Get the Etch Effect

😎 Pro Tip – Did you know that you can style your landscapes with an subtle etching-like graphic effect?

To try it out, do this:

Ideally, start with a elevationally varied terrain, with slopes here and there. You can quickly create one by doing a Plot and holding Alt. Hit Enter to requake until satisfactory.

Now, add multiple zones by doing a Shade via: Landshape > Prop > Shade

Run Clone Zone Bounds.

Select the new clone.

Tag the selection.

In Sketchup's Tag Panel, find the tag above, and set its Dashes to dotted style, looking like: · · · · ·

Now, you should see an etching-like effect in your terrain.

To enhance the effect, you can add the same styling to your terrain contours. Run View Contour at a fairly dense setting, then repeat steps 5 and 6, above.

Where's My Etch?

In case you cannot see the etch effect, go to Sketchup Style Dialog, tab Edit, and activate both Dashes and Edges.

Clone Zone Bounds

Create flat copy of terrain zone borders, limited by mask.

Isolate edges where different terrain materials meet. Useful when combining with other commands.

Type: Pick, Clone
Menu: Extensions > Landshape > Clone > Clone Zone Bounds