Here is how I would do it if I just wanted a background with nothing fancy, like scrolls or ragged edges.

1. Add a new sheet on top of your map (bottom of the list)
2. Add a Blend Mode sheet effect to the new sheet
3. Set the Blend Mode to Multiply
4. Draw a rectangle of the desired parchment fill over the entire map on that new sheet.
5. Refresh the drawing

You may find that this trick works better with black and white styles, but it does depend on the style. Here is an example:

You will find parchment fills in the Bitmaps\Tiles folder and subfolders depending on what add ons you have. If you can't find any you like in there, there are some free here:

https://www.profantasy.com/products/subsamples.asp#&panel1-1

The image for the node setup turned out a bit blurry, so this is it again in a more readable fashion. I continue to work in Blender version 3.6.8 even though there are more up to date versions. They update/upgrade in a fashion that damages version compatibility. Some of these nodes no longer exist in the current version, or exist in such a changed state that they don't work the same way.

In the first image I use 2 Math nodes to do the same thing. This can be done with just one linked to the same inputs and outputs.

Have fun! :)

Hi :)

If you open the catalogue file (that's the [Foldername].FSC file usually visible in the parent folder of the [Foldername] containing the symbols), you can export an FCW file with all the symbols arranged neatly and ready for printing using the "Create catalog thumbnail file..." option.

In this example I created a Test.FCW file on my desktop which looked like this when opened.

The blank space at the top left is a drawtool and not a symbol, so it's name is there but the sample line is not.

I then exported a jpg bitmap from this and got this result (this is only a 500 px export to preserve the copyright on these symbols on the forum, but you can set it any size you prefer using the Options button in the Save as dialog.

This works for each catalogue at a time, but it doesn't take too long to do, and if you print each one you can make a reference book of them for yourself.

Having fun with different kinds of dormer. This is the same basic building...

@Quayuazue - I had too much of a headache to get on with what I was supposed to be doing, so I found a laurel wreath I used in another design and made this vector symbol for you. Here is the FCW showing you how to use it on shields of more than one colour like the examples you gave (basically, draw two shields on top of one another but reverse the colouring on the top one, add a Color Key, and then place the laurels symbol on that top shield).

And this is the symbol catalogue containing just that one symbol so you can open it in any FCW file you have going.

If you don't want to use it as a color key shape, but want an actual black or white version you can clone and edit copies of it.

This is a free symbol, so don't get all hung up about rights and modifying it. It's literally something that helped me forget the headache ;)

Thanks :)

I did a quick sampler of all the forest and woodland drawing tools with the tool names shown for identification.

The trees from Darklands are quite dark compared to other styles, so you won't get any lighter trees than the jungle ones.

I think you might have the blurred FOREST SHADOWS sheet above the FOREST* sheets (above in the map - below in the list). That would cause the blurring seen in your shot. Check to make sure the sheets are in the right order.

As for the drawing tools themselves, the forest ones all seem to be in order, but the last two woodlands drawing tools seem to have a higher than expected density. I don't know if this is intended or not.

Hi Everyone! :D

Tomorrow's Live Mapping session sees Ralf going all 'Tolkien' on us and taking a look at the "Classic Fantasy" vector overland style from the Annual Vol 9. He will also be discussing using and customizing hatch styles.

You can watch right here on the forum:

Or you can come and join in with the live show on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57aVGl7LUPw

Hope to see you there!

Please can I do the village of Elkton, from the Alarius North Central map?

On the Bevel, Lighted it is possible to make the bevel concave by increasing the value of the Slope Curve.

With a bit of fiddling you can reverse the shading to show the effect of a hollow by unchecking the Global Sun Direction and setting the Azimuth to 180 degrees from the global sun settings.

With the ordinary Bevel, you can't make the curve concave, but you can reverse the shading by checking the Invert Colors box. That would make the polygon appear to be sunken instead of raised.

A little more progress - a few more houses converted from DC to WV