A few beginner questions
I bought Campaign Cartographer and I was really excited to begin...unfortunately, said excitement has turned to pure frustration. Even with the tutorial videos, some things just leave me absolutely stumped and feeling pretty stupid.
This is basically my last attempt to get something working right with this software before I write off the money as a wasted investment.
Is there any way to get deserts working right? I know how to do blurred mountain ranges using sheet effects. But for some reason I just cannot get the damn sheets to work on different terrain types. What am I doing wrong?
How about inland seas? How can I make sure they are using the same sheet effects as the original landmass? Is there any way to say " Okay, I already did this and want that sheet to apply to this landmass/terrain type also? Like...I don't know...clicking on it and selecting the sheet? But no, that would be the easy option and apparently CC§ cannot have that. User friendliness has been nowhere to find.
Sorry, but it's been a huge disappointment for me so far. I sincerely hope someone can help me.
This is basically my last attempt to get something working right with this software before I write off the money as a wasted investment.
Is there any way to get deserts working right? I know how to do blurred mountain ranges using sheet effects. But for some reason I just cannot get the damn sheets to work on different terrain types. What am I doing wrong?
How about inland seas? How can I make sure they are using the same sheet effects as the original landmass? Is there any way to say " Okay, I already did this and want that sheet to apply to this landmass/terrain type also? Like...I don't know...clicking on it and selecting the sheet? But no, that would be the easy option and apparently CC§ cannot have that. User friendliness has been nowhere to find.
Sorry, but it's been a huge disappointment for me so far. I sincerely hope someone can help me.
Comments
I too just recently got Campaign Cartographer, I've primarily been making battle maps for VTT use. I have so far read through the Essential's Guides, the User Guide and am now working my way into the Ultimate Tome, and I keep on learning and learning. If you haven't gone through the guides I would suggest that you give them a read (this can be difficult if your learning style isn't reading, but their tutorial approach helps).
It's hard to answer your questions as they seem vague and disconnected ie, I don't know how the deserts aren't working right or even what style you're going for. Also, I haven't really touched overland maps yet.
You can move entities to different sheets by right clicking the sheets button and choosing "move to sheet" selecting the entity and right click, "do it".
I'm still getting used to trying to keep everything on it's proper sheet and layer.
Thank you, that sentence actually answered my first question. Hope someone can help me with the second problem as well...
Lets talk about Sheets. Think of sheets as transparencies like are used on overhead projectors. Each Sheet is a different transparency. When we draw something in CC3, we are putting it on one of these transparent Sheets.
The Sheets are drawn on our screen from the top of the list to the bottom of the list, like stacking the transparencies. First we set the Background Sheet on the 'projector', then the Sea Sheet on top of it, then the Land Sheet etc. until we see the whole map.
Sheet Effects are applied to the objects drawn on each sheet. So for example, everything drawn on the Rivers sheet will have the same effects applied to it. (If objects are sacked on top of each other on the same sheet, CC3 sees them as one object.)
As Reylt said, you can move objects from sheet to sheet. You can also check which sheet an object is on by using the Info>List command, selecting the edge of the object and then right click do it.
You can look at objects on a single sheet by clicking the Sheets and Effects button, selecting the sheet you want to examine and hiding all the others (Hide All).
Sheet effects must be applied manually. You can't copy them from one sheet to another. (Being able to copy and paste sheet effects is probably on everyone's wish list)
I'm not sure if this answers your questions directly, but understanding how CC3 does things is the most important step in getting a handle on this software. Don't give up. Once you understand a few things you'll fall in love with the ease of making maps with this software. Keep asking questions; that's what the forums are here for.
To get inland seas, what I do is have sheets in this order. If they don't exist, I add them.
Sea
Land
Inland Sea
Symbols
map border
As Shessar points out, CC3 starts at the top of the sheet list, draws Sea, then land, then Inland Sea.
The Inland sea will be drawn on top of the land. That way it wont be under the land.
We have all gone through this learning process, it does take time.
Before I bought CC3 I looked around for other options. I even tried GIMP. I can say that CC3 seems to me to be the best program to use to draw decent maps easily. It's actually quite easy to use. You just have to get past a few quirks. Sheets and where stuff gets drawn is a big deal. Most of the problems and frustration comes from learning sheets. Inland seas and islands in inland seas runs you through the sheets wringer. However once you draw your first inland sea you'll be well on your way to getting the hang of it.
Also keep hitting the forums for answers to questions. If you are having a problem with something chances are someone else has as well. Don't give up. You don't need to take a CAD class to use this program. Just keep trying stuff and when you can't figure something out search the formus or ask. People will have answers. Good luck and hang in there.