[Award Winner] Making a continent in photoshop

[bblackmoor]

Here's the odt for ya (zipped). It was originally written in Word so this is just a "save as".

Thanks. FYI, you do not need to zip an OpenOffice file. It is already a compressed format. You gain nothing by zipping it.

Any help on the lakes or clouds would be appreciated.

[Ascension]

You can't directly upload odt files to this forum so, yes, I did have to zip it.

[TheJayde]

Well that is good to read, but specifically, step 21 has me confused. Im not sure the step is clear to a newbtard like myself. Here is the step... problem part...

21. Ctrl-click on the “base” layer (in the layers palette) to load it as a selection (in newer versions of Photoshop you have to ctrl-click on the thumbnail in the layers palette). Select > Inverse then hit the delete key then deselect. Add a layer style; we’ll use 4 colors with 5 stops as follows: color 1 at the 5% position is flat white, color code FFFFFF (rgb 255, 255, 255); color 2 at the 35% position is a dark olive green, color code 405018 (rgb 64, 80, 24); color 3 at the 60% position is the same dark olive green; color 4 at the 85% position is a dark flesh, color code DAC094 (rgb 218, 192, 14; and color 5 at the 100% position is a papyrus, color code F0E6BE (rgb 240, 230, 190). Set the blend mode of the gradient to hard light with 100% opacity. Next we’ll add a layer style of outer glow: use a light blue, any will do for now and you can change it later but I use 40C8FF (rgb 64, 200, 255). Set the blend mode of the outer glow to screen at 25% opacity and a size of 11. If you want a lighter gradient then add a layer style of color overlay of white and set the blend mode to soft light and then turn down the opacity until you are happy with it.

My problem is I don't know where to add the Layer Styles, and if I assume that Im putting them in on the base layer, then it only allows me to put one on there.

Edit: For Example... I think Im supposed to use Color Layer to do all that jazz since it seems to have all the right information that I need. I am confused on how to make multiples, or if certain layers such as Mountain or Hills are supposed to have the differeng layers laid out in this portion.

[TheJayde]

Heh funny story... Im on the wrong post. Gosh Dern it...

[zKaZy]

pretty cool your tuto, thanks!!!!

[DMJay]

Sorry to repeat the need for help, but I'm having a little trouble here:

8. Create a new layer and Edit > fill = 50% gray. Set the layer’s mode to hard mix and change the name to “base”.

// When I followed these steps the layer keeps coming out as a giant gray mass. No blotches or anything. Not sure if I'm doing something wrong. The Fill Content Use: 50% Gray, and for the Blending I'm using the Hard Mix. Do I need to reduce the opacity or something?

EDIT: HAHA! I figured it out. I was changing the Hard Mix inside the Fill rather than changing the blending mode on the layer to Hard Mix. A little confusing I guess, but it's probably because I'm not too good with the technical terms of PS.

[Steel General]

EDIT: HAHA! I figured it out. I was changing the Hard Mix inside the Fill rather than changing the blending mode on the layer to Hard Mix. A little confusing I guess, but it's probably because I'm not too good with the technical terms of PS.

Run through this tutorial a few times, and you'll have a pretty good working base knowledge for using Photoshop.

[DMJay]

Hmm. Do you know in Step 34 which layer you're supposed to be adding the reversed gradient to? I'm not sure I played around with it by moving it to different layers, but never quite got the same effect that is illustrated in Step 39.

I'm not entirely sure what I did wrong, but it's obvious I didn't follow one of the steps completely.

[DMJay]

There's the final. Thanks for this tutorial. It's amazing!

[Ascension]

The layer with the bas relief; I might lower the opacity or erase a bit to leave more flatland to put towns n stuff. Not a big thing. Otherwise, looks great, man.