Fractal Mapper 8: Classic Blue TSR-style maps made easy

[Mark Oliva]

do you know if anyone has done a tutorial on creating a Archipelago with Fractal Mapper?

Sorry. I wish I could help you there, but ...

I've been struggling with creating just-under-the-water-features like reefs, sunken islands chains and the like. All the images I've found on Google show them clearly - I'm just not finding a technique to recreate them properly. Some seem to be only a couple feet under water, and close enough to the surface that a person could walk across them if they wanted.

When I want to put something under water in FM8, I:

1) Put the water onto the map first.

2) Put the object that's supposed to be under water on top of the water.

3) With the intended underwater object marked, I move the transparency slider to the left until I have exactly the underwater effect I'm seeking.

I'm not sure if that will solve your problem, but up until now, it's always given us exactly what we've been seeking.

[Silverleaf]

Hiya Mark,

Yeah, that is how I was doing it as the transparency trick does work well. What I think I'll do is try a couple levels of transparency to blend in the effect I'm looking for. It seems that a real world Archipelago has varying levels of very close to surface/underwater features. If I have success, I'll be sure to post an update in a thread for you and other Fractal Mapper users.

Thanks for your reply, it really did help.

[Mark Oliva]

What I think I'll do is try a couple levels of transparency to blend in the effect I'm looking for. It seems that a real world Archipelago has varying levels of very close to surface/underwater features. If I have success, I'll be sure to post an update in a thread for you and other Fractal Mapper users.

I think you're on exactly the right road there. I haven't had the need to put things at different underwater depths yet, but that's exactly what I'd do.

Elsewhere, however, I've used this technique quite a bit. Using fill patterns (textures) with feather blurs and varying degrees of transparency can produce all kinds of great results with FM8.

Keep us posted on how you're doing!