Living in the northern hemisphere I naturally assume the sun is in the southern sky and adjust my "Global Sun" accordingly. But that's a matter of taste.
The default sun position in CC3 is from the north west. That's because most modern atlas maps with hill shading are shaded as if lit from the north west, even though the sun is only ever in that direction for real if you live in the southern hemisphere. The reason for this is that the human brain expects to see things as if shaded from 'above', as if the map is hung like a picture on a wall. It's easier for us to see the shape of those shaded hills.
That's just a lot of possibly quite useless information there, but it is the reason the default sun position is 315 degrees. I tend to leave it there unless there is a reason for changing it - dramatic effect, or some other reason.
But again - as Dalton says it really is a matter of personal preference.
The default sun position in CC3 is from the north west... even though the sun is only ever in that direction for real if you live in the southern hemisphere.
Not quite true, Sue, as from the northern hemisphere in summer, around June-July, the Sun sets in the northwest too. From much of Britain, that's around or indeed north of, true azimuth 315°. 😎
kilma.ard.venom
🖼️ 21 images Traveler
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Those are great. Any chance that you could post versions without the grid?
Thanks! I can post them next week. Sorry for such a late reply.
Made another one and uploaded both versions (grid and gridless) in to the gallery.
Much Appreciated!
Hm, I'll look into it (time to play with a globe). For all my recent maps I just move the Sun from east to west (morning - evening; azimuth 0-180).
The default sun position in CC3 is from the north west. That's because most modern atlas maps with hill shading are shaded as if lit from the north west, even though the sun is only ever in that direction for real if you live in the southern hemisphere. The reason for this is that the human brain expects to see things as if shaded from 'above', as if the map is hung like a picture on a wall. It's easier for us to see the shape of those shaded hills.
That's just a lot of possibly quite useless information there, but it is the reason the default sun position is 315 degrees. I tend to leave it there unless there is a reason for changing it - dramatic effect, or some other reason.
But again - as Dalton says it really is a matter of personal preference.
The default sun position in CC3 is from the north west... even though the sun is only ever in that direction for real if you live in the southern hemisphere.
Not quite true, Sue, as from the northern hemisphere in summer, around June-July, the Sun sets in the northwest too. From much of Britain, that's around or indeed north of, true azimuth 315°. 😎