Go to the page 2
The following figure shows the selection menu of available textures. Just choose a texture, using the "select" button and adjust the size of it. If they are square textures, the size should be relative to their dimensions.
fig.35 Select texture and edit size
When we add the first texture, it applies by default to all the terrain. This first texture, usually called base texture, since it is the basis of our land. Therefore, in this case a grass texture has been chosen. Later we will add other textures and we will use paint tools and brush shapes to improve the appearance of our terrain.
fig.36 All terrain was automatically painted
The next step is optional, but I like to do it, because of the advantages it has. It is about creating a plane that represents the sea. The idea is to show clearly, the sea line on the ground, to facilitate the process of painting our terrain. It is especially useful to define the margins of rivers, beaches, cliffs, so that it is perfectly known where the visible ground begins and ends and the land that remains under the water. Obviously, this 2D plane is only a guide, and in no case an element that will be rendered definitively on the map. Therefore, you must remember to delete the 2D plane before creating the Mod, or uncheck the "draw" checkbox of the 2D plane using the Inspector tool, so that it is not displayed. You can also change the height of the 2D plane so that it appears below the terrain and is not visible during the game.
To create a 2D plane, we right click on Simple Planes Map and select 3D Object --> Plane. See the following figure.
fig.37 Add a 2D Plane to show the line of sea over the terrain
Next, we change the size and position of the plane, to place it at sea level. It will always be the height level 0 expressed on the position Y axis. To change the size of the plane, simply change the X and Z values of the Scale section.
fig.38 Level the 2D Plane to height 0
Finally, to make us the idea that it is the sea, we apply a texture of water, ocean or sea. Just select it from the lower viewer and drag it to the 2D plane and drop it (that is, drag and drop). This will paint the plane and it gives us the sensation of water. Note that now you can only see the land that is above the water, making the painting process much easier. At least for me...
fig.39 Paint the 2D plane with water texture
At this point, we can add more textures, to paint the mountains, rocks, cliffs, beaches and anything else you can think of...
fig.40 Adding more textures
However, it can happen that a texture does not have the right size and generates a very pronounced continuous pattern effect. In that case, it usually comes in handy to change the size of the texture. It happens very often with rocks and cliffs, since the size of those elements are much larger than the grass that grows in the field. That is why it is important to adjust its size, as shown in the following image.
fig.41 Updating the size of a texture
With all that has been explained, it is possible to create terrains with a high level of detail, aesthetically very beautiful, although not photorealistic. (I will explain in future tutorials how to create photorealistic maps). The task of painting is usually very laborious, takes a lot of time and effort, especially if done manually and try to create transitions between textures, or is intended to draw the betas of the land. With practice and a little passion you can create terrains like the one in the following figure.
fig.42 First impressions