Ok so its my first time WIP

[the931stsoldier]

I hope im not violating an rules by posting the new rendition of my previous map i posted recently i kinda wanted to get away from that earth mirror look in a way and i wanted some ocean to play in
but i finally got some tools,photoshop CS5,Campaign Cartographer pro, and i got the demo of FT pro (ill buy it when i get my check)
ok but i have some questions now im posting after i have looked in the tutorials but i don't exactly understand how to so im a noob not an excuse but im just hoping someone can beter explain it but i have some general questions

1.how can i make the coastlines realistic i dont like that ballpoint pin look
2. is it posible to import a handrawn map to FT pro cuz when i tried all it did was make a white ball so im not sure if i have to make it in CC3 pro
3.if so can i import cc3 pro maps to FT pro

[Ascension]

I can't answer questions 2 or 3 but I can give ya some pointers in Photoshop. Your coastlines look fine, by the way. First, scan your drawing . Duplicate the drawing layer. Image - adjustments - Brightness/Contrast = set the contrast to max. Image - Adjustments = Desaturate (this removes any stray colors). Now zoom in and make sure that all of the lines connect, we don't want any gaps...this could take a while. Grab the Magic Wand tool and click once in the ocean to make a selection of it. Select - Inverse. Make a new layer and grab the Paint Can/Flood fill tool and click once to fill the new layer with white. Select - Deselect. You now have your continents on their own layer. If the whole layer fills with white then you have gaps somewhere. If you want a more jagged coastline then there are lots of tuts to follow but here's what I do: New layer filled with black; move it under the continents layer; merge the continents layer down; Filter - Pixellate - Crystallize = 12; repeat but with 9 then 6 then 3; Image - Adjustments - Brightness/Contrast = contrast to max; Select - Color Range = black, hit the delete key then deselect. Now you have jaggy coasts on their own layer.

[Midgardsormr]

I'd say test it with the Magic Wand to start with. No sense in examining the lines so minutely if there's such an easy way to test them! A lot of times the "marching ants" will even show you where the breaks are.

[Ascension]

Doh! Good point, Mid.

[the931stsoldier]

thanks both of you for replying ok so far i have followed your instructions plugged up those holes up and did everything but i cannot find pixalate anywhere

[the931stsoldier]

o wait found it ok so does this look about right?

[Ascension]

Here's what I got. The first pic shows that I did the contrast max, filled in the gaps, desaturated it, selected the ocean, new layer, fill with black, then hand colored the lakes, merged down, pixellate crystallize at 12 then 6 then 3, then max the contrast again. The second pic I selected color range = white, new layer, filled with white, 1 pixel black inner stroke. New layer, moved it under the landmasses, then fill that with white.

[the931stsoldier]

OOO i see thank you sir