[Award Winner] Regional Map using Xara Xtreme 4.0

[Badger]

Well... I made a map using Xara... great tutorial, I had no troubles with any part of it ... except that my map was done very fast and is no where near the quality of yours... but I thought I would post it up and let you know at least one person followed it

I did have one question.. when you are using the freehand draw tool... what % do you use for the smoothing?

[Gamerprinter]

I did have one question.. when you are using the freehand draw tool... what % do you use for the smoothing?

I like to take down to almost 0 (the far left) except there's no smoothing and you might get jaggies, so I tend to up this to about 15 or so, depending on what I'm creating. For coastlines and rivers 15 is about right.

Nice job, but I see you had the smoothing nearly 100% - way too much, but nice first try, Del!

GP

[Gamerprinter]

Del, one more thing, you don't have to worry about pre-setting your smoothing level, just draw your object and close the shape. Let it default to whatever smoothing exists.

Before you do anything else, go to the smoothing slider and adjust downwards and watch the smoothing change "on the fly", lower it until you feel it looks right to you and there's your perfect smoothing setting.

Unfortunately, if you do something else like a fill or create another object, the smoothing is now set in the object and can't go back and smooth some more. You'll have to live with or draw the object again and follow the instructions above...

GP

[Badger]

it was set to whatever the default is... 50% i think, I just went back and deleted a few nodes... getting used to the bevel adjustment was taking too long, lol.

I do like the speed... and I like the way it creates mountains as well... but I think you did at least convert one forum member .. I'll be using Xara quite a bit I expect

[Gamerprinter]

A slight thread jack, but still cool.

I finally joined Cartotalk.com after seeing a question regarding the use of Xara Xtreme for Real World Mapping, that I had to answer, thoroughly!

I even posted a link to my Celanta map, which uses all the techniques from this tutorial to create.

I actually convinced a pro cartographer/GIS analyst to download Xara. She works in a not-for-profit organization and searching for low cost graphics alternatives for use by staff of analysts.

So I'm about to start working on a version of this tutorial tailored for real world map uses to post at Cartotalk.com.

I will be sure to post it here, as well, when completed.

GP

[Robbie]

Make sure you pimp us!!!

[Gamerprinter]

Make sure you pimp us!!!

I started my post at cartotalk with "I'm one of those fantasy cartographers from Cartographers' Guild..." I wanted to make sure the GIS audience there got the idea where I was coming from right off the bat.

I will be sure to PIMP CG on the back page of my tutorial PDF!!


GP