Albaghre - a WIP done in GIMP

[torstan]

I like the start you've made. I've a few comments. Firstly I'm not sure the continental outline needs to be as strong as you've made it. You already have a clear edge from the land/sea boundary so I'm not sure you need to have a thick line as well. It looks a little like the entire continent has a very uniform beach around it. Also, I'm not too sure about the texture you've used for the mountains. There are some pretty extended discussions knocking around on the boards about how best to do mountains on a map like this, but my advice would be to go to google earth and find a mountain range at roughly the same scale as this map. Then try to get an effect in Gimp that gets you a good result.

Otherwise I think the map is good - very clear design and clearly delineated regions. I guess the next step is rivers and lake and then some labelling? I look forward to seeing how this progresses.

[jfrazierjr]

I like the start you've made. I've a few comments. Firstly I'm not sure the continental outline needs to be as strong as you've made it. You already have a clear edge from the land/sea boundary so I'm not sure you need to have a thick line as well. It looks a little like the entire continent has a very uniform beach around it.

I agree. One thing I have been meaning to try on a largish sized map like this is stroking the outline and using the new Brush Dynamics in GIMP 2.6 to vary the size and stuff of the brush, and perhaps even using a Gradient brush. Will have to give that a try tonight to see what I can come up with...

Also, I'm not too sure about the texture you've used for the mountains. There are some pretty extended discussions knocking around on the boards about how best to do mountains on a map like this, but my advice would be to go to google earth and find a mountain range at roughly the same scale as this map. Then try to get an effect in Gimp that gets you a good result.

Well... my approach is best... I just have not figured out how to make it easily repeatable enough to write it down. Plus, while it looks very good... it takes quite a while....

[RobA]

I agree. One thing I have been meaning to try on a largish sized map like this is stroking the outline and using the new Brush Dynamics in GIMP 2.6 to vary the size and stuff of the brush, and perhaps even using a Gradient brush. Will have to give that a try tonight to see what I can come up with...

Or stroke it with the Ink Tool, rather than a paint brush. Just setting up an angled tip with some simulated dynamics will make a stroked outline much less uniform looking.

-Rob A>

[jfrazierjr]

Or stroke it with the Ink Tool, rather than a paint brush. Just setting up an angled tip with some simulated dynamics will make a stroked outline much less uniform looking.

-Rob A>

Great idea Rob (would rep you.. but I had to hunt around to get you over 200 a few days ago... and don't have the time to hunt ATM)

To be honest, I have never used the Ink tool. I assume you are meaning using one of the calligraphy brushes that come with GIMP?

[RobA]

To be honest, I have never used the Ink tool. I assume you are meaning using one of the calligraphy brushes that come with GIMP?

Nope, not a brush... the Ink Tool. Especially useful if working with a tablet

-Rob A>

[Ascension]

I'm not a GIMPer so I'm not sure what it is capable of but the mountains need some height and the rivers have a light blue stroke outline...I'd change that to a medium green to accentuate the floodplain around the river and also make it wider and blurry. Of course at this scale I never put a floodplain in or a beach 'cuz it's very hard to get them to look right. All in all this is a very nice start and if my Photoshop skills can help I'll see what I can add but others here have mad GIMP skillz. I wrote a tutorial on doing continents that might be of help but it's for Photoshop and Bryguy replicated it in GIMP so check out the tut section (although the colors used there are darker you can always change that).