Edit Landmass

FarsightX3 · June 2008

Is there anyone you can edit some of the main land mass after you created it? I know its just one continuous line to make the body of it. Here is an example. You drew Australia with the landmass tool as one line to create the whole thing. But you decide you don't want to use the north west of it anymore. So you want to delete that region of the landmass. How do you do such if you even can? The reason why I ask this, is because I have some parts of the continent that I really like and has a nice flow, just some other places don't.

gregwr · June 2008

The node edit, split and break tools all work on landmasses. When I want to eliminate a portion of landmass I use numeric edit to change it from closed to open. Then use break and the node edits to reshape it. When I have it the way I like I just use numeric edit to close it again and voila. Just remember to not leave too much of a gap when you close it back or you'll get a huge flat spot on your landmass. The reason I convert it to open it because its easier to see the changes to just a line on my screen without redrawing constantly.

FarsightX3 · June 2008

For some reason It doesn't work well. The program just flashes and lags and goes crazy lol. Any other ways, or is this the only way?

Monsen · June 2008

Use the landmass tool itself to make changes. When you click on the landmass button, it says "E - Edit" at the command line. If you hit E, then click on the starting point on the landmass edge that you wish to change, and then just draw a new coast line. Finish by right-clicking, this will draw the final line to join it with your existing line. Then left-click to accept this line.
If you drew your edit inside the landmass, anything outside it will be removed. If you drew outside the landmass, you will add your edit to it instead.

gregwr · June 2008

Is that a new feature in CC3 or have I just been blind all this time? (smiling)

Monsen · June 2008

Seems like you have been blind

I don't know when the feature was introduced, but it is available in CC2 Pro at least.

Ralf · June 2008

The edit function has always been part of the drawing tool concept, meaning it was introduced with CC2 Pro. It's eady to miss when you start using drawing tools, that's why I usually try to point it out when demoing the software or writing mapping guides. As always: Keep an eye on the command line!

JimP · June 2008

I have used to edit node commands for some time now to create my maps and the map contour polys.

kmanktelow · September 2016

Hi, All,
Been using the program for a little while, but not really attempted anything too complex.

Anyway, coverting a png to a map and traced the outline of the continent (nightmare that was.....)
But, when redrawn it has a couple of places were there are what I can only decribe as spurs. Tried editing the nodes - that just makes a mess and selecting the same editing tool and typing E and attempting to remove the edge doesn't appear to do anything?

Is the outline of the landscape on a different layer to the inner fill, or does it require a different tool to edit?

Any advice would be appreciated.

All the best,

Kevin.

JimP · September 2016

The node edit icons on the left aide of CC3/CC3+ will help you fix that. Node Edit lets you move a node, and Node Delete lets you remove a node.

So you can use the Node Delete, click on the spurs, and then adjust it using Node Edit so it looks like you want it to.

These commands can have effects you may not expect. So I suggest save as to a different filename, adding a digit chage to it before each alteration.

Save as filename01, edit, save as filename02, etc. This helps you go gak past the amount undo can handle if you decide the edit is going in a direction you don't like.

Loopysue · September 2016

Having been in so many similar situations myself before, I would thoroughly recommend the delete node button in particular, of all the node editing buttons, since you have a couple of nodes that are too close together in that section of line, so losing one of them isn't going to hurt your coastline all that much

kmanktelow · September 2016

Thanks for the fast replies.

However, Edit Node and Delete Node only seemed to allow me to edit one of the issues. The larger one to the right still defies editing - I can't seem to find the nodes that need editing. Anytime I try editing any part, as soon as I right-click it looks like a green explosion.

Is there anyway I can display the Nodes to aid in trouble-shooting?

Loopysue · September 2016

Nodes have no mass or volume - they are only visible by the kinks they mark in the lines and shapes that you draw on your map (that's a sort of not very accurate quote from Remy).

If you zoom in as close as you can you should be able to pick out the exact kink in the line that sets everything wrong, and either move it or delete it.

Let us know how you get on with it

Monsen · September 2016

Just note that the offending nodes will be at the root of your spurs, not at the tip.
I would also consider hiding the landmass when you work with this, have only the outline visible. That ensures that your node editing operates on the correct entity, which is otherwise tricky because your landmass and outline actually have their nodes in the exact same locations.

JimP · September 2016

You have to keep going at it. I have spent as much as an hour on one area in a map, then I noticed what the map was doing.

As Monsen points out, the base is where to try the node edit. Very occasionaly I have had to work on other parts.

This is a fractal landmass area, and fractals are a pain.

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Edit Landmass

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