Building a World Map using Layers in GIMP

[bkh1914]

I have an older computer with limited memory so I've faced this problem many times.

One thing I do is make the layers only as large as they need to be. For example a mountain range or a lake only need to be a fraction of the total image size. This saves memory and improves speed.

With more complicated maps or drawings, I often partition the drawing into sections, build each section in a separate file and then copy the resulting image into the main file (Edit > Copy Visible, then Edit > Paste as > New Layer). This can be somewhat of a pain, but it allows me to make changes later in the section's original where I still have all the layers and it doesn't burden the main file with those layers.

[Hai-Etlik]

You might try vector graphics. Whether it's faster or not depends on a lot of factors but it's worth a shot. I can lag out even my fairly capable machine when I start playing with ten thousand individually placed trees, or highly complex filter effects, but I don't have to worry about resolution until I do a final, high quality rasterization. A fully vector toolchain might be out but even moving your earlier steps over might help. It depends a lot on the details of what you are doing though. Grab a copy of Inkscape and see if it looks like something that might help.

[Porklet]

You might try vector graphics. Whether it's faster or not depends on a lot of factors but it's worth a shot. I can lag out even my fairly capable machine when I start playing with ten thousand individually placed trees, or highly complex filter effects, but I don't have to worry about resolution until I do a final, high quality rasterization. A fully vector toolchain might be out but even moving your earlier steps over might help. It depends a lot on the details of what you are doing though. Grab a copy of Inkscape and see if it looks like something that might help.

Is Inkscape it similar to TurboCAD and that ilk? I have used that for basic floor plans and blueprints.

[Hai-Etlik]

Is Inkscape it similar to TurboCAD and that ilk? I have used that for basic floor plans and blueprints.

There's a broadly similar basic concept. You are working with shapes as objects rather than a surface with colours applied to it. However Inkscape is a graphics editor, not a CAD tool; it is simply a graphics editor that works with shapes, rather than pixel surfaces. There are a lot of things CAD can do that it can't, and lots of things it can do that CAD can't.

Just as CAD tools are specialised for working with engineering data, there are similarly specialised tools for geographic data which are broadly called Geographic Information Systems or GIS. If you want, there are free GIS tools to play with but I'd suggest you consider it an advanced topic for later at best, and massive overkill to the point of being ridiculous at worst. I use them, but I'm already familiar with them.

[Porklet]

There's a broadly similar basic concept. You are working with shapes as objects rather than a surface with colours applied to it. However Inkscape is a graphics editor, not a CAD tool; it is simply a graphics editor that works with shapes, rather than pixel surfaces. There are a lot of things CAD can do that it can't, and lots of things it can do that CAD can't.

Just as CAD tools are specialised for working with engineering data, there are similarly specialised tools for geographic data which are broadly called Geographic Information Systems or GIS. If you want, there are free GIS tools to play with but I'd suggest you consider it an advanced topic for later at best, and massive overkill to the point of being ridiculous at worst. I use them, but I'm already familiar with them.

I have seen GIS at my county's website when researching areas hit by storms. Do they use GIS for aerial mapping?

Thanks again for the insights.

[Hai-Etlik]

I have seen GIS at my county's website when researching areas hit by storms. Do they use GIS for aerial mapping?

Yes, remote sensing is a big part of GIS.

[Porklet]

I have an older computer with limited memory so I've faced this problem many times.

One thing I do is make the layers only as large as they need to be. For example a mountain range or a lake only need to be a fraction of the total image size. This saves memory and improves speed.

With more complicated maps or drawings, I often partition the drawing into sections, build each section in a separate file and then copy the resulting image into the main file (Edit > Copy Visible, then Edit > Paste as > New Layer). This can be somewhat of a pain, but it allows me to make changes later in the section's original where I still have all the layers and it doesn't burden the main file with those layers.

I hear ya. I've already started doing that with the ocean layer. I only move it back into the project when I need to check if my rivers are coming out right, or if I can see the darkened coastline of a small island next to the water gradient. It is a pain, but it's far worse to be waiting for my computer to catch up.