You can create a simple three dimensional shape using all areas of bitmap artwork displayed in the primary colour. The shape is
created on the currently active relief layer.
To create a shape using bitmap artwork:
1 Choose the bitmap layer (see page 99) containing the artwork you want to use to create a shape.
2 Make sure the bitmap layer is visible (see page 102).
3 Choose the relief layer (see page 165) on which you want to create the shape.
4 If you are working in the 3D View window, click the Colour Shade button in the 3D View toolbar to display the artwork on the currently active bitmap layer.
5 Make sure that you are working in Select mode (see page 122).
If the Select button is shown as in the Design Tools toolbar, then you are already in Select mode.
6 Select the colour you want to use to create the shape as the primary colour (see page 108).
Use one of the following methods to display the Shape Editor:
In the Relief Creation toolbar, click the Shape Editor button;
From the Menu Bar, select Reliefs > Shape Editor;
Press the F12 key; or
In the colour palette, double-click a colour swatch.
You can double-click a colour to select it as the primary colour and display the Shape Editor.
The primary colour is displayed in the Shape Editor's window. The default settings enable you to create a flat shape with a start height of zero; this is represented by the horizontal line shown.
For example, with yellow selected as the primary colour, the Shape Editor looks as follows:
8 Select the shape's profile by clicking one of the following buttons:
Click to select a rounded profile;
Click to select a flat profile.
The image shown in the dialog's window changes according to your selected profile.
9 In the Start Height box, specify the Z height at which the shape is created. This creates a vertical side wall in the shape. If you are creating a flat shape, this also controls the height of the plane.
10 If you are creating a rounded or angled shape, specify its angle using one of the following methods:
In the Angle box, type the angle; or
Type a positive value to create a convex shape, a negative value to create a concave shape, or 0 to create a plane.
Click and drag the leftmost slider; or
Click or on the right of the Angle box:
11 If you are creating a rounded or angled shape, choose the method you want to use to control the shape's height:
To allow the shape to grow to the height that it would
naturally reach, click the No Limit option. This is selected by default.
To apply a scaling factor to the shape in its Z-axis, click Scale, then specify the scaling factor either by typing it in the Scale box or clicking and dragging the rightmost slider:
Drag the slider upwards to increase the scaling factor, or downwards to decrease the scaling factor. The scaling factor is shown in the Scale box.
To allow the shape to grow to a specific height and then plateau, click the Limit To Height option, then specify the maximum height in the Height box.
If the natural height of the shape exceeds that of the value specified in the Height box, a flat top is created.
To apply a scaling factor to the shape in its Z-axis, click Scale, then set the scaling factor either by typing it in the Scale box or clicking and dragging the rightmost slider.
To allow the shape to grow to a specific height by applying a scaling factor in its Z-axis, click the Scale To Height option, then specify the height in the Height box. This does not create a flat top in the shape.
12 To apply the shape attributes to the colour, click Apply.
You can revert to the Shape Editor's default settings by clicking Reset.
The shape profile applied to the colour is displayed on it's swatch in the colour palette. For example, if an angled profile is applied to yellow, it is shown as follows:
13 Select the relief combine mode (see page 183) you want to use to combine the shape with the currently active relief layer:
The selected combine mode controls how the shape is combined with the active relief layer only. It does not control how the shape is combined with the composite relief. How the shape is combined with other relief layers to make the composite relief is determined by the relief layer's combine mode (see page 167).
To reset all areas beneath the colour to zero, click Zero.
To reset all areas to zero, other than those beneath the colour, click Zero Rest.
14 Click Close to close the Shape Editor.
If you click Close before applying your specified shape
attributes, a message box is displayed confirming they have changed and asking if you want to save them. Click Yes to apply the shape attributes or No to delete them before closing the Shape Editor.
15 If you are working in the 2D View window, press F3 to display the 3D View window and see your shape.
Click the Colour Shade button in the 3D View toolbar to hide the artwork on the currently active bitmap layer.