Map for Dance of Cloaks

[Azélor]

The placement of everything was provided to me by the author, so there's very little room for me to change his vision. I was asked to make a darker, grittier map fitting of the novels main character being an assassin.

I think there's not enough geographic information to really say what's fully going on in some areas. All we really see is coast, rivers, mountains and hills. There was no distance scale provided either, so that's another factor. Are we dealing with a few miles, or many miles?

I'd say the size of a relatively small kingdom like Portugal, maybe a little bigger.

Is you email address going to be in the book too? It kind of break the atmosphere.

[Gamerprinter]

The placement of everything was provided to me by the author, so there's very little room for me to change his vision. I was asked to make a darker, grittier map fitting of the novels main character being an assassin.

I think there's not enough geographic information to really say what's fully going on in some areas. All we really see is coast, rivers, mountains and hills. There was no distance scale provided either, so that's another factor. Are we dealing with a few miles, or many miles?

I guess it all depends on how you handle commissions, but I always question geologic/geographic anamolies in rough draft maps provided me by the authors of the works I complete. I want to make sure that I match the intentions of the author, while explaining why a given geologic mistake is occurring. In 2 commissions the authors allowed me to do the corrected versions. In one case the author indicated that the storyline required the anamoly. I know the fanbase of a given published book may question the map itself. By correcting it in the first place, such issues will never arise. It is in the author's favor to present him with a true rendition of a geologically sound map. In the end, I don't expect most authors to have any kind of cartographic knowledge. As a professional cartographer it an expectation that I report inconsistencies with the author. Not doing so is a disservice to the author and publisher.

[- Max -]

He's probably talking about rivers splitting. Btw nice map Though the stains are too obvious and seems out of place here.

[TimPaul]

He's probably talking about rivers splitting. Btw nice map Though the stains are too obvious and seems out of place here.

The main character in the book is a master assassin and it was requested that there be blood drips on the map. To create those, I actually dripped thick paint on paper and scanned, then worked in to photoshop. Same with the "bloody" thumbprint. It's a tricky balance, placing non essential elements on a map that has to be functional as well.

[- Max -]

About stains, not fan of it but that makes more sense

[TimPaul]

About stains, not fan of it but that makes more sense

More so when you are being paid to give the Creative Director what they want.

[Neyjour]

Very pretty map, and congratz on the commission!

It's a shame the client only requested B&W, because I really think this would look so much better in colour! Also, in B&W, the concept of the bloody drips and fingerprint is kind of lost, and makes them look a bit out of place. But in colour, against a weatherworn, brownish parchment texture, it would have looked much, much better and more interesting, and helped to convey the feeling of a hand-drawn map clutched in the hands of an assassin.

I realize B&W is needed for the book printing, but a colour version is always nice too, for displaying on the author's website. Would be a nice little extra I think, for fans of the book to enjoy, and also to snag the interest of potential readers.

I can't really comment on the river problem (it's not something I'm knowledgeable in at all), but I do think it's something the average person probably wouldn't even notice, or take issue with. (It didn't even register with me until I started reading the comments). But, like someone else mentioned, if you're interested in learning more about it for future maps, there's a wealth of helpful info to be found here.

Oh, and I also wanted to say that I really love your sword compass! And the font as well!

[TimPaul]

Thanks, Neyjour

[Domino44]

I think that the stains on the map are interesting without the explanation though they did seem out of place but with the information about the story I thought is was a cool idea. I do think that it would be better in color but that wasn't your choice and I think you did a good job with making the stains in black and white. I love the thumb print at the edge of the map I think that it is very cool. By any chance could you tell me the name of the book?

[- Max -]

I was hired to do a black and white map for the David Dalglish novel, A Dance of Cloaks.

Domino, read the OP and the title