Sheinar - by a2area

[a2area]

Created in: Photoshop plus Illustrator

Review: While it looks like a2area has won two in a row it has been a while because of poor management ;) There is some excellent work here, with fabulous detail, especially in the surrounding areas.
28989

From the horse's mouth:

This is the first of four cities I am doing for the Soulshard D&D (http://soulshard.wikidot.com/six-cities-confederacy#Sheinar/) campaign setting. They will accompany
Sapiento's regional and world maps. (http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?10595-Commissions-Soulshard&highlight=soulshard)

This one is done in Photoshop with a little assistance from Illustrator for smoothing some bitmaps and editing some smart-objects.

.... Just for tilt... I added an unlabeled version that has desaturated and lighter sunbaked-clay-looking rooftops plus more shadow to help the relationship between city and fields

Original Thread: Original finished map thread can be found here (http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?10804-Commission-Sheinar-Capital-of-the-Six-Cities-Confederacy).

[mearrin69]

Holy smokes, dude. That's an incredible map! Have some rep!
M

[Sapiento]

Well deserved, bravo!

[Marken4]

Wow, thats really nice. The environment around the city looks extremely real.

[Ramah]

What a beautiful map. Look at those fields. :s

I was about to moan at the fact that there were so few replies to this when I realised it was because it was a Choice map. Isn't the first post usually set up to make this obvious?

[RobA]

What a beautiful map. Look at those fields. :s

I was about to moan at the fact that there were so few replies to this when I realised it was because it was a Choice map. Isn't the first post usually set up to make this obvious?

I've cleaned it up a bit.... Still figuring out the best way to do this with the new CMS module...

-Rob A>

[Clercon]

This is absolutely a fantastic map. Makes me wanna quit maping cities myself. I'm eagerly waiting for more maps.

A tutorial would be great :-)

[Gallifreyan]

Spectacular, absolutely spectacular!

[Steel General]

Brilliant choice!

[Avengeil]

An excellent map.Repped.


A tutorial would be great :-)

I completely agree on that one.(The people wants to learn:))

[Djekspek]

Gratz A2! Very well deserved, it's an awesome piece! cheers

[a2area]

WOW, thanks! I'm kind of surpised (0:
This style (esp. the fields) of started as an experiment allowing myself to use bunches of seamless textures (which i usually shy away from). I promise to do a tutorial on this method after I wrap up two accompanying cities in the next week or so. It's actually a fairly easy process in Photoshop. Thanks again everybody!

Brian

[Jaxilon]

Whoa, this is really incredible! I very much look forward to learning how you did this...amazing!

[Aenigma]

Just... wow! Simply awesome :D

[Crayons]

Quite simply - Astonishing! Crikey!

[Flawedspirit]

I can't wait to see a tutorial. That map is just this side of legendary.

[ravells]

With great respect to all the other city maps that have been posted, this is the finest city map yet posted on the guild, IMO. Fabulous work, a2area.

[JohnnyTrio]

That is a beautiful map!!

[Torius]

Wow, this map is incredible! Simply amazing! Repped

[Dark Umbra]

Amazing! I can´t wait to see the tutorial.:)

[Rotciv]

I'm really new on this Cartographers thing and I keep asking myself how many hours did it take to look like that.
And if there's a tutorial for that

[kallekula]

Just like Rotciv above.. newbie looking at the pros. And holy **** you're good.

[veracusse]

Repped. Repped repped. And I would love to see a tutorial for this. I really like how your fields turned out too. I too am new to mapping and cities and I would like to see how you do your fields.

[teevee_etc]

Super map and I - like the others - cannot wait to see your tutorial!!

[thomryng]

Unbelievable map! Repped.

[Halo of Gnats]

And as if the above doesn't say it all....repped.
I've saved this to file to study the detail (no intent to use
other than as a resource of what to do when
creating city maps).

Thank you.

Namasté,
~Tim

[RjBeals]

I've come back to this map many times - and it's just breath taking. Don't think a map has ever really taken my breath away yet... until now! I'm wondering how you use smart objects and edit them in illustrator. Must be the buildings? Jeez man - please post more maps !

[adeptusmagos]

simply amazing! surroundings are the best part imho.
anyone knows if tut is already available?

[pamoa]

...
no word for it
perfect, unbelievable, amazing, great, breathtaking, whatever
every time you look at it you find something new
I love the places paving

[JackOfHearts]

Absolutely beautiful

[del337er]

Woah, the detailing is incredible! It would take me hours just to come up with the house layout

[SSJPabs]

If only there was a tutorial! This is stunning.

[anstett]

Really beautiful map. Love the details and mixed cultural flair.

BOB

[RjBeals]

I'm wondering how you get this good? Smoothing out bitmaps with Illustrator? Editing smart objects?
Do you take classes? Do you just read tutorials and figure it out on your own?
Do you know someone who teaches you this stuff?
I always come back to this map for a boost of inspiration.

[a2area]

I've been using Photoshop forever but taking into consideration how long.. I should be a lot more prolific, at least in my opinion because there is so much I don't know. But, Photoshop is kind of like a toy/tool with infinite possibilities so you really have to be adventurous. Most of what i DO know is self taught but i did take some starter classes for the programs a long long time ago. It's truly amazing how much you can learn in a very short time just by doing tutorials and messing around with a project whether in or out of your comfort zone as far as subject matter is concerned... Cartographers guild has helped me immensely as well. Really I only started stepping up my map skills a couple years ago. Eventually I will do a tutorial for the Sheinar style, when i get time, because while it looks pretty detailed the actual method is simpler than it seems. Actually I'm just starting to do some freestyle tablet drawing/painting and it's really hard for me because i'm so used to using a mouse!

[Candacis]

The city map looks amazing, I really like the textures of the fields and the water and I hope, we can expect a tutorial or some rough steps soon.

[RjBeals]

do you remember how you did the buildings? You have good randomness and good alternate colors. I say you posted the buildings as all black somewhere back in the thread. Was this just blocks built in illustrator, placed in photoshop, beveled and color added?

http://gyazo.com/cd4b2121fa1f8e39a52d6fb9b6579c3d

[AMXPariah]

I'm interested in your method for creating trees. They're absolutely beautiful.

[Planemaster]

Perfect map ! Congratulations !