[How-To] Trim Overlaps & Cutaway Style Map
I've been using CC3/DD3 for some time now, and I've gotten a lot more confident in that time with what I can do. One thing I really spent a lot of time learning to do (thanks Mr. Sweeney especially) has been to make cutaway style maps. Another issue (especially with making cutaway style maps) is that you can't have overlapping floors for the MultiPoly effect, and when a polygon room meets a fractal room, you're going to have overlaps. So I'm going to briefly explain how to trim your fractal room to be flush, and then how to make a cutaway style map.
1. For this example, I'm just using a quick 35fx35f map. I've drawn a straight edged room with one fill texture, and a side fractal room (cave) with a different fill texture. Note that if I was using the same texture for both, then you just choose "E" to edit when drawing a floor, and tack it onto the existing room. But if you want different textures, you'll have overlap from the fractal (in fact, you need it for the trim). So here is what we start with:
Overlap
2. Now you need to trim that fractal. This is actually really easy. Pick the straight polygon room using the same fill style as the cave, and then push "E" before drawing (to Edit). Pick the spot where you need to trim (snaps help here) then draw down to the other end of the door and right click. Choose the end of the trim point for where to connect, and BAM--you have a flat edge on the fractal room now:
Trimmed
3. Now for a cutaway style map, you are going to fill in everywhere that ISN'T a floor with walls. First make a Copy of your floors and move them off to the side of your map. Then making sure you have the WALLS sheet & layer selected, and whatever Fill Style you want your walls to be, draw a box the size of your map over the copied floors. Then Multipoly the whole thing, and you'll get this:
MultiPoly
4. Finally, Move the Multipoly you've created (which should be on the WALLS sheet & layer, and the fill style you desire--if not, Edit Properties before moving it) back into place over the original map. Turn on effects and you should have your cutaway style!
Cutaway Finished
Enjoy!
1. For this example, I'm just using a quick 35fx35f map. I've drawn a straight edged room with one fill texture, and a side fractal room (cave) with a different fill texture. Note that if I was using the same texture for both, then you just choose "E" to edit when drawing a floor, and tack it onto the existing room. But if you want different textures, you'll have overlap from the fractal (in fact, you need it for the trim). So here is what we start with:
Overlap
2. Now you need to trim that fractal. This is actually really easy. Pick the straight polygon room using the same fill style as the cave, and then push "E" before drawing (to Edit). Pick the spot where you need to trim (snaps help here) then draw down to the other end of the door and right click. Choose the end of the trim point for where to connect, and BAM--you have a flat edge on the fractal room now:
Trimmed
3. Now for a cutaway style map, you are going to fill in everywhere that ISN'T a floor with walls. First make a Copy of your floors and move them off to the side of your map. Then making sure you have the WALLS sheet & layer selected, and whatever Fill Style you want your walls to be, draw a box the size of your map over the copied floors. Then Multipoly the whole thing, and you'll get this:
MultiPoly
4. Finally, Move the Multipoly you've created (which should be on the WALLS sheet & layer, and the fill style you desire--if not, Edit Properties before moving it) back into place over the original map. Turn on effects and you should have your cutaway style!
Cutaway Finished
Enjoy!
Comments
What effects are you using on the different sheets?
Ken
I'm pretty sure you can get it under Annuals > About the Annuals; there's a link there.