How do you make maps?

[limetom]

The link you gave is broken.  For some reason, "www.thecbg.org" was replaced by ".."

[Johnny Wraith]

I used imageshack instead of attaching a file this time... Not sure if you can see it now (Picture is in the other reply, not this one).

[Ishmayl-Retired]

Sorry 'bout that, the uploading files thing is annoying and buggy (like much of e107) and we'll probably just disable it and allow a different method of direct uploading.

[geekling]

I don't, or at least I haven't done the one used in this example. I am fortunate enough to have someone in my play-group who's done it for me. Someone who's much better at this than I.

But...

He's also teaching me how they are done. Even if I just do not seem to have the artistic talent to manage mountains. (But if you need a dungeon map I'm your gal.) So it may still be of some use for those of you that does possess this quality.

What is used is a scalable vector graphics program. Such as  Inkscape and finally finished off and prettyfied in gimp or photoshop.   To produce things like this one of Crescent Bay. (Linked, because it's big.)

The reason for this rather than all in gimp or photoshop, is of course for the scaleability. To be able to zoom in and pull out smaller areas of the map, without loosing the detail or have it go all pixelized on you.
For instance, a small area of the above map scaled up lots.

[Jürgen Hubert]

Looks nice! But how fast are these vector-based programs? I mean, for the Detail map I linked to above, I used AutoRealm, and the whole thing slowed to a crawl once I had put lots of individual icons into it (like all those mountains)...

(Incidentally, if you are doing dungeon plans, do you also do building floorplans?  ;) )

[geekling]

Looks nice! But how fast are these vector-based programs? I mean, for the Detail map I linked to above, I used AutoRealm, and the whole thing slowed to a crawl once I had put lots of individual icons into it (like all those mountains)...

(Incidentally, if you are doing dungeon plans, do you also do building floorplans?  ;) )

The program itself. Well, I haven't noticed them slowing down on the basis of size of map or number of objects.

But, and it is a big but, it's probably not the fastest method of generating a map. Every little blob and line is hand drawn.  :shockandawe: That does take some time.
It is quite possible that there are methods of speeding things up like generating the outline in a random fractal map generator, import it and convert it to an SVG. and rather than drawing each mountain individually, like Kris does (as I said, I don't do mountains, mountains will be the end of me!) draw one or two and duplicate them. But even that would take time to set up.

So, in all. Perhaps not the option for a quick map. But you've got to admit, they're impressive. :)

I suppose, really floorplans is a better word for it than dungeon maps. As long as they're based on a grid and not organic shapes I can cope. So yes... I do floorplans. ;)

[Jürgen Hubert]

Well, I'll give Inkscape a try - thanks for the link. I wasn't really happy with AutoRealm, apart from the fractal coastline, and I'll just retrace my current map with it and see if it works better. Since I have a graphic tablet, this shouldn't take too much time. And I do want this map to look professional one day.

Oh, and if you have some floorplans to show off, by all means post them here.   ;)

[Jürgen Hubert]

Thanks for the tip about Inkscape! I've been practicing a bit with it, and I'm really enthusiastic about its possibilities - you can see a map I have drawn with it on this page.

Oh, and if you don't use a graphics tablet - get one. Tracing coastlines and the like with it is very easy and fast.

[geekling]

That's looking great!
I think we have an svg convert :)
I'm just glad I could help, but how do you find it with regards to speed? I think it is a bit larger than the ones I based my comment on how I haven't noticed any slowing down of the program itself.

[Jürgen Hubert]

There is a slight lag, but nowhere as bad as with AutoRealm.

I think it also helps that I'm doing the mountains differently - placing only the ridges instead of lots of little icons uses up a lot less memory. Oh, and it's more accurate and plastic, too...

I'll experiment on how to use GIMP to make the mountains (and rivers) more plastic - I think it should be possible to create some very nice effects with it.

[Jürgen Hubert]

And as I've mentioned in the other thread, here are the first results of my experimentation...

[Jürgen Hubert]

I've just started a map workshop over at ENWorld where I will discuss how I make my maps. If you want to explain in detail how you created yours, please jump right in!

[Jürgen Hubert]

I've updated the Map Workshop recently. Now I have explained how to do forests and prettier, snow-covered mountains - like these:

[Matt Larkin (author)]

I especially like the forest.

[Ishmayl-Retired]

Agreed