I recently reset and just earned the island designer app for my NOOK phone. I’m going back and forth with doing a custom design path versus one of the standard island designer paths. And, I know some people put the custom design on top of the standard island path. I’m curious about others thoughts on pros and cons.
Island designer versus custom design paths - which do you prefer and why?
- Thread starter Bekaa
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daringred_
✧ stupid lesbian ✧
i used the default dirt path, and i'm happy with how it looks. for me, the custom design paths just seem... tacky. my sister has one, and it's not bad, i just don't vibe with it. the work vs. reward just isn't equal to me. using the in-game paths seems faster, and i already went through the pain of using a custom path in my NL towns. (which i then removed so i could grass-deteriorate in a dirt path.) it was a hassle to put down and a hassle to kick away -- not to mention that i kept accidentally doing the latter. custom designs also don't produce a clear footstep when you walk on them; it's just a dull thud sort of sound. also, don't quote me on this, but i don't think villagers follow custom paths. that's why most people put down the default path first and then overlay custom designs -- so villagers actually walk on them -- but doing the same path twice is just so time-consuming and not worth the effort imo. kudos to anyone who does it, but the default path is perfectly fine to me.
Dunquixote
Semi-Hiatus
I use the island designer paths mostly because I don’t want to use up custom design slots with paths but I also actually like the default paths and the sound that your footsteps make. I have been contemplating a little lately trying some. I just don’t like the sound when walking on custom paths or that you can’t make them curved. I didn’t know until recently that you could put custom designs on top of the default. 
I like a mixture of both. I like applying the custom path on top of the default paths because it gives more depth imo. Depending on the artist, it can look flat but that's all pretty subjective.
Cons: no texture sound, easy to wipe away, can be limiting especially if you're relying on one artist, villagers don't follow custom paths
These aren't bad to me and that's why I keep continuing to create custom paths/designs. I'm also a texture artist and this something I really enjoy doing. It's not work to me, it's fun and relaxing.
I think default paths alone can work well without custom paths. Or if you want only custom paths, those look great too. It just depends on what you want for your island.
Cons: no texture sound, easy to wipe away, can be limiting especially if you're relying on one artist, villagers don't follow custom paths
These aren't bad to me and that's why I keep continuing to create custom paths/designs. I'm also a texture artist and this something I really enjoy doing. It's not work to me, it's fun and relaxing.
I think default paths alone can work well without custom paths. Or if you want only custom paths, those look great too. It just depends on what you want for your island.
That is so true about the frustration when you accidentally kick the custom design paths and erase them! I had forgotten about that! LOL
Post automatically merged:
Yes! The wonderful thing is that this game gives us variety. I did not know that about villagers not following custom paths. Very good to know. Thank you.
bestfriendsally
Senior Member (my name's charlotte)
I use the island designer paths mostly because I don’t want to use up custom design slots with paths but I also actually like the default paths and the sound that your footsteps make. I have been contemplating a little lately trying some. I just don’t like the sound when walking on custom paths or that you can’t make them curved. I didn’t know until recently that you could put custom designs on top of the default.
i'm like that too :3
i've thought about not using custom design paths, actually... & just using custom design path edges instead :3
I prefer using the standard island paths simply because 1.) it's there and 2.) you can work faster. Some custom designs don't allow curves and the path just ends up looking all straight and rigid like in ACNL. Likewise, "The Path" and its many variations may require a person to change it every season if it has a foliage pattern. While I think that they look nice, again, I'm lazy as hell.
On the other hand, custom designs are plentiful and in many designs. I use a terra cotta border for my museum garden and it looks nice. For some reason, the dirt paths in the Island Designer don't prevent flowers and weeds from spawning on top of it. This bothers me a lot, so in order to prevent that from happening I would either have to regularly maintain my trails, use "The Path", or build fences.
On the other hand, custom designs are plentiful and in many designs. I use a terra cotta border for my museum garden and it looks nice. For some reason, the dirt paths in the Island Designer don't prevent flowers and weeds from spawning on top of it. This bothers me a lot, so in order to prevent that from happening I would either have to regularly maintain my trails, use "The Path", or build fences.
. Rarity .
A Beautiful Heart 🌌💎
I'm probably going to be doing a mix, because I need to save custom designs for other things! So I'll probably
Right now I just use custom designs! All my grass is even covered in this custom grass pattern I made, I prefer the custom designs,
The only down side is that they make no sound when your walking on them
Right now I just use custom designs! All my grass is even covered in this custom grass pattern I made, I prefer the custom designs,
The only down side is that they make no sound when your walking on them
for my paths i use the island designer paths. i haven't looked very much at the path designs people have made but i use custom borders on the default paths to make them look better. i've never used other peoples custom designs for my town before but yesterday i made a pool with someone else's design.
Visually I prefer the look of custom designs as they can have softer edges, however I use the in-game paths solely because I like the sounds they make! I used "the path" on my original island but there's nothing more comfy than the clippy-clap sounds of your villagers shoes running on the in-game paths. 
I use the standard cobblestone path for my island and then the standard dirt path for the forest areas. I really adore "The Path" but I couldn't make it look good sadface or else my entire island would be covered in it.
Millysaurusrexjr
mrmpht
I prefer the in-game default pathways. THey have sound and are easier to work with, and honestly they just look the best imo. I use custom design pathways in a few spots on my island, however!
ive used both. ive found that i use the islands paths, but i will download borders for those paths to make them look smoother. when ive used Just the designer paths they dont seem to fit right, or they look a bit off. in order to spruce the place up a bit ive downloaded qr that are little flowers or leaves so it doesnt seem so bland. i think the folks that do use the designer code ones are just excellent at the game where i am not *yet*.
the island designer paths don’t really appeal to me tbh; i like that they make noise when you walk on them but design-wise, they’re not for me. i prefer custom paths as there’s honestly so many good ones out there and i just feel that a custom path helps bring my island together aha. i definitely wish that they made noise, though - i hate how silent it is when i walk on them. >_<
Cloudandshade
Senior Member
I use a mix of both, but I have way more custom than non-custom. None of the island designer paths look natural enough for me - they're all so clean and clinical that I mostly just use them for marking out flower beds and whatnot. All my custom paths are lined with greenery so I've never had issues with villagers not using them, and I just think they look better. There are some seriously talented artists out there!
Pintuition
Semi IA <3
I use a mixture of both but mostly custom paths on top of the island designer paths. I like the island designer ones but they don't have very many color or texture options so unless you want just plain dirt or stone, it doesn't look great everywhere. That said, much like the in game clothes versus custom design clothes, the island designer paths always look like they have more dimension too them. They don't really look like pixel art or like any custom design paths. So that's an advantage if you want something to look more realistic.
Initially I used way more island designer paths but now I've gone with 90% custom pathing just for the customization. Especially since now we have so many slots. I've spent the last few months redoing my paths just because I had the room to now! I don't find that this has impacted my villagers using the paths, as the island designer ones are mostly still underneath. I'll probably never go back now!
Initially I used way more island designer paths but now I've gone with 90% custom pathing just for the customization. Especially since now we have so many slots. I've spent the last few months redoing my paths just because I had the room to now! I don't find that this has impacted my villagers using the paths, as the island designer ones are mostly still underneath. I'll probably never go back now!
niko@kamogawa
I am hungry for storage space!
I didn't have any reason to use custom paths when Nintendo introduced island designer.
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