Scenery Editor Video Tutorials

These videos were recorded using the 2013 version of Scenery Editor for Mac.

Polygons are the basic building blocks of a map. They are 2-D and can have a large number of vertices to accurately define the shape you want to capture on the map. The method for defining the vertices will be used to insert other components in later videos, so pay attention!

The rectangle tool allows you to insert precision rectangles with 90 degree corners without too much hassle. By defining three vertices, you can see where the rectangle will go before you even insert it.

Once you begin to insert things into Scenery Editor, it is important to know how to move them around. I find that the fastest way to do so is via the keyboard shortcuts, but it is important to select the right option, so the drop down menus are really helpful.

Keyboard shortcuts are a great way to save time when working in Scenery Editor. Be careful when switching between versions of Scenery Editor because these shortcuts relate to how the drop down menus are setup. Going from the 2009 to 2014 version will have different keystrokes for the same options!

Elevation grids are your tool to getting 3-D shapes into your maps. While we can introduce ground objects, elevation grids are best used for mountains, or low-lag buildings. This 3-part series will show you how to do everything you will need with elevation grids.

Rotating objects within Scenery Editor can be a great way to repurpose existing elements of your map so you can create interesting arrangements without having to completely redo a lot of work.

Rectangular Regions are important for defining areas of your map with certain properties, such as a runway or taxiway. Without these you airplane would simply explode when you touched ground with even a modest speed.

Gradation Quad Strips are useful for blending together colors on your map. YS Major puts them to great work to help break up his oceans and land areas so they are not single colors each.

Multiple Polygons in one map item can be useful to have in order to reduce clutter in your map.

Scaling items in Scenery Editor can be a life-saver. This video shows you how to scale map items.

Inserting Text into maps is mainly used for runway numbers, but it can be used in other applications as well.

Thick Lines are an easy way to make a swath of color on the map as you only have to define a thickness and a chain of vertices. Scenery Editor calculates how to make the line from that, allowing you to make roads, rivers, and all sorts of useful features.

Taxiway Lines are an extension of Thick Lines and this method of making taxiway lines comes from Iceman.

I am a big fan of making my life easier when it comes to YSFlight modding. One way you can save time is by inserting a reference image into the background of Scenery Editor. Here's how you do that.