ProFantasy Community Forum

Symbols

dfmoss65dfmoss65
in Mapping with ProFantasy's Software
Several years ago I bought CC3, Fractal Terrains and CD2. I played with them a little and then went on to other things.

Now, I want to do some mapping and I upgraded my CD2 to CD3. Back when I first bought the software, I remember finding LOTS of symbols available for free download - including CUSAC (no longer available, I hear) and others.

I am trying to find more symbols - particularly houses and city structures, but I would take most anything I could find. Anyone have any suggestions of where to look for png or other usable symbols?

Thanks,

Don
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Comments

  • JimPJimP 🖼️ 280 images Cartographer
    edited July 2011
    Check Profantasy's web site 'User's sites' for some possibilities.

    http://www.profantasy.com/community/users.asp

    Search in here for mentions of users who have sites.
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  • Terraformer_AuthorTerraformer_Author Newcomer
    Actually I'm starting to get the drawing itch again. Been thinking about maybe doing some art and symbols sets (he said - cracking his knuckles).
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  • dfmoss65dfmoss65
    When I used the programs before there were more symbols for different types of buildings available. I like some of the new symbols, thatched buildings look more realistic, but there just are not enough different types of buildings available.

    I suppose I need to learn to make my own symbols, but I barely have time to map! LOL

    Any thing you do, Terraformer, will be appreciated. :)

    Don
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  • Terraformer_AuthorTerraformer_Author Newcomer
    edited July 2011
    Actually Don, I really have been getting the urge to do some stuff for CC3. If I do - it's going to take a while (not an eternity - but not one afternoon either) - and everybody around here knows that whenever I do something - it's usually in overflowing bulk - and I usually go a bit overboard,lol. Nobodie's perfect chum - especially me :).

    Everybody around here knows that I have a little problem when it comes to saying "enough is enough" and setting limits. I had to fight myself to let T050 (Terraformer) get published - because I kept saying to myself "I can do more with this" and "I can add on to that". The main motivator with letting it go was the timely concern that Ralf would rightly, and justly show up at my door and beat the crap out of me for promising it to half the world - and then taking 18 months to finally get it done and out there, lol :) . I'm currently working on that personal issue though - so it's no biggy.

    ANYWHO - I haven't been working with CC3 as much as I need to - and I have two major points that I would have to resolve, and that is - if I draw a trans .PNG - what should it's box dimensions be as a default symbol size? (I can find out - but just curious). I don't have the dungeon add on yet, but I could do a symbol set for that anyway if I know the default dimensions of each symbol. I also need to study the CC3 manual. Right now I know FT PRO practically better than I know my own mother, but I'm still going to have to do some schooling at CC3 - not much, but just enough to take up my tea and crumpet time. Some symbols I would hand draw - and some I would extrapolate from my 3d apps, depending on what the symbols were, and post production would basically involve refining alphas and cast shadow effects - and tweaking the color ranges a bit to fit the CC3 art styles. I'm not sure if I should do .svg vector versions or not.

    Another thing is the "top down" view of some of the symbol types. I am a detail freak - and when I draw or model something - I like to stick as much detail in it as I can. Top down stuff has - like 60% less detail than stuff at an ortho-perspective kind of viewpoint, which is oddly irritating to me, lol.
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  • dfmoss65dfmoss65
    I really don't have any idea how big a symbol default size should be. I am an absolute neophyte on this stuff! LOL Hopefully, someone will give an answer.

    I like detail - but I can see where it would be an issue with actually getting something done! LOL

    The new Jon Roberts Overland Style is something I really like (even though it is printer ink intensive! LOL) and I am looking forward to his city style - I hope it does indeed make it to the September Annual. I also really like the Mappa Harnica style for village/town/city mapping and wish there were a way to make their toolkit work with CC3.

    Don
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  • JimPJimP 🖼️ 280 images Cartographer
    Symbol scale is according to the map template. CC2/CC3 scales the symbol according to the template size. So an outdoor ocverland map of 1000x800 miles will scale the symbol differently that a 100x80 mile template.

    I use a slightly different scale for outdoors maps than the one that CC2/CC3 shows the default overland symbol scale.

    Same scale indoor and dungeon, scale symbols as CC2/CC3.
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  • Terraformer_AuthorTerraformer_Author Newcomer
    Hmmmm. Ok - what I meant was - if I draw a house, does it matter how big the image is?
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  • MonsenMonsen Administrator 🖼️ 81 images Cartographer
    edited July 2011
    Yes. Yes, it does.

    CC3 uses 4 different resolutions to make redraws faster. You should draw the image at the highest resolution you desire, then resize it t the other resolutions (CC3 can do this automatically). This is normally the Very High resolution. The resolutions are as follows:

    Very High (VH): 100 pixels/drawing unit @ 1.0 scale
    High (HI): 40 pixels/drawing unit @ 1.0 scale
    Low (LO): 10 pixels/drawing unit @ 1.0 scale
    Very Low (VL): 2 pixels/drawing unit @ 1.0 scale

    So if you want a house that will be 50x30 drawing units (at 1.0 scale), the image size for VH should be 5000x3000 pixels. (2000x1200 for HI, 500x300 for LO and 100x60 for VL)
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  • Terraformer_AuthorTerraformer_Author Newcomer
    Got it Remy. So the larger the pixel resolution - the better, is that basically what your saying?
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  • MonsenMonsen Administrator 🖼️ 81 images Cartographer
    No, not really. CC3 uses all of the 4 sizes I listed above (depending on your current zoom level, to avoid showing a more detailed image than the user can make out on the screen anyway), so your symbols should match those resolutions exactly, it is not simply a matter of more is better. The best option is to create symbols using the VH resolution, and then let CC3 create the rest of them for you.
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  • Terraformer_AuthorTerraformer_Author Newcomer
    I'm printing out a .PDF of this thread for reference Remy, VALUABLE INFO!!!!
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  • 7 days later
  • Simon RogersSimon Rogers Administrator, ProFantasy Traveler
    The Very High resolution is optional - it's useful for extreme zooms and poster prints or for miniatures. You can do just the high res ones.

    When you want to impot them, do Tools >> Import Bitmap Fillstyles and tick "Create other resolutions"
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