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How do you make maps?

Started by Jürgen Hubert, July 03, 2006, 06:39:36 AM

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Jürgen Hubert

July 03, 2006, 06:39:36 AM Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Ninja D!
How do you make maps for your campaign?

I've recently created two maps for Urbis with AutoRealm, a freeware mapping program. I like its ability to create fractal lines - this makes creating realistic-looking coastlines and rivers much easier. But I have discovered that it gets really slow if you have a large map with lots of individual symbols on it.

So I will probably use it to fix approximate positions for all locations I have mentioned. But once I've finished all those, I will create a basic coastline and river map and use GIMP to add in details...

What are you using to create maps?
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Ishmayl-Retired

#1
July 03, 2006, 08:17:44 AM
Jurgen, usually I hand-draw maps, simply because I've never been very good at using mapping programs.  Recently though, I did something very simimlar to your idea; I used AutoRealm to draw out the coastlines and the rivers, and then I added in the  details with PSP, and it's working nicely.  I can't wait until I'm done.
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SDragon

#2
July 03, 2006, 09:41:58 AM
small area overland maps can be done pretty easily on photoshop, thats how i do those.... town maps i pretty much have to "borrow" from other sources, and world maps i either use worldbuilder (an old shareware program), or i do the "borrowing" thing again.
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Lmns Crn

#3
July 03, 2006, 09:43:30 AM
I'm terrible at map programs and digital art.

I've been hand-sketching maps for the Jade Stage and scanning them, with no real interest (yet) in making a truly polished and professional looking map.

When I get the time, and when I'm really happy with the location of everything in the setting, I'll do a really meticulous hand-drawn map, with the look of those classy old piratey-era maps as a goal.

What I've been planning to do for a while (and still haven't gotten around to yet) is to draw a bunch of blank maps, just landmass outlines and geology features. Then scan them and add national boundaries and cities with digital editing. I'm hoping it'll cure my problems involving terrible-looking map labels, and give me flexibility to rename and move things if I desire.
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CYMRO

#4
July 03, 2006, 12:11:25 PM
Fractal Mapper 7.0 for large scale.
Bryce 5 for small scale stuff.

Hibou

#5
July 03, 2006, 05:31:48 PM
I use a program which is simply enough called MapMaker, which can be found at www.demonspawn.net . It's not to be confused with Map Maker, which I also have but never use because I feel it is not all that great. :)
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So-Keher

#6
July 10, 2006, 12:03:02 PM
i draw them by hand. check out my word Astraea in hoewbrew for my map i did for it.
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Ishmayl-Retired

#7
July 10, 2006, 04:42:10 PM
Nice map, So-Keher.  I see that you used a bit of Forgotten Realms map as influence, while also keeping things rather unique.  Have you done any in color?
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So-Keher

#8
July 10, 2006, 08:47:34 PM
Actually yeah I have, I was workin gon a large-scale map a long time ago. It is on 3' wide paper though so i don't know if i can scan it.
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So-Keher

#9
July 10, 2006, 09:06:29 PM
Here is a sample of my work in color. It is on a special type of paper so the scan is not as clear as i would have liked, sorry!

Hope you like it PS: i did it in prismacolor on antiqued 80 weight paper (i think)

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Lmns Crn

#10
July 10, 2006, 09:17:15 PM
That is pretty.
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So-Keher

#11
July 10, 2006, 09:20:27 PM
error ignore this
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So-Keher

#12
July 10, 2006, 09:21:32 PM
Quote from: Luminous CrayonThat is pretty.

lol thanks.

oops double post. got the quote thingy right tho!
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Captain Obvious

#13
July 10, 2006, 11:42:37 PM
I make my maps using photoshop.

I sketch a rough on paper, then scan it in and gradually add all the details i need on separate layers, so that for each map, i can show only the stuff i want to.

also, this allows me to easily zoom in on a certain portion of the map and then increase the amoun tof detail for local maps.
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#14
July 14, 2006, 01:25:34 AM
Here's a map I made for my CS, it's an area the PC's are in right now. I made it using AutoRealm:
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