[Award Winner] Using GIMP to Create an Artistic Regional RPG Map

[Jaqen Hagar]

Post 3: Then Let's Begin (if I have an idea)

Create new layer called “Land Noise” and fill it with clouds (Filter->Render->Clouds->Solid Noise) Set the detail to the maximum (15) and the X and Y size to the max (16.0). The larger the size, the more randomness your final coast will have. Give it a new random seed and jot down the number (I put it in the layer name afterwards as a reminder). And change the blend mode to Overlay.

I have followed your tutorial, step by step but I fail to make the same thing like you describe.

The new layer "land noise" covering everything on the map, and the map disappear.

Help me to understand. It is maybe the cause of the age of this tutorial, or gimp has changed since 2007 ?

[Jeff_Wilson63]

The City-Map-Colors.gpl file should go into C:\Documents and Settings\<User Name>\palette\ and GIMP will see it the next time it is run.

Correction. The directory should be:
C:\Documents and Settings\<User Name>\.gimp-<version>\palette\

[RobA]

Correction. The directory should be:
C:\Documents and Settings\<User Name>\.gimp-<version>\palette\

Thanks! Fixed in that post.

-Rob A>

[Remko1981]

Before reading your tutorial i couldnt do anything with Gimp. This is my result after a few(5) hours of hard work.



Only things which i couldnt do are those beautiful rivers of yours. And i cant get the color like youve gotten for the forests.

Any more advice? (your map still looks way better!)

My next step will be loading this map into viewingdale and start adding villages, ruines, etc as my players will discover them.

Thanks a lot for the great tutorial!

[RobA]

Remko-

Did you use the "turbulent" check box when generating the forest? I find it makes for a nicer bump map. Also, when applying the bump map, try the other options (linear, spherical, sinusoidal) as they have very different results.

As for the colour, I just tend to keep playing with the HSV, as well as had painting on the colours layer with different shades until I get something I like.

Is there something specific about the rivers (generating the emboss?) that is giving you problems?


And you're welcome!

-Rob A>

[Remko1981]

My rivers are a bit blocky. But my biggest problem is there height map. They just dont look like they are going down. Tried a lot of settings but cant seem to get it to work.

[RobA]

My rivers are a bit blocky. But my biggest problem is there height map. They just dont look like they are going down. Tried a lot of settings but cant seem to get it to work.

I think I explained it a bit better in this posting:

http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...8&postcount=19

See if that clarifies things.

-Rob A>

[Kasim]

Just a quick post as I work on this. I'm embarrased to say how long it took me to get past step 8 but here I am so far. These layers and masks are kicking my butt pretty well. But atleast I'm learning.

Note: the 4 circular shapes on the coastline were by design, not an error or oversight. (Old meteor impacts.. there will be two inland on the peninsula as well.) Next iteration I'm going to cut these down to 1 or 2 on the coastline as the chances of 4 out of 6 impacts landing in the exact spots to create neat little bays are pretty slim.

This isn't anywhere near where I want it but I'm going to complete the tutorial before restarting to do it right.. I'm in a hotel atm with no scanner so it was hand drawn via laser mouse on a crappy surface in GIMP. I plan on using a map quite close to this as the beginnings from a remap of my campaign in ViewingDale.

We'll see how well I can mold mountains, input a desert and direct rivers tomorrow evening.

And yes, I've repped the author for his tutorial, without it I wouldn't even dare using this method.

[nwelte]

First time using gimp for anything other than cropping ans sizing. Not happy with my forest or the coast line. I also seem to have messed up the color of the water. I don't have the white wisps. But I feel the map is a good start. I will have to finish the rest of the map later.

Comments? Suggestions?

[RobA]

Good effort, nwelte!

You might want to try a turbulent bump map with a larger x-size and y-size for the forrest texture. Just decreasing the opacity of the forest bump map overlay would also help make then less intense.

-Rob A>