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Overview
Sculpt Layers enable you to design a terrain from scratch or modify an existing terrain you created procedurally to fit your requirements. As the name suggests, sculpt layers enable you to sculpt the terrain. You can use your mouse and keyboard, but it is recommended to employ a graphics tablet, such as the Wacom Cintiq Pro (World Creator also supports other graphics tablets).
To get a basic understanding of how to start creating terrain in World Creator, we suggest you watch the short tutorial video below.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Parameters
Let's examine the sculpt layer properties before proceeding with the sculpting features. For improved visualization, we will use World Creator's Fast Render Mode. However, you can still sculpt and edit in the default render mode. To begin, let's access the sculpt layer properties view:
Operation
This option allows you to select the desired operation mode while drawing on the terrain.
- Overwrite
Overwrites the underlying terrain based on the selected brush operation mode. Select this mode if you want to create a new terrain from scratch. - Add
Uses the underlying terrain as the base terrain, allowing you to add further details to an already existing one. Select this mode if you want to adapt to an existing terrain. - Min
The minimum value of the underlying terrain is used for any height value that exceeds it. - Max
The maximum value of the underlying terrain is used for any height value that falls below it.
For a better understanding of the operation mode's behavior, it is advisable to refer to the images below. To illustrate our point, we will mainly rely on the Overwrite and Add operations for demonstration, as they are commonly used.
 Operation set to Overwrite |  Operation set to Add |
 Operation set to Min |  Operation set to Max |
Interpolation Mode
Allows you to choose the interpolation mode when sculpting the terrain. There are three different modes that the following three images can explain:
 Linear Interpolation |  Catmull-Rom Interpolation |  Nearest-Point Interpolation |
Note that the default selection of interpolation is Catmull-Rom, which gives the best results. The above extreme values were created using a level step of 7. Lower level steps will have little effect on the terrain.
Height Offset
Allows you to offset the height values of sculpt layers.
 Offest set to 0 and Operation set to Overwrite |  Offest set to 200 and Operation set to Overwrite |
 Offest set to 0 and Operation set to Add |  Offest set to 200 and Operation set to Add |
Height Scale
This feature allows you to scale the height values of your sculpt layers.
 Height Scale set to 0 and Operation set to Add |  Height Scale set to 2 and Operation set to Add |
Height Blending / Blending
Allows you to adjust the blending between the Sculpt Layer and the underlying Terrain/Layer.
 Height Blending set to 0 |  Height Blending set to 0.5 |
Level Step
Allows you to set the strength (weight) for each resolution level. Please note that as the level step increases, World Creator will filter less accordingly but the editing results will be more precise.
 Level Step 5 |  Level Step 8 |
 Level Step 7 |  Level Step 8 |
X and Y
Allows you to set the precise X and Y coordinates of the layer area on the terrain. Alternatively, you can position the layer area by dragging it within the viewport.
Area Scale
Allows you to uniformly set the scale (width/height) of the layer area. Alternatively, you can scale the layer area in the viewport by dragging any of the corner nodes on the terrain.
Rotation
This feature enables you to adjust the rotation angle of the layer area. You may also rotate the layer area within the viewport by right-clicking outside the area while moving the mouse (similar to Adobe Photoshop).
Blend Size
This feature enables you to modify the blending size of the layer area mask.
 Blend Size set to 0 and Operation set to Overwrite |  Blend Size set to 0.33 and Operation set to Overwrite |
Blend Roundness
Allows you to adjust the blending roundness at the corners of the layer area mask.
 Blend Size set to 0.33 / Blend Roundness set to 0 |  Blend Size set to 0.33 / Blend Roundness set to 1 |
Fit to Terrain
This allows you to set the size of the layer area to match that of the entire terrain.
 Scaled and rotated layer area |  After pressing Fit to Terrain button |
Resolution
Allows you to set the resolution of the layer's area mask. Note that the higher the resolution, the higher the performance impact during generation. Use high resolutions only if you need to sculpt at an extremely precise level. Also, keep in mind that the higher the resolution and level step, the less World Creator can apply its own filters accordingly. The maximum resolution per layer is 512 pixels by 512 pixels. However, usually, 32 pixels by 32 pixels suffice.
Base Shape Preview
Enabling this option will stop World Creator from applying its filters while moving the area or sculpting the terrain. This improves the performance on GPUs with lower specifications. Disabling this option will apply all filters instantly to any operation made, which is suggested for high-end GPUs.
Let's sculpt
Now that you have a fundamental understanding of the sculpt layer properties, it's time to examine World Creator's sculpting abilities more closely. To commence terrain editing, you must enter the Edit mode. You can accomplish this by selecting the Edit button in the sculpt layer properties view.
While in Edit mode, you can access the Sculpting Menu by right-clicking within the viewport.
The sculpting menu provides various tools and brushes for modifying and adjusting your terrain.
As you can see, there are several Brush Tools, Grid Tools, Actions, and Brush Settings available. World Creator offers two distinct sculpting modes. The first one uses Brushes, which are familiar tools as many other modeling tools also utilize them. The second mode uses a Grid, which is relatively new and offers fresh possibilities that are challenging to achieve with brushes. Actions are efficient tools that make editing easier for common tasks. The Brush Settings allow you to adjust and choose the brush that you use for drawing or selecting cells on a grid.
We will now explain how each of the available tools works.
Brush Tools
It's straightforward to use the Brush Tools. Choose your preferred tool by clicking on it, and then draw with your mouse (press the left mouse button on the terrain). The following functions are available:
- Raise
Adds material to the terrain.
- Lower
Removes material from the terrain.
- Smooth
Smoothes the terrain the brush is over.
- Flatten
Flattens the terrain according to the flatten height in the parameters below.
- Rotate
Lets you rotate the terrain in your brush radius around the point where you clicked.
- Scale
Scales the terrain in your brush radius from the point where you clicked.
- Tilt
Tilts the terrain in your brush radius in the direction you moved the mouse after clicking. Move the mouse outwards to increase the slope.
- Push/Pull
Push or pull the terrain up or downwards.
- Align
Flattens the terrain according to the point where you clicked.
Grid Tools
World Creator has added grid tools to improve performance and provide new possibilities and functions. The concept involves manipulating terrain using an underlying grid. The workflow entails selecting grid cells using a brush and then manipulating them accordingly.
- Add
Raises or lowers the terrain.
- Align
Flattens the terrain to the height your cursor was at when you clicked.
- Duplicate
Allows you to copy your selected area to another spot on the terrain.
- Rotate
Rotates the selected area along your mouse direction.
- Scale
Scales the selected area according to your mouse distance.
- Tilt
Tilts your selection in the direction you moved your mouse after clicking. Move the mouse outwards to increase the slope.
- Pull
Raises the selected area.
- Push
Lowers the selected area.
Actions
The operations are utilized to rapidly implement precise modifications. Please refer to the list below to understand the function of each operation.
- Flip X/Y
Flips the terrain along the X or Y axis.
- Rot Left/Right
Rotates the terrain by 90 degrees.
- Flatten
Sets the whole terrain
Next: Understanding Stamp Layers