I think that these are very valid points, waldronate.Originally Posted by waldronate
On a slightly related note if I was them I would try to get some top quality tutorials on this site using their software, how many people use GIMP due in a large part to RobA's tutorial? (I know I do).
If they had some trurely impressive examples of work done with their software, then surely that would drive more users from this site to try the software out
Sorry, couldn't resist!
Some good points though!
Daniel the Neon Knight: Campaign Cartographer User
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will suffice!
Any questions on CC3? Post them with CC3 in the Subject Line!
MY 'FAMOUS' CC3 MAPS: Thunderspire; Pyramid of Shadows; King of the Trollhaunt Warrens; Demon Queen's Enclave
Sorry, couldn't resist!In fact, I live in a bloody Holiday Inn Express (
) and have drawn hundreds of astonishingly accurate maps of it.
Rofl.... you guys crack me up...
I think thats the key to it. Its all about quality vs effort to get to that quality and they are not showing either. I voted for Patrakis this month as I thought his map was pretty good knowing that it was probably a CC3 example as he is a notable flag bearer but he then said it was illustrator. Its hard to know how much effort it takes to get to final map but its very easy to see what the available quality can be. We know that photoshop can deliver but we also know that you need significant skill and effort to get you there. In a sense GP has been a very successful Xara flag bearer because of his quality and we know that several people here now use it as a direct result and have also attested to its ease of use claim too. Although its no help to the site maintenance unless they pay ad revenues, for Profantasy it would make sense to show what its capable of. Maybe I just dont like the style of map they produce but I haven't ever seen what I consider a really great map made with it and I would truly like to see it.
On a related note, would people like to see a ViewingDale tutorial ? I know its not well used around here but would a couple of copies of it as a challenge prize be interesting ?
I believe it would be interesting. I'll quote this in the CL discussion, we'll see where it takes us...
I'd just like to say that VDale is a great program, I do have it... I don't use it for mapping per se, as you all know most of my maps are done by hand in pen and ink. But I have started using it to keep track of my Home brew world. I have quite a bit of information that needs to be categorized and situated and VDale is perfect for this... as it can keep track of every single person on the planet if I needed it too. And when I'm done, I can start properly mapping it out and keeping track of all those in Vdale...
RR is great about helping you out too... seriously, we spent quite a while figuring out all my graphics card issues which technically weren't his problem but mine. All was for not cause I got a better, newer card a few months later... but he back's it up with all the help you need.
I have often wondered why you don't scan in some of your b&w pen ink icons and put them into the program then you could have twenty mountains and 50 houses etc and then make big maps using the icons you have. Surely it would be easier than hand drawing each one and you have the option of moving them about. It has the print res to cope with A2 sort of size and 300dpi etc. Putting down a forest of ink trees would be such a cinch with the random placing & rotating path tool for example which I would have thought must be a daunting prospect to consider doing by hand. We have had posts on these boards about rotating selections in the same layer in Gimp and how to quickly paste down lots of stuff quickly in layers etc. These are areas where its easier to do in a tool designed for that job. Perhaps if I gave away a few copies, people could see what I mean and why I still rave about it. Anyway - dont wish to thread jack here.
Actually... I do.... I use Photoshop on a regular basis. I've got hundreds of brushes of my handdrawn forests and mountains, etc.... This was how the jungles were done on my Sept. challenge map.
I scan in most images now a days, but I still love to ink. So depending on what I need to get done... depends on how much I actually draw on paper before scanning it in. some of my more recent maps (book maps thread) are done completely in PS with all my hand drawn stuff.
I'm using PS because well... I paid for a whole suite and make more than just maps in it.
I too apologize for re thread jacking ...
I fully agree with you, Jkaen. In fact, that's what I tried to say in my initial post within this thread. There's little point in doing banner advertising only...
I'd love to see more ViewingDale stuff. Perhaps a map of a building (1st image)... which then zooms out to show a settlement or city (2nd image)... which then zooms out to show an entire region (3rd image)... 1 map, 3 images... That's one of the features which caught my eye when I read about your software.
Last edited by mogul76; 10-05-2008 at 10:39 AM.
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