Suggestions for Variable River Size
JulianDracos
Mapmaker
I know CC3 does not offer the option to vary river size. I believe it is a highly requested feature. But I have seen some maps done (include a Middle Earth map posted on here) where the river does alter size. I am sure there are techniques I have read, but I can't seem to find any posts today about it.
So I am wondering if people had suggestions on how to get more natural looking rivers that vary in width in CC3.
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There are only 3 ways of doing it at present, and which one you use depends on the scale of your map. In a city map you can draw the river as a smooth polygon and vary it as much as you like, and in an overland map you can draw the river as one line then chop it into sections that you can then give progressively narrower line widths as you go into the mountains, using Change Properties on each line section.
The third way is a macro written by Joachim de Ravenbel, but I've only heard about that one and not tried it. I think it does the same job as cutting the river into sections and making them gradually narrower.
Thanks, I started playing around the changing the size of each section. That can be a bit time consuming with a long river on a large map.
Although not exactly the same, I have used the fractalize function on the rivers. I find that is giving the rivers a more realistic look. I mean even when I click a lot to adds nodes and bends, it still looks a little artificial.
One method I came up with, mentioned by Sue, is use a polygon. Just the polygon on the right side. But... it is tedious, at least for me.
So I just draw it in using smooth line, and then fractalize that.
I am not sure I am following you on the smooth line. Is there a pay to have that fill with water?
Another question is how do I chop a river? I can create a break, but that deletes part of the river.
@JulianDracos asked: "Another question is how do I chop a river?"
Ralf demonstrated exactly this, and the method to increase a river's size on an overland map, using the Pete Fenlon style, a couple of weeks ago on the YouTube live mapping stream. It starts around 19 minutes in here.
I use Smooth Path, place the river. Then fractalize it.
I have 3 saved Strengths. 30%, 20%, and 10% depending on how much fractalizing I want to use.
Too many buttons in CC3. Somehow I didn't notice the split button. Thanks for the video.
What is the benefit of the smooth path? I can fractalize the river without it, so what does the smooth path do that aids in the river look?
It is just the method I picked.
Have you tried the macro Sue mentioned above?
Me ? No, I dont use macros. I did in the past.
I am not even sure where to get the macro well enough how to use a macro.
Here's Joachim's tutorial: https://forum.profantasy.com/discussion/comment/8891/#Comment_8891