Using DEM data for fictional maps?

[Ghalev]

I've done a bit of experimenting using simpler cloud-fractal hoo-hah for overall arrangements but then using DEM overlays to bring realistic definition to the upper elevations. Not much to report so far (too many other projects distract me, and I have no actual use for it beyond fascination), but the mutant beasts which have resulted do show some glimmers of promise.

I guess the main difference between what I've attempted and what you're working on is that I don't cut-and-paste fragments ... I combine complete DEMs with complete random hoo-hah in an automated routine which forces the DEM data to dominate the upper elevations while fading in prominence as they approach the waterline (and all submarine data is left randomized without DEM additions).

[jezelf]

Redrobes: Oh sorry. pretty cool stuff.

Ghalev: That sounds interesting. got anything up on the web to see the result? it'l be good to see how that comes out.


Today in PS I've been playing with the bevel tool on a selection of the land mass ( using the bevel and you can give it fall off and soften under the chisel settings and lighting at 0 (from the top)) - it give a similar mountain range with some randomness. Then overlayering difference clouds and manually drawing in the troughs with soft black brush at 20% opacity.

Still exploring the technique and will include it in a tutorial as another step on the way to DEM influecned maps. It'll be cool if there was a plugin that worked similar to bevel, but in a more fractual, mountainous way to create a height map for fictional maps. I guess simliar to Bryce's fractual mountain heightmap creations but for PS so it could be places over a larger selection area.

thanks folks!

[su_liam]

I have to say I like the hypsometric gradient used in the tutorial okay, but I really like the gradient you used in the Difference Clouds image. Could you post that?

Erosion really is the key to this. With good erosion and deposition you can make beautifully realistic terrains out of the stupidest noises. There are some tutorials here by waldronate on the use of erosion in Wilbur that are really instructive, not to mention astonishing. Wilbur is actually fairly mid-grade as to erosion tools. World Machine has the best erosion I've ever seen. From what I understand Geocontrol is superior to that, but it can't run on the Cow Machine at work.

[RobA]

If you check the tutorial http://www.jezelf.co.uk/tutorials_map04.htm you can see it isn't a gradient. Splotches of colours were manually painted then blurred.

-Rob A>

[su_liam]

Nice tutorial. That whole climate variation thing is something I definitely need to work on. I'm a little disappointed though, 'cause that would have really been a nice gradient. Love those colors.

[SeerBlue]

Speaking of World Machine, World Machine 2 is out, and there is a free version that is real sweet. Take the tour as well.

it is well worth the money, and the developer is very helpful, as are the forums.

Also Terraconv is a easy way to get your ter file to tiff format, or GeoTiff, and back. So in and out of photoshop,,,,,.

SeerBlue

[jezelf]

Hi there. Thanks for posting.

su_liam: You're spot on, errosion is really what I'm after. I did see Wilbur before but hadn't yet had time to explore, but I had a quick text last night and it's pretty cool.

Yeah I'm pretty new to the more serious side of map making - there's a whole new world out there (no pun intended) for me. So I only just realised about hypsometric gradients. The tutorials are aimed at the PS beginner and they were started because I was over at another forum for Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels and creative writing and people were wanting to make maps for their stories.

For the purposes of what I want to make maps for, as a back ground for fictional stories, I'm thinking there's little point cutting and pasting DEM maps, I would fair better with things like Wilbur. So thanks for your help.

RobA: yep that's right. My line of work has not really ventured into map making. It's a hobby thing through the creative writing. For the hypsometric gradient. I guess it could be created using photoshop's gradient tools. Sampling the finished artwork with the picker and work back from there? I've not created on before, so I'll see if I can look into it. Cheers.

SeerBlue: Hey that looks cool. I've got Mojo, but not really had much time to work with it (allong with other applications like z-brush -just not enough time ) The WM2 results looks great. I downloaded the trial, see what I can do.

Thanks all.
Jez