How to Make a Floating Island

Lots of people ask me how to build a floating island (Pictured above), so I thought I'd do a little guide. :)



First, you need a space to place said island. Most islands look best over oceans, but can look awesome anywhere.



Many people start from the bottom up, but because of the fact that I don't use those V shaped islands many people do, this is impossible. Also, if you do that you often end up with a diamond shape that doesn't look curved or natural. I always start with the top. This allows me to sculpt the shape any way I want. Try to make it flow and as curvy as possible. It may be minecraft, but that's no excuse for a blocky looking island! This is a good image for anyone who struggles to get those curves. It's hard to explain how to make it curvy, but if you look at the shape above, you'll see the vertical and horizontal lines never have direct right angles. let me try to do a diagram.

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This is bad.
____________________

........|_||_|
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This is better.



Once you have a shape, fill it in!



The next step is to add the second grass layer. If you imagine your shape is 2 blocks deep, this second layer of grass should come out the side of the shape. It shouldn't outline it. If you look at the picture you'll see it's not an outline, every block touches the shape. There's NO block diagonally across from the top layer.



Depending on how well you did this, a creeper might come and congratulate you.



Next step is to add the last dirt layer. Simply make the previous layer 1 block deeper.



You should get something like this. (Please ignore any night-vision potion particles, they ruin the pictures, but it's too dark to build otherwise)



Now we work on the stone layers. This layer should be the exact same shape as the top layer, but 3 blocks lower and stone, not grass.



"YAY! The island is finished!" I hear you cry - not quite. Next we need to add the underside of the island.



It's quite complicated, and as most islands tend to just have a V shaped bottom, not many people do stalactites. I start by doing a column to the lowest point the stalactite will go.



Next I add 4 more columns surround the first. Depending on the size of it, the length of these will vary from 2 up form the bottom, to 5 or 6 up. These 4 columns should only have a 1-2 block difference in height.



Next I add 4 more columns 1-2 up from the last 4.



Then I add 4 more columns 1-3 up from the bottom of the inner column.



It's hard to explain, so I'll let the pictures do the talking. Basically, I fly around the stalactite gradually making the layers come out more and more. The outer layers are usually 1-2 blocks higher than the inner ones. Once I have the basic shape, I touch it up to make it flow better. I'll let the pictures help explain.







Not all of them are as big as the one before, some are only 2-4 in height.





Another one.



Beginning of another.





Night visions help you see under islands, but the particles are annoying. :L











Coming along nicely - not looking forward to tackling the underside of the huge island next to this. :P



Done! If you find you've done 3-4 big ones, and have lots of empty gaps underneath, just do some 3-5 high ones. They're a lot quicker and easier, and fill a lot of that flat, stone surface.



"Are we done now?"



Doesn't this look a little... plain to you? (No pun intended)



Lets add a lake. Cut out the shape of the lake you want, make sure it's 2-3 blocks in.



Mirror this shape in dirt on top of the stone floor.



Fill the gaps with grass.



Remove the grass on top of the grass you just placed to get this look.



Now add water!



This island is a junction in my town, so I cut out where I want my paths.



And fill them in.



Next, bonemeal everywhere. It's simple, quick, and adds a lot to the islands, plus it makes them seem more natural.



Add some trees to make it look less flat and voila!

Hope that helps. :)

Only if i had fly. I would make so many floating islands

tanaka91 wrote:Only if i had fly. I would make so many floating islands

Adirem and I have both made floating island towns with completely legit blocks and no fly. :)

Thats cool.

If I had mt flipping /item I could make a floating island but SoMEONE took it away I guess i will no longer be on oasis anymore more LAN with my friends. Whoever took my item away made me not go on oasis anymore

Thechrisanator wrote: I guess i will no longer be on oasis anymore Whoever took my item away made me not go on oasis anymore

Lord be praised

Nice! i've just learned something

Thechrisanator wrote:If I had mt flipping /item I could make a floating island but SoMEONE took it away I guess i will no longer be on oasis anymore more LAN with my friends. Whoever took my item away made me not go on oasis anymore

Staff took away your powers because you broke several rules while (whilst?) using them, the only person that brought this on was yourself, hope that clarifies the misunderstandment.

Thechrisanator wrote:If I had mt flipping /item I could make a floating island but SoMEONE took it away I guess i will no longer be on oasis anymore more LAN with my friends. Whoever took my item away made me not go on oasis anymore

Hey, I don't have /item and I still love Oasis! Its like saying you lost a cupcake when you have like 500 chocolate wedding cakes.

I personally think giving someone too much power to the point where its not a challenge anymore bores people, and they leave. Both in games and relationships, just a bit of advice.

Also tell me if you take my gif, just cause for props and stuff <3

chrisanator please don't bring you whining into other threads. If this continues measures will be taken. Stick with the topic of this post, or topic will be locked.

Anyway...

These are very nice, but in my opinion try to blend materials more. the transition between the grass/dirt and stone looks unnatural, but again that's just my opinion. These are good regardless.

I've taken a fascination to floating landscapes lately, and this will certainly help
Most of the things I made/experimented with so far were floating buildings, but I hadn't even thought about putting them on a landscape.... it would add a lot more depth to the structures

i really want to make a island now for a house but i think i really need help XD