Hey ya, I'm new here and was surprised to see a community doing something that I was experimenting with myself to learn more so I could teach others
I like most types of maps, parchment maps and realistic maps really catch my eyes, the kinds of maps I don't like are black-white-gray maps or maps that look like modern road maps.

It's funny, some of the tutorials I saw I'm like "hey! thats my method, I invented that too!"

I've currently been using Photoshop, I just attempted to use the gimp after reading some stuff here. I like the Gimp's texture-making ability, but I don't think depart from PS without my precious layer blending options.

I don't actually make maps yet, currently I'm just experimenting/researching with methods of creating elements in a realistic map (trees mountains water clouds).

Heres the map/terrain I attempted in the gimp today.


I hope to learn and maby even teach something!