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Post by whipstache on Aug 19, 2015 13:51:28 GMT
There are two types of fantasy maps I like. Those that look like a satellite image of a world (like your map 2 above) and those that look like they were drawn by hand with ink, brush and charcoal. The former just looks cool and realistic (adding to immersion, as you said) the latter looks like a map a PC may actually find in a fantasy world (also adding to immersion). To my mind, anyone can draw a reference map. Maps that add to immersion give another layer of goodness to a project. Here's something I whipped up quickly taking into account the idea of going more hand drawn. I haven't added any borders or geographic features, but this is the direction I'm headed. It's shaped like North America because this thread. I forgot to take screen shots, so I guess you're out of luck. I'll try to remember next time.
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Post by friartook on Aug 19, 2015 15:09:40 GMT
Very nice start!
As I've been paying attention to map making and the tools for map making, I've noticed that maps created with Photoshop tend to be very texture rich. I'm assuming Photoshop has powerful tools for blending layers of texture (something that is noticeably lacking in Sketchbook).
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Post by whipstache on Aug 19, 2015 15:56:34 GMT
As I've been paying attention to map making and the tools for map making, I've noticed that maps created with Photoshop tend to be very texture rich. I'm assuming Photoshop has powerful tools for blending layers of texture (something that is noticeably lacking in Sketchbook). I don't know anything about Skethbook, but the best thing about Photoshop is the ability to have layers on layers on layers, and do all kinds of things with each of them. I end up with lots of layers (usually between 5-10) of effects, most of which are at an opacity of between 15-25%. So, mostly see through. You can also take simple pictures of things like paper or cracked concrete and change the transparency and color to give the same kind of textural feeling to your image. For instance, compare the image I just posted to this one without the texture layers.
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Post by friartook on Aug 19, 2015 16:08:24 GMT
I don't know anything about Skethbook, but the best thing about Photoshop is the ability to have layers on layers on layers, and do all kinds of things with each of them. I end up with lots of layers (usually between 5-10) of effects, most of which are at an opacity of between 15-25%. So, mostly see through. You can also take simple pictures of things like paper or cracked concrete and change the transparency and color to give the same kind of textural feeling to your image. Transparency. There's a transparency setting on layers in Sketchbook.
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Post by joatmoniac on Aug 19, 2015 17:07:52 GMT
That map is based off of current maps of the US, but not to get too grognard, and mainly because I would love to see your ideas/approach wouldn't it look different? Wouldn't the coastlines come in some given the notable rise in sea level due to ice caps melting? What about other natural/geological events, such as Los Angeles and San Fransisco being right next to each other after shifting, or larger events. Like I said, being particular just to see what you would do to the map, and excited to see the results.
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Post by whipstache on Aug 19, 2015 18:03:05 GMT
That map is based off of current maps of the US, but not to get too grognard, and mainly because I would love to see your ideas/approach wouldn't it look different? Wouldn't the coastlines come in some given the notable rise in sea level due to ice caps melting? Definitely. I just wanted to get something started quickly (especially because I was trying out a new style). Here's a map from National Geographic of what N. America would look like if the ice caps melted. They have the oceans rising over 200 ft., so maybe my map wouldn't change this drastically. Or, maybe it would. As you can see, most of Florida and Louisiana are gone, as is the entire eastern seaboard, and much of the coast of California. Here's the whole map, if you want to go play around. They have city locations too.
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Post by joatmoniac on Aug 19, 2015 21:03:28 GMT
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Post by dmmadmaxi on Aug 20, 2015 0:30:57 GMT
Joat, Open source GIS which is pretty the 'professional' aspect of mapping. Has a TON of benefits, with the one and major drawback of how accurate the data is! I have had lengthy discussions about open source mapping with some of my friends from college and there is a lot of potential out there for it. Matter of fact there is a humanitarian effort going on in Africa using open source data, to map what we call a 'Health service desert'. They are compiling all this data and then planning to build hospitals in a central location between a number of villages, in hopes of covering the most area. I could nerd out on this stuff ALL freaking day!
Whipstache: Looking good brother! If I weren't so damn handicapped when it comes to visual arts I would be getting a lot of stuff done lol....I am definitely going to have to watch some map making tutorials for gimp. I always loved the orbital view of earth, or remote sensing images.
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Post by Vulash on Aug 20, 2015 14:37:49 GMT
Hey guys I thought this link would be useful. As I said in my introductory post, I'm a geologist. When I was studying at Northern Arizona University I had the pleasure of meeting (and being taught by) Ron Blakey, a famous sed/strat guy. Basically, he did a bunch of paleo reconstruction of the world, US, and various regions through time by compiling modern known geology. His maps are pretty famous - I saw them used by other students and professors when I was at graduate school at Penn State, and now I work in the Oil Industry and see them being used by professionals all over. Regardless, they are a GREAT inspiration for coastlines, and also thinking about how these change through time with various processes, but notably relative sea level rise. Here is the link: www2.nau.edu/rcb7/nam.htmlThe link there takes you a collection of maps for North America, but you can poke around and find global and regional maps as well.
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Post by Vulash on Aug 20, 2015 14:39:50 GMT
Here is the Middle Devonian, for reference. You can see that he kept the state outlines in as a reference point, and you should also be aware that things weren't at the same lat/long or positioning as they are now (fairly certain the white line represents the equator). So climate is also a consideration depending on the location.
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Post by Vulash on Aug 20, 2015 14:43:18 GMT
Also, my players don't know it, but that is the map I used as a baseline to create my world. I did it in Photoshop, changed the global location, and altered the coastline a bit to suite my needs, but that was my starting point. I'll post the map if I remember when I get home, and you'll see that it's not recognizable as North America. One day I'll tell the players since they are mostly geologists as well
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Post by friartook on Aug 20, 2015 14:55:00 GMT
Vulash, this is cool stuff! I work at an Environmental Engineering firm and we do landfill and site remediation work. We do a lot drilling for site investigations and monitoring. I manage our software for generating boring logs (we use Bentley's gINT program), so all this terminology is familiar to me, but I had no idea what it really meant (my education was in Civil Engineering, not Geologic Engineering/Geology).
Ironically, I have created GIS maps showing the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian sediment layers for a specific site investigation. I created these maps from available data without even knowing what I was creating or referencing! Thanks for giving me some context.
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Post by Vulash on Aug 20, 2015 16:11:53 GMT
I love talking about geology, so I'm always happy to answer questions or talk about how it relates to how world building could work - although that's something i want to give more thought too myself.
Also, it's amazing how all of that stuff ties together! I work with a lot of engineers and am trying to pick up a bit more of what they do, and enjoy seeing how it ties into what I do from a completely different angle.
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Post by DM Kiado on Aug 22, 2015 18:24:29 GMT
Map nerd here too, still in the infant stages of learning Cartography though. Photoshop, Wacom Intous4 are my weapons. I will post something when I finish one. Great thread though!
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Post by whipstache on Aug 22, 2015 18:26:48 GMT
Map nerd here too, still in the infant stages of learning Cartography though. Photoshop, Wacom Intous4 are my weapons. I will post something when I finish one. Great thread though! Yeah, I really need to get my work to spring for a tablet. Doing all this with a mouse is a pain.
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