Yes, I realised that when I was typing this out. My naming conventions help me when I am working on a map, but don't translate too well to telling others about it. I may one day put an updated version of this into a pdf, in which case I'll be more sensible when setting up conventions at the beginning.
Also, thanks to the mods for the tutorial scroll! Now all I need is one of those snazzy compasses for the full set
oh wow.. nice ... and they broadened that category up a bit... maybe when I get this handdrawn commision i'm doing ... I can put up a pen and ink tutorial from start to finish .. .the guy gave me permission once the project is finished to post up a tut here... it (the map) will be featured at dragoncon promoting his game... which is coolin and of itself...
another side note.. I did figure out how to get similiar steps in PS ... as I said, I can't actually drag a layer into a blank mask on another layer (this was how I read it to be done in gimp from your steps...) From the layer named MASK, you have to create layermask and then drag that layermask to the layer you want it on.
NOPE... nm... I just found it you can create the layermask, and to copy it to another layer you hold down alt when moving the layermask.... good good good....
And well deserved!Originally Posted by torstan
Yes, I realised that when I was typing this out. My naming conventions help me when I am working on a map, but don't translate too well to telling others about it. I may one day put an updated version of this into a pdf, in which case I'll be more sensible when setting up conventions at the beginning.
Also, thanks to the mods for the tutorial scroll! Now all I need is one of those snazzy compasses for the full set
I would love it it you were to make up a tutorial for the Dresston map or create another map of similar overland style for a tutorial. I been mulling stuff over in my head about my section of the world building project and using some hand drawn top down mountains was way I was looking to go. I thought of this approach several weeks ago, but have not been able to get past the (in GIMP) rough inking stage in B\W and that looks mostly like crap without some color. I originally was going to do it in style like RobA's tutorial with the modified mountain shape, but want to try something different. I can't really do ISO on that map since the whole(well almost) freaking thing is mountains and that would look a bit odd which is why I was going to do top down in the first plac...
Joe
My Finished Maps
Works in Progress(or abandoned tests)
My Tutorials:
Explanation of Layer Masks in GIMP
How to create ISO Mountains in GIMP/PS using the Smudge tool
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Unless otherwise stated by me in the post, all work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
Much of the Deeston map was just as in the ship tutorial, though with a few refinements. Sounds like you are interested in the mountains specifically. If I did a short mountain tute would that do the trick? I'm also happy to do a proper walkthrough of the whole map - you just might not get it for a while
Heh.. I will take what I can get, but yes, the mountains are a hugh part(85% or so of the map is mountains) of the map, so something specific to them would be great.Much of the Deeston map was just as in the ship tutorial, though with a few refinements. Sounds like you are interested in the mountains specifically. If I did a short mountain tute would that do the trick? I'm also happy to do a proper walkthrough of the whole map - you just might not get it for a while
Thanks,
Joe
My Finished Maps
Works in Progress(or abandoned tests)
My Tutorials:
Explanation of Layer Masks in GIMP
How to create ISO Mountains in GIMP/PS using the Smudge tool
----------------------------------------------------------
Unless otherwise stated by me in the post, all work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
I don't think it matters what program you use ... the sketching stage for hand drawing a map or inking part .. will always take a kinda of ... getting used to ... especially if (like probably most everyone who began mapping) you are used to grabbing the nearest piece of sketch paper or pad and drawing it out by hand.
The best advice I have for you and what helped me out? (tablet a must really, handdrawn maps with a mouse is just asking for frustration) ... start out with a white background... start a new (transparent) layer and set your ink to a comfortable width (i usually use around a 3-5 pixel width) and just draw out the baser of shapes on the map... forests areas, hills... mountains... rivers coastlines, etc... and don't be neat about it... don't use ctrl z, don't use your eraser.... if you aren't liking it ... start a new layer and either turn the eyeball off on that layer or delete it if you like... and just keep going ... (like ripping off a sheet of paper and going to the next sheet)
When you got a rough idea of what you want it to look like.... turn that opacity down and start a new layer.... refine it as much as you can... again ... you don't have to be neat and worry about messing up .... just tighten it up a bit.... and then start a new layer ... turn the opacity off the previous, turn the opacity down on the just finished, and once again .."tighten" up the sketch .... I might go anywhere from 3-5 or mayer layers before I get a really well defined inked map ready to be colored and rendered...
but that's just my two cents
Thanks Del. I just don't have the talent to do stuff like this freehanded (or much for that matter!), so will be doing it all in GIMP anyway.
Tablet: check.... got one a few weeks ago specifically for rivers. After playing with ISO mountains and smudges, it is a vital when trying to erase or smudge and be precise. I just can't do that with the mouse without tons of undos.
Joe
My Finished Maps
Works in Progress(or abandoned tests)
My Tutorials:
Explanation of Layer Masks in GIMP
How to create ISO Mountains in GIMP/PS using the Smudge tool
----------------------------------------------------------
Unless otherwise stated by me in the post, all work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
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