Sorry Shessar - I misread what you said, but you have inadvertently sparked a whole load of changes for the better - so its a happy outcome at least.
I've already put windowsills in (and believe me the curved ones were not the easiest thing to do in CC3 without a wall drawing tool like the one I've seen on the tutorial videos for DD3)
I have also cut down on the degree of blur, so that its more like the depth of field of a camera. You can still see the leaves on the trees now.
Unfortunately, being something of an insomniac who should have been asleep several hours ago (its gone 1 am here), I'm far too tired to sort out making suitably scrunched up images to show you right now, but I will upload an example of the updated version sometime tomorrow... um... I mean today.
Don't feel bad Shessar. It was this idiot here who misread your post. And it was such lovely post...
I've been working hard all day, even though I don't seem to have done very much. I do now have windowsills... after a fashion. Doing curved section walls is pretty difficult in CC3 :-) You were right - the windows do look much better with them in.
Posted By: JimPSchley Wall Features contains different vari-color curtains. These look like the color modifies, not completely change, the color of the curtains.
Not being totally clued up here, I don't know what SS4 is, but I don't appear to have the symbol folders JimP listed. I think this might be because I only have CC3/+ installed right now. However, I do have DD3 now;-) I decided not to install it before I finished the Observatory, because I didn't want to end up going off on a tangent - carried away by the new software, never to return to the Observatory. I want to finish this project, not leave it gathering dust in some corner.
If the curtains are just waiting for me in the DD3 symbol folders, I will finish the Observatory and add the curtains right at the end once I have done the DD3 installation... or if not... I can draw my own if I stop being so lazy!
Since it took me forever to draw this, here it is for anyone who happens to want to do a half set of stairs going down into the dark. I'm not sure how useful it will be because I tailor made it to fit an already tailored set of stairs 10 steps long.
If I have a more productive day tomorrow I might create the ten step stairs to go with it.
What kind of graphics software do you have? I'm really a bit limited in what I can describe, since I only have a very outdated version of CorelDraw, and no formal training. It just kind of.... happens (Cheesy apologetic grin and shrug) EDIT 2: which is probably why it takes so long to get anything done!
It also doesn't help that I don't speak the lingo all that well (never having been a pro, or in with the graphics 'in crowd'), so you would probably be left scratching your head, even if I made the most brilliant set of step by step instructions.
I have cc3+/cd3/dd3, and I also have the free version of the Gimp...which I have no idea how to use! lol... haven't gone through those tutorials yet, been too busy.
Hey! Join the club. I downloaded GIMP once and couldn't get the hang of the rather tacky interface (tacky in comparison to what I'm used to with CorelDraw)... mind you, that was a few years ago. I assume that since everyone else tends to sing its praises all the really useful graphic tools must have been hidden away someplace.
I may download it again and have another go, but that won't be until I've finished the Observatory. Its a pity there isn't some kind of online classroom where we could both go and learn how to use GIMP at the same time, and laugh at each other's beginner mistakes! I rather fancy going back to school. LOL
I tell you what. There are loads of online videos on Utube. When I get my monthly broadband allowance renewed I'll go and have a look at them and see if I can't get the hang of it there, and then see what I can do in GIMP that's similar enough to what I can do in CorelDraw. Then, maybe, I might be in a better position to be able to do a few simple instruction sets.
I don't know if its really what the Profantasy Team would want on the forum, it being about how to do stuff with GIMP, but that's still a long way off for now, since I haven't even downloaded it yet.
EDIT: If there's anyone else out there who can draw things in GIMP, this might be the moment for you to step forward? Yes? No?
Posted By: JimPSchley Wall Features contains different vari-color curtains. These look like the color modifies, not completely change, the color of the curtains.
Are those from SS4?
edit to fix some typos.
Yes, when I click on the CC3+ icon, and then click on the Symbols bar above the Options, a symbol set loads. I click browse, I see it comes from the Mike Schley folder.
No, I don't know where everything is... I sort of remembered, so I looked around and found them.
My Mike Schley folder contains only the kinds of things you would use on an overland map, but don't worry. I expect there will be some curtains in the DD3 set when I install it :-)
I suggest setting your options settings for symbols in CC3/CC3+ to 3 columns, not 1. Lets you see more symbols per set loaded without having to scroll down the list.
I'm looking directly in the folders, Jim. There's nothing there that isn't about maps, and a sample of example symbols for Dungeons. Don't forget - I only have CC3, and don't even have any of the annuals. Its the skinniest collection possible... but it won't be that way forever, because I do have a copy of DD3... I just don't want to loose interest in the Observatory by installing it too soon (I can be like a child with a Christmas stocking if I have too much to play with). Please don't worry - as you know I am more than capable of draughting my own curtains if I get really desperate, and if I do that I will almost certainly share them, which makes it a win-win situation ;-)
I do have all the CSUAC symbols and Bogie symbols, but magnificent though both those collections are, for some reason, no one ever seems to want to draught any curtains! LOL
Loopysue lamented:My Mike Schley folder contains only the kinds of things you would use on an overland map...
You won't have the Mike Schley symbols Jim mentioned, Loopy. SS4 refers to Symbol Set 4: Dungeons of Schley, an awesome dungeon symbol set by Mike Schley. They're beautiful and very detailed, like his overland stuff. Though, also like his overland stuff, they're an illustrated style, unlike the "photorealistic"/"painted" stuff you used for this map.
