My Finished Maps
Works in Progress(or abandoned tests)
My Tutorials:
Explanation of Layer Masks in GIMP
How to create ISO Mountains in GIMP/PS using the Smudge tool
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Unless otherwise stated by me in the post, all work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
My tutorials: Using GIMP to Create an Artistic Regional Map ~ All My Tutorials
My GIMP Scripts: Rotating Brush ~ Gradient from Image ~ Mosaic Tile Helper ~ Random Density Map ~ Subterranean Map Prettier ~ Tapered Stroke Path ~ Random Rotate Floating Layer ~ Batch Image to Pattern ~ Better Seamless Tiles ~ Tile Shuffle ~ Scale Pattern ~ Grid of Guides ~ Fractalize path ~ Label Points
My Maps: Finished Maps ~ Challenge Entries ~ My Portfolio: www.cartocopia.com
I'm working on a quick tut. based on the linked one.
Basically, I render the background, and on a new layer the grid as an overlayed (50% grey base) bumpmap, then create a new layer filled solid with the "rock" texture (desaturated java in this case). With grid snap on I carve out the rooms using the mask. Select the mask, make it a path, and on a new layer stroke the path... apply a bumpmap of a blurred copy of the stroked path. In the case of the last with no walls, I just applied a blurred copy of the layer mask as an overlayed bumpmap to the whole thing.
-Rob A>
My tutorials: Using GIMP to Create an Artistic Regional Map ~ All My Tutorials
My GIMP Scripts: Rotating Brush ~ Gradient from Image ~ Mosaic Tile Helper ~ Random Density Map ~ Subterranean Map Prettier ~ Tapered Stroke Path ~ Random Rotate Floating Layer ~ Batch Image to Pattern ~ Better Seamless Tiles ~ Tile Shuffle ~ Scale Pattern ~ Grid of Guides ~ Fractalize path ~ Label Points
My Maps: Finished Maps ~ Challenge Entries ~ My Portfolio: www.cartocopia.com
I, for one, don't mind the threadjack. Nice to see somebody expanding on the ideas in that original tutorial. In fact, I can't wait to see what your tutorial is going to come out like.
My two cents are as follows. If you think about the drop shadows they don't really make any physical sense, and that's why they're sort of jarring.
The map is essentially representing a top down view of something that's cut into a solid object. If that's the case, how can the edges be projecting a shadow that's behind and offset from them? Your eye's immediately notice this discrepancy and tell that something isn't "right."
My eyes tell me that the "map" is a separate entity from the rest of the image. I admit it is purely a matter of taste, but I actually like the jarring affect. It places the background in the background and makes the map itself stand out.
That being said, I really want to try different techniques. Your observation is a valuable one, even if I sorta disagree with it.