I have learned enough about Blender to finally build a good usable piece of terrain (mountains, valleys, etc.) and now I need to put a road (it’s actually just a line that represents a route) on it that follows the contours.
I’m stumped on how to accomplish this or how to research it. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks.
you could make another object for the line (like a small plane) then extrude it with the snap settings (enable snapping, face, closest, project onto surface) to follow contours.
If it’s just a line you could also use grease pencil to draw directly onto the surface.
Hope that makes some sense… at least that could get you started in the right direction.
Shrinkwrap modifier? Create a road mesh, add a shrinkwrap modifier in projection mode (probably activate z axis). Done. You may have to apply the modifier and move the road up a bit. Add more resolution to the road to have it follow the landscape in a more precise fashion.
Just pretend the road is there.
:applause:
I would use the Shrinkwrap method mentioned, unless a texture actually is an option in your case.
I suspect that what the OP will ultimately want is (among other things…) a path that will conform to the terrain … in addition to the visual effect of “a road being there.”
Thanks everybody for the input. I’m going to see if I can figure out how to do this using this shrinkwrap modifier. Unfortunately my learning has not progressed to the point of understanding the process, but at least I’ve got some terms to work with.
One question. You say “create a road mesh” and I’m not sure what that means. Is that separate from the terrain mesh I now have?
Wanted to let those who responded know that I pretty much have solved my problem by using “retopo.” I still need to fine tune using it, but essentially it allows me to build another mesh over the top of my terrain and then have it conform to the terrain. I can add a texture or color to it and thereby make it into a road or a path or whatever.
Again, thanks for the help.
Nice to see it works 
Shrinkwrap modifier mentioned earlier is very similar in functionality. It wraps one mesh over the surface of another. The modifier is added to the road object and in the modifier panel, you input the target object (in your case the terrain). The benefit of this modifier is that it’s non-destructive. Anyway this is mostly some additional info in case you’re interested or if you’re in the mood to explore Blender some more.
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