If you are having to change styles for your drawing tools then you may find that you don't have the right textures to go with them. You can resolve that issue using Insert file in the Draw menu, and inserting a blank dummy file of the required style, then immediately deleting it. That will import all the fills for that style.

To get to different symbol catalogues it is quickest to use the browse button on the right above the symbol catalogue panel. If there is an FSC file in the parent folder for the symbols, it is better to open that than the folder containing the symbols. The catalogue file (.FSC) will provide random collections and varicolour symbols and place symbols on the correct sheet - none of which can happen without the FSC file.

Maybe the blur factor needs a little upward adjustment. I think adding transparency will make the piles transparent as well.

On that last point, Raiko, I think there might be an issue if Jim is using the app for commercial purposes. The license is quite specific about it in the first paragraph under "DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS".

However, it is not Profantasy's intention to be obstructive to the enjoyment of their software, so it is probably worth making polite enquiries via Tech Support to find out exactly how this rule applies to your particular circumstances and the issues you are having, @jmabbott

One sheet, about 30 minutes.

I drew a circle, traced it with one of the drawing tools, fractalised it... (you can't fractalise a circle)... then changed it's properties to Solid 20 Bitmap fill and drew a step on top of it touching the edge. I grouped them together, then used circular array to make 10 in a ring (rotation centre in the middle of the irregular circle), and picked them one by one to make each successive rotated step a bit smaller than the previous one - starting at the visual second step down in the series.

Here is the FCW.

I don't mind if you just copy it.

Sometimes the shadows need to be reasonably strong if you have a contrasy texture like those slabs, coupled with a sharp and highly visible grid like that. I would say the shadows you have are right on the edge of being ok. I wouldn't go any lighter than that or nothing will pop.