Hi, that's a cool series of maps you did here, the rivers are complex and give a good feeling to the map. About an elevation effect using 3D software i think it is a bit a waste of time for pure top down views, that's a complex approach for some not so good results (i have tried that too without success). Photoshop bevell effects or simply painting black and white with low opacity is really faster and gives better results in top down view according to me, but each cartographer has it owns recipes:=)