i want to create, let's say, a map covering the place where i live (Italy)??
Have i to make it manually, which seems to be tedious from what i've red 'till now from the various tuts???
Is there something else around that could prevent me to mummify before to release something?
Thanks in advance fo the help.
Klavan

[Planck]

Getting DEM's for countries other than the US is a problem.

The US DEM's are free....mostly.

However DEM's for other countries are available but you have to pay for them.

I don't know about other countries, but in the UK it would be the Ordnance Survey Office that would supply them for an exorbitant price.

I prefer not to bother.

You can use DEM's from the US that resemble the terrain you wish to represent though.


Planck