Welcome!
The Cartographers’ Guild is a forum created by and for map makers and aficionados, a place where every aspect of cartography can be admired, examined, learned, and discussed. Our membership consists of professional designers and artists, hobbyists, and amateurs—all are welcome to join and participate in the quest for cartographic skill and knowledge.
Although we specialize in maps of fictional realms, as commonly used in both novels and games (both tabletop and role-playing), many Guild members are also proficient in historical and contemporary maps. Likewise, we specialize in computer-assisted cartography (such as with GIMP, Adobe apps, Campaign Cartographer, Dundjinni, etc.), although many members here also have interest in maps drafted by hand.
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ. You will have to register before you can post or view full size images in the forums.
20130406 Continent of Astathel
This is my first ever computer-drawn map! I tried to follow Ascension's Atlas style for Photoshop, but since I use GIMP, I got a bit lost. The mountains are particularly embarrassing, but I really like the desert colours that Ascension suggests. If anyone can point me in the direction of mountain advice for GIMP, that would be great.
I am just getting into this too, and had to switch back to Windows and CS3 because I couldn't figure it out in GIMP (on my Linux partition). But if I learn anything (because I'm "persistent" [wife says 'stubborn']), I'll let you know.
Hi Anthem, There's hope on the horizon! I found Gidde's conversion of Ascension's tutorial into GIMP here (you have to scroll down). I also set up a WIP thread for this map here. Further down, I posted the result of me following Gidde's tutorial, and the mountains look a million percent better. I don't know if you can 'retro-fit' it to an existing map, but I'll have a go when I've got some free time.
