Showing Sails on Ships

[craggles]

I too would go for white sails billowing at what ever directing you need - if it's the plain forward sails or the spinnaker type (which is sort of taking a quarter on the side look - or used on larger ships where the spinnaker is on the front and the rest are the plain facing forward type). I'm not sure what the correct nortacal terms are for them as you could probably guess.

So, in short, I'd have the sails as they would be (100% opacity) with full wind behind them as seen from above.

I think transparent would make the sails look like they're actually a transparent material.

...unless, (as I think maybe the case after re-reading your post,) that this ship is going to be THE map and not simply an element on it, then having them transparent (including the bow too - basically everything besides the mast posts) overlaid on top at a lot less than 50% opacity (just so they're noticeable but don't 'interfere' with the deck at all and I'm thinking perhaps at the 20-30% mark off the top of my head).

[torstan]

Indeed, it will be the map. There's a (much) larger ship in the works too so I'm nailing the style down on the little one. Thanks for the input.