...make realistic coastlines and topography in Gimp?

[Redrobes]

I would say you need to get some more detail in your coast...

http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...rnative-method
http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...Island&p=96746
http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?9056

Then pick where you want your mountains. You can think about tectonic plates and where they might be crashing to form them. Once mountains are in then work out where hills and lower lands are formed.

Then when you have a good idea about the height over your land do the rivers.

http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...he-right-place

Once rivers are in then work out lakes and paths that people would take to get around the land. Then at ports, junctions or convenient or strategic locations put down your towns.

[Bambi]

OK...coastline is looking better and I had a play around with the land and the ocean...wanting to put mountains in next but not quite sure where to start? I roughly know where I would like to place them, but that's about it!!!

Still learning how to use the Gimp...I got pretty good at using photoshop back in college but that was a few years back, and Gimp is a bit different!