11 - Plaza and transmission center [- JO -]

[Mouse]

Oh but Jo... this is just absolutely beautiful!

Are you like me, in that I get a kick when I add a shadow and 'pop' - up shoots the building out of nowhere? Its almost like therapy after a day when nothing else goes right!

[- JO -]

Yes, you're absolutely right ! It's like the building comes to life when you draw the shadow...

It's really funny to see the difference between buildings that have a shadow, and those that do not have one yet ... It's like putting pawns on a board game. It is a good time to pass, but I must say that it takes really a long time ... In addition, I made buildings very complicated, with many angles and different heights, which requires good reflection before each drawing, knowing that there will inevitably be mistakes in the end ... It is a very nice process, but takes a lot of time. You just have to keep courage until you get to the end.
With CC3, it's still more fun: we put the buildings and, all of a sudden, everything becomes alive, just by clicking on the activation of the effects! (It is true that it also requires a lot of work in preparing the effects).
Now I'm looking forward to getting to the end of the shadows, because I still have two-three ideas for the finishes of the map (the one that will go in finished maps): I would draw the large tower in half opacity and in perspective and then I would also like to add all the symbols and their meaning (like the alphabet flags for the navy), with a beautiful border ... ideas, ideas, ideas.... but so little time...

[Mouse]

LOL! You don't like making things easy for yourself, do you!

What is beautiful now, though, will become gorgeous with all that additional work

[- JO -]

More shadows... nearly all the western part...

### LATEST WIP ###

[Mouse]

I can hardly wait for the shadows to go on the plaza!

Looking great, Jo

[- JO -]

I'll probably do the plaza and the tower last...

[Ilanthar]

At least, your map is moving ! Mine is just freezed... and may stay like this for a while . It's looking good, and I love the little harbor zone .

[- JO -]

Thanks Ilanthar... but at least your other maps are moving forward !

I've just finished the northern quarter...
Now, the eastern one, and I want to add some palm trees, some fountains, some chimney and some tracks on the muddy streets..

### LATEST WIP ###

[Mouse]

Its looking brilliant, Jo

You might be able to save a bit of time with the shadows by putting the shadow of the hill in first, since that may shade some of the buildings, which you then won't have to add a shadow to - because they will then be in the shade.

That's the theory anyway, though you might want to add a vague darkening in the approximate area where a shadow would fall if it was in the sunlight, just to give it the 3D feel

[- JO -]

You are absolutely right ! I'll do the signal tower on the hill before the plaza, but I'll finish the houses first, on the eastern quarter...

The fact is that I realised 2 weeks ago that all the building that are near the eastern and southern border will have their shadows cut on the full map...

I was'nt paying attention when I placed the plaza and the walls... so, bit of thoses buildings were outside my border and cut off on the full map. So I spent some time to move them north and west (and that wasn't easy, I had to erase some buildings and terrains details), and now all the buildings are OK on the full map.... But again, I wasn't thinking very far... because I didn't move them enough in order that the shadows would be inside the border.

I realised that after having drawn the shadows of the western quarter... and I decided that I wouldn't move those buildings again. Too much work, and I think I used all the "free" spaces I had to move them the first time.
The shadows will be cut on the full map, but I'll have them uncut on my final map.

That's a lesson I will learn for the future...