But then Loopysue also pointed out:I expect there will be some curtains in the DD3 set when I install it :-)
LOL. I know how you love photorealistic stuff, Dogtag. I prefer an illustrated style for maps, but I like the more realistic stuff for plans. I will probably try out a whole range of styles when I get into DD3 ;-)
If I had time to learn Blender or DAZ 3D or Bryce, I could turn out some 3D items. But I have problems with their use of the X, Y, and Z axis being different than what I learned in school. Not to mention their menus.
Blender is probably your best option there. Quite apart from the fact that its free, and DAZ is horrendously expensive you can only model in primitives in Bryce (cubes, spheres, etc, using Boolean operations to add or subtract them from one another). You can do proper modelling in Blender like the image below of the head of one of my were-hawks in feathered form... but to be honest I find it quicker to draw the thing and be done with it, than mess around for two whole days just getting the beak on the bird's face properly! LOL.
Please don't worry Jim. You have tried your level best to help me with the curtain issue, and its not as if I don't have DD3 sat on my desk right now. All will be well. You'll see ;-)
If you just happen to be a dab hand with GIMP, now... that would be different. I can't for the life of me work out how to explain how to draw a simple staircase for Ladiestorm without some help on that one.
I got DAZ 3D when it was free... the problems comes with the add-ons like textures, clothes, buildings, etc. those can be vezry expensive. I also have Wings 3D, ts free to.
Anyway. I've been working on my Traveller site. I need to stop making maps and do more, much more, descriptions. Waaay behind on the text.
Wonderful on the window sills. And your stairs are perfect! Thanks for the stair shading symbol. Those are the sorts of thing that you can't have enough of.
Posted By: DogtagLoopy, you said you had DD3 now, right? It has top-down symbols for drapes/curtains/tapestries.
I heard you... I just need to get the Observatory mostly finished before I open my Christmas present and go dashing off in a different direction. No one knows how distractible I am, better than I do LOL!
I shall install DD3 the moment I only have the curtains left to do... promise.
Comments
Sorry Shessar - I misread what you said, but you have inadvertently sparked a whole load of changes for the better - so its a happy outcome at least.
I've already put windowsills in (and believe me the curved ones were not the easiest thing to do in CC3 without a wall drawing tool like the one I've seen on the tutorial videos for DD3)
I have also cut down on the degree of blur, so that its more like the depth of field of a camera. You can still see the leaves on the trees now.
Unfortunately, being something of an insomniac who should have been asleep several hours ago (its gone 1 am here), I'm far too tired to sort out making suitably scrunched up images to show you right now, but I will upload an example of the updated version sometime tomorrow... um... I mean today.
I've been working hard all day, even though I don't seem to have done very much. I do now have windowsills... after a fashion. Doing curved section walls is pretty difficult in CC3 :-) You were right - the windows do look much better with them in.
Dungeon, Filled, Wall Features symbols have window curtains.
Dungeons, DD3, DD3 Color Wall Features has window flairs for light coming in the window. Also some top view stained glass windows.
I''ll check in CC3+, back in a few minutes.
Thank you
I found vari-color curtains in them as well.
Schley Wall Features contains different vari-color curtains. These look like the color modifies, not completely change, the color of the curtains.
Both CC3 and CC3+ of these are top view.
If the curtains are just waiting for me in the DD3 symbol folders, I will finish the Observatory and add the curtains right at the end once I have done the DD3 installation... or if not... I can draw my own if I stop being so lazy!
EDIT: OH DEAR! no pun intended - sorry!
If I have a more productive day tomorrow I might create the ten step stairs to go with it.
What kind of graphics software do you have? I'm really a bit limited in what I can describe, since I only have a very outdated version of CorelDraw, and no formal training. It just kind of.... happens (Cheesy apologetic grin and shrug) EDIT 2: which is probably why it takes so long to get anything done!
It also doesn't help that I don't speak the lingo all that well (never having been a pro, or in with the graphics 'in crowd'), so you would probably be left scratching your head, even if I made the most brilliant set of step by step instructions.
EDIT: Urgh - sorry - no pun intended!
I may download it again and have another go, but that won't be until I've finished the Observatory. Its a pity there isn't some kind of online classroom where we could both go and learn how to use GIMP at the same time, and laugh at each other's beginner mistakes! I rather fancy going back to school. LOL
I don't know if its really what the Profantasy Team would want on the forum, it being about how to do stuff with GIMP, but that's still a long way off for now, since I haven't even downloaded it yet.
EDIT: If there's anyone else out there who can draw things in GIMP, this might be the moment for you to step forward? Yes? No?
Yes, when I click on the CC3+ icon, and then click on the Symbols bar above the Options, a symbol set loads. I click browse, I see it comes from the Mike Schley folder.
No, I don't know where everything is... I sort of remembered, so I looked around and found them.
I do have all the CSUAC symbols and Bogie symbols, but magnificent though both those collections are, for some reason, no one ever seems to want to draught any curtains! LOL
Anyway. Maybe I'll have time this winter.
Please don't worry Jim. You have tried your level best to help me with the curtain issue, and its not as if I don't have DD3 sat on my desk right now. All will be well. You'll see ;-)
If you just happen to be a dab hand with GIMP, now... that would be different. I can't for the life of me work out how to explain how to draw a simple staircase for Ladiestorm without some help on that one.
Anyway. I've been working on my Traveller site. I need to stop making maps and do more, much more, descriptions. Waaay behind on the text.
I hope you do get some curtain symbols made.
Thanks for the stair shading symbol. Those are the sorts of thing that you can't have enough of.
I shall install DD3 the moment I only have the curtains left to do... promise.