WiP: Elsir Vale Region

[Joshua_101]

Here's another shot at the very first map I post. It's based on a D&D 3.5e module called Red Hand of Doom but modified to fit into my homebrew world of Dezoria.

I used Photoshop CS2 to create this map with great help from Pyrandon's tutorial and AidyBaby's Gullside Tutorial. Any suggestions? I think my mountains need some work... Does anybody have some suggestions for drawing river sources as they flow from the mountains?

[ravells]

for me, it's too smooth and silky. colours are nice though!

[su_liam]

I assume you have an underlying heightmap for this which you then use the lighting effects filter to make mountains of? You could try making the rivers dig canyons into the heightmap. Use a somewhat weak smudge brush to drag the lower elevations up from the ocean. The stronger the smudge brush the deeper and more extreme the canyons. I haven't tried this exactly but it just struck me as a good idea. I'll have to try that after the inlaws leave.

[pyrandon]

Joshua, this is a neat map! I agree with the others (and you) that the mountains need some work. They are nifty, but seem too soft and billowy to be "mountains" per se.

There are also two odd qualities I see in this image:

1. The focus appears close-up with the mountain/hills and forests, and yet too distant for the coasts & water. The former are too detailed and the latter are too stylized/general. The result is a discord in the visual effect.

2. Related to #1 above, the mountains and trees are photorealistic, while the waters, coasts, and grasslands are artistic. Again, the effect is a bit jarring.

I hope this helps at least identify some areas to play with. I really like the map & I hope you keep working on it!!

[Joshua_101]

J
1. The focus appears close-up with the mountain/hills and forests, and yet too distant for the coasts & water. The former are too detailed and the latter are too stylized/general. The result is a discord in the visual effect.

2. Related to #1 above, the mountains and trees are photorealistic, while the waters, coasts, and grasslands are artistic. Again, the effect is a bit jarring.

Agreed... I used a photo for the pattern fill on the trees, but I applied the Posterize effect on the forests to try and give them a more artistic feel. Maybe I should either use a different fill pattern or apply more filters/effects to make the trees less photo-like.

Thanks for the input folks! Its really helping to make this map come together.

[RobA]

To get the mountains less "pillowy soft", you might try multiplying the heightfield by itself, and adding a bit of value noise to it before using the lighting effect/bump mapping.

-Rob A>