WIP Kingdom of Braegor - New style(for me)

[ravells]

Looking great.....I think I've found a work around on the anti-aliasing problem with CC3. You use a method called the Orton Effect . This is normally used in photography to make images look slightly hyper real but a by-product is a controlled blur on the edges. (The Orton Effect is basically a gaussian blur overlaid on top of the sharp image). You will need an image editor like The Gimp to do it. I've had a play and this is what I came up with (I also increased the contrast a bit). It's not better or worse, but just different and adds a subtle depth to maps which might otherwise appear flat. To see the method, click on the link. It also seems to make contrasting colours pop a little more which is always nice.

Ravs

[pyrandon]

... It's not better or worse, but just different and adds a subtle depth to maps which might otherwise appear flat. ...

I gotta say I disagree: that version is much, much better IMHO. The colors and the details that landorl has so wonderfully crafted are much more clearly visible and attractive. That's my 1.645 cents!

[Robbie]

The new version (before ravells) looks a lot less sketchy and more digital, you've done a great job of cleaning it up.

As for ravells changes...I've long known abotu the orton effect, and used a similar process to create softer photos as well as using a blurred high pass layer on overlay or soft light to brign out contrast and sharpen up pictures as well as give them an otherworldy look...The only thing I dont' like about the OP's map though is the pastels...never been a big fan of pastels.

[landorl]

I'm actually doing this in Photoshop and not CC3, though I do use that for some things.

I have not done this yet, but I plan on redoing the water. I will repaint it in slightly more subdued colors, and I hope to end up with a little better effect to more match the rest of the style of the map.

[landorl]

Here is the latest work that I have done on the map. I have completed the backgrounds for the mountains, and have redone the roads so that they are a little easier to see.

I have also tried some different colors for the seas.

The landmass is pretty much finished. I think that I am pretty happy with the look and colors now. I think that I will still do some more work with the woodlands, and I want to try something different to mark towns and cities, but it is moving along quite well now.

[ravells]

So sorry, I confused this map with Midguardsommer's who was using CC3 and had the antialiasing problem. The colours in the latest version look a lot better!

[landorl]

I have now added a lot of features to the map. I have also created a map border and a legend.

This map is very nearly complete, and I am very pleased with how it is turning out. I would love any comments that might improve it. I might change my symbols for cities and towns, and I am still not 100% sure about the ocean background. Does it look ok, or should I lighten it?

As for the towns and their names, I have only named the larger towns and cities. Should I name all of the smaller ones? I was concerned that it would clutter the map. I also haven't created their names yet, so that might take a little time.

Thanks for all of the constructive comments so far!