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

[RobA]

Post 20: Finishing it up

Before starting the legend this is where the image was at:



Now repeat the same process used for the title for the legend. Here I decreased the distortions amounts so the smaller text would remain legible (though it did get a bit blurry).

I also didn’t jot down the colour changes when making the Title colours, so I had to match the legend by eye, and didn’t get it quite right.



Since this map is small, and it is getting cluttered, the only thing I’ll add is a compass rose.
I’ll just grab one from a clipart collection…And at the last minute I decided I didn’t like the legend, so I dumped it and moved the compass to where the legend was.



To finish it just needs a simple border. If there is detail near the edges you want to keep, just enlarge the canvas to get working space for the border. In this case let’s add a six pixel border in the roof3 brown. Image->Canvas Size to get the dialog. The new canvas will be 512x512, and clicking the “Center” button puts the existing map in the middle. Leave the “Resize Layers” option as “None”.



Create new transparent Layer called “Border” at the top. Select the whole image (Select->All) then shrink the selection (Select->Shrink) by 3 pixels (half the border). Select the desired color, and stroke the selection (Edit->Stroke Selection). Use a Stroke Like of 6 px, and make the dash preset is “Line”.
Now pretty it up by stroking a solid 3 px line with the Road colour. Picking an odd px size will give a nice blur to the line, as it interpolates the half pixel colouring. Lastly, I went back to the Roof 3 colour, and stoked a third time, 2px, choosing the dash preset “Stipples”:

[RobA]

In Conclusion

Here is the final map:



I hope this tutorial was beneficial, even if you do not use GIMP. If you have any comments, suggestions, or criticisms, please post in the forums here, or PM
me.

The pdf is coming...


-Rob A>

[RobA]

The promised pdfs. I had to break it into parts 3 and 4 because of the size limitation...

Also attached is a zip of the final xcf file (it just fits under the limit) in case anyone wants to dissect this thing to get a better understanding on any of the steps or layers.

And now that this is over, I can get back to some other things on the back burner

Cheers!

-Rob A>

[pyrandon]

This tutorial is amazing, Rob. I can't even imagine how many hours you put into both developing the system and the writing/posting of that system. Thank you so much.

I can't wait to see what maps users make from it, too!

[RPMiller]

I agree, and I really hope you get a bucket load of rep for it as well.

[Istarlome]

the results are 100% fantastic. i'm going to refer to this thread at gimp dome. i'm sure your techniques can be used for many other apps. thanks for sharing.

you're one of the best gimp users i've seen. very inspiring......

[RobA]

Thanks! I'm glad someone is reading this thread

As no one has been posting with comments are questions I was worried this exercise was for naught. Now is the time - any question? Post them here! I wil be adding any clarification that people ask for in an edited version that at some point will be set up as a single file PDF for download.

-Rob A>

[angellus00]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I've been looking for a step by step to do something like this for AGES!! Thank you x100000

Here is the first map I made using this tutorial.

[JadeEliott]

Rob,

Awesome tute. I, like others are completely new to Gimp and was using Microsoft Publisher before this! (Don't laugh.)

I have gotten to the mountains stage and the directions are becomig a bit "ragged" so that I am having a hard time keeping up. I am stuck here:

Use the magic wand again to select the non-mountain area (like with the land) and create a new layer called “Mountains Mask” with a white on black. (Also the white colour selection as a new selection mask using Select->Save to Channel).

What does "with a white on black" mean?

What does the second sentence mean? How specifically do I do this?

In the land mask step, you selected then inverted the selection. Do I do the same here? Otherwise, my mask ends up with the mountains black instead of white like the land mass was?

I have repped you for this tute, it is very helpful!

My only complaint is how your directions started out very clear and step by step and then degraded, skipping key points or assuming the reader would know what you meant. Like you just wanted to be finished and rushed (which you probably did just want to be finished after all that work!)

Thanks for any help you can give.

[jfrazierjr]

Rob,

Awesome tute. I, like others are completely new to Gimp and was using Microsoft Publisher before this! (Don't laugh.)

I have gotten to the mountains stage and the directions are becomig a bit "ragged" so that I am having a hard time keeping up. I am stuck here:



What does "with a white on black" mean?

Create a new layer. Make it black. reduce the opacity down enough so you can see the underlying land shape. This will allow you to know where you need to make your mountains (so you don't put any into the ocean for example.) Where you want the mountains to be, you draw in some white, making sure to fill the entire "insides".

Se second part, just like with the land is to invert the selection and the do the save to Channel under the "Selection" menu. This should switch you over to the "Channels" tab (you will need to switch back to the layer tab) Make SURE that the areas that are white are in the correct locations on the little thumbnail icon. If not , you forgot to invert the selection.

Joe