Large Scale Map Printing

[Gamerprinter]

I've printed 72 dpi photos on my printer and compared to a 300 dpi print, it was noticeably degraded, however, without comparing to the 300 dpi print, it still looked great. Better resolution makes for better results, but the printer still does a great job at any resolution.

GP

[tilt]

now I allready regretted some time ago that I didn't make the Mountain Realms map bigger, but it was my first digital map so I didn't have much to go on - and the size seemed big *lol*... I've had it printed in A3 and that looks good - but it would have been cool to have a postersize... but I'm also thinking battle maps - they are big but need to be printed for up-close viewing to... so lots of dpi in those

[Gamerprinter]

That's why I prefer to work in a vector app like Xara instead of an image editor like GIMP. Vector is just lines of connected points and bezier curves, but then Xara allows me to fill it with a photo texture while rotations, resizing and controling texture repeating, apply a feather, transparency, etc. Howver doing all this is resolution independant.

I start with a defined measured drawing area, say 18" x 24", use a dot grid to keep scale in mind as I create my pen tool drawn shapes, I use as high a resolution fill photo texture as possible, so I can work at any size (there are resolution issues with texture fills.)

Once I complete a map, then I export to JPG, PSD, TIF, PDF, PNG and determine the ppi resolution at that time only. I did not have to think about resolution as I create the map, only at export to final image format does resolution matter - and I can export 300 ppi or 50 ppi, as two different files.

Image Editing apps like Photoshop, GIMP, and other "paint programs" force you to determine resolution at the start of the file creation, and that becomes the only optimal file size, changing ppi resolution on the fly can create artifacts in the pixel display due to different number of pixels describing the original. If you start with screen resolution blank map - you can't effectively print it a high resolution at large scale, as it will become horribly pixelated.

This problem is not an issue using vector apps. I can export the same map to large format, high resolution, as a MapTool ready 100 ppi PNG without artifact or pixelizatino issues, as a vector is resolution independant until export is required to final format - for each of its intended uses. More versatility. And not sucking as much resources, hardly at all, as multi-layered image files in GIMP or PS. I'm not knocking image editors. I use them often, but usually with intended texture fills before I import to Xara, or as post-editing work (almost unheard of for me, almost), then the file is in its intended file size - I can do things with image editors, that Xara cannot.

Because of different philosophies in map creation between vector hybrids and full image editors - its always a stumbling block when trying to print customer maps, not being able to make your final map whatever resolution you want at the moment almost seems alien to me, really.

Its one of the many reasons, I prefer mapping in vector versus image editors, despite the masterpieces created by them in this forum. Keep in mind I do use image editors often and "fluently", its just not my preferred weapon of choice.

[OldGuy]

I was torn between using PS and CC3 to create my large scale map but was leaning towards PS. Next I determined that a 36" x 36", 300 dpi drawing is 10,800 x 10,800 pixels. I have a pretty decent notebook with lots of memory and a kick ass video card. Still, PS was huffing and puffing enough for me to see that wasn't the way to go. (largely in part to it being v7 I'm sure).

I used my old map as a background in CC3 so I could trace polygons over the png image and get the main features copied over. Got a good start already and no more fighting huge file sizes. The resolution-independence is a nice bonus.

[nitheesh]

Looks interesting to me ...

[tilt]

I also like the resolution independence and use Illustrator for logos and such - but with a map like mountain realms its just about all textures - and as such, you become dependent upon resolution. If I'd made it in Illustrator and added texture there then resizing it would still mess the the textures as they would needed to be scaled up. If that shouldn't be a problem, then I'll have to work with HUGE textures as they should be prepared for poster size (if needed), but they should still "fit" when scaled down, so the look of them don't screw up the map - think trees in perfect size for the map, should still be in perfect size no matter if the map is printed on a business card or on a poster

[Gamerprinter]

Ah, but I build everything including mountainous terrain my vector app, texture heavy or no, vector works fine for creating that.

GP

[tilt]

so you draw a mountain texture in vector?

[Gamerprinter]

Yes. Even my hand-drawn top down regional maps have these kinds of vector mountains under the lineart, though I tend to use color clouds rather than texture maps for the mountain surface textures, but yes, still created completely with vectors. Sometimes I stack several vector mountain shapes with bevels and feathering to achieve the best final look, but all in vectors.

Here's one of my few, digital only/vector only regional maps featuring these kinds of mountains:
http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...anta-complete!

GP

[OldGuy]

Yes. Even my hand-drawn top down regional maps have these kinds of vector mountains under the lineart, though I tend to use color clouds rather than texture maps for the mountain surface textures, but yes, still created completely with vectors. Sometimes I stack several vector mountain shapes with bevels and feathering to achieve the best final look, but all in vectors.

Here's one of my few, digital only/vector only regional maps featuring these kinds of mountains:
http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?2572-Continent-of-Celanta-complete!

GP

I absolutely *love* those forests! any chance of a tutorial?