It looks like you used the Twirl filter with too high of a setting so I would relax that by half for something not so tightly spun. Just my opinion, mind you, but it looks like a coiled spring Looks pretty good otherwise.
I just saw the awesome galaxy tutorial posted here; http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=7069 and just had to try my hand with this one.
I've yet to position more bright stars in the galaxy, and I'd wan't to make the galaxy more "fleshed out". Has someone got any good tips?
(My other map is in limbo at the moment while I figure out how to make my mountains work)
It looks like you used the Twirl filter with too high of a setting so I would relax that by half for something not so tightly spun. Just my opinion, mind you, but it looks like a coiled spring Looks pretty good otherwise.
If the radiance of a thousand suns was to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One...I am become Death, the Shatterer of worlds.
-J. Robert Oppenheimer (father of the atom bomb) alluding to The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 11, Verse 32)
My Maps ~ My Brushes ~ My Tutorials ~ My Challenge Maps
Or perhaps try the twirl filter at closer to 2/3 of the number you currently have, and then thicken it up. Duplicate the layer and gaussian blur the bottom one, for example.
I'm not sure which would get better results, so experiment! Release a little mad scientist.
-asp
My current worldbuilding experiment(s):
Geidor
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But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
-W.B. Yeats
Real galaxies normally have separation between the arms of the spiral. The star density is pretty uniform here, and this galaxy is also oddly devoid of dark clouds.
Yes I know that this doesn't look like a real galaxy. I've been trying different approaches in the tutorial, but the best way to really depict a galaxy seems to be drawing one in photoshop :/
The twirlfilter doesn't yield realistic results and it lacks depth. And in this one it is WAY to strong, even at decreased settings it twists exremely much. However it's fun anyway
The star density is as it is because I didn't bother to much with it for this test.
It looks good, but as mentioned above it's a little to dense. Maybe it's a new type of galaxy
You don't really need Photoshop for this tutorial, as I managed to get a deacent result with gimp! (though I don't remember how I did it...)
Here are some real galaxies with the arms identified. Most spiral galaxies have only two arms, though some have as many as six to eight depending on your point of view. If you want to get a good feel for how galaxies look check out the GalaxyZoo's forum they have tousands of spiral galaxies in there. Also as has been mentioned, galaxies aren't generally as tightly wound as yours. Try only one or two windings.
“Maps encourage boldness. They're like cryptic love letters. They make anything seem possible.”
-Mark Jenkins
Some more galaxies.
“Maps encourage boldness. They're like cryptic love letters. They make anything seem possible.”
-Mark Jenkins
Never knew about the number of arms thing...nice info Wormy and nice pics.
If the radiance of a thousand suns was to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One...I am become Death, the Shatterer of worlds.
-J. Robert Oppenheimer (father of the atom bomb) alluding to The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 11, Verse 32)
My Maps ~ My Brushes ~ My Tutorials ~ My Challenge Maps
I've got this tutorial bookmarked for when I want to do spiral galaxies. Might be worth a try!
LOL! Ignore me, it's same one you used!