Introduction to Snowflakes

The Snowflake tool is perfect for adding intricate, geometric details to your scenes. Here is a short tutorial explaining how to use it.

Tutorial: Drawing with the Snowflake Tool ❄️

This guide will show you how to use the Snowflake tool. This tool uses a famous fractal algorithm called the "Koch Snowflake" to generate beautiful, six-sided, symmetrical snowflakes with a single click.

How to Draw a Basic Snowflake

The Snowflake tool is a "stamp" tool, meaning it creates a complete object instantly where you click.

  1. Navigate to the Shape tab in the controls panel.

  2. Select Snowflake from the Mode dropdown menu.

  3. Click anywhere on the canvas. A snowflake will be generated, centered on your cursor's position.

Customizing the Snowflake's Appearance

You can change the style of your snowflakes using the dedicated parameters in the Shape tab.

  • Snowflake Iteration: This slider controls the complexity and detail of the fractal. Each iteration adds a new layer of smaller triangular points to the snowflake's perimeter, making it more intricate. Note that higher values (above 5) can be slow to render.

  • Snowflake Size: This controls the overall diameter of the snowflake.

  • Line Width: This sets the thickness (in pixels) of the lines that form the snowflake's crystalline structure.

  • Non-tree scale MIN/MAX: These sliders, found further down the panel, add a slight random size variation to each snowflake you draw. This is perfect for creating a more natural-looking flurry of snowflakes of different sizes.

Coloring Your Snowflakes

The color of each snowflake is determined by the settings in the Color tab under the Coloring for Non-Tree Objects section.

  • Single Color Mode: If this option is selected, every snowflake you draw will use the single Object Color you have chosen.

  • Cycle Global Palette Mode: If this option is selected, each new snowflake you create will be assigned a random color from your active Global Color Palette.

Tips for Creating Winter Scenes

  • Create Depth: Use the Set transparency for new objects option in the Color tab. Draw some larger, more transparent snowflakes that appear to be closer to the viewer, and smaller, more opaque ones in the background to create a sense of a deep, snowy landscape.

  • Make it a Flurry: Click many times across the canvas to create a flurry of snowflakes. Using the "Cycle Global Palette" and "Non-tree scale" options will ensure each snowflake in the flurry is unique.

  • Combine with Other Objects: Snowflakes look wonderful layered on top of tree branches and mountain ranges to create a complete winter scene.