Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 25

Thread: The first attempts

  1. #1
    Guild Novice basilshotgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Russia, Moscow
    Posts
    10

    Post The first attempts

    Hello again!
    Few weeks ago I began a new campain
    So... When my players asked me for world map, I'll began to draw this map.
    Oh! It's the first attempt to using a graphics tablet and a digital mapping at all

    Step 1.
    General outline of the continents.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Step 1.jpg 
Views:	194 
Size:	2.13 MB 
ID:	69709

  2. #2
    Banned User
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Traverse City, Michigan, USA
    Posts
    2,547

    Default

    Not a bad start, nice fractal coasts! Have some rep

  3. #3
    Guild Novice basilshotgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Russia, Moscow
    Posts
    10

    Default

    Thx!
    I continue experiments
    Step 2
    Added a bit of snow and sand.
    Found interesting brushes for mountains. But I prefer my own mountains. Have an idea to make my own brushes. I think, it wouldn't be too hard...
    And idk how best to circle the coastline...
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Step2.jpg 
Views:	213 
Size:	3.03 MB 
ID:	69721
    And little bonus Few minutes for this... mountain chain?
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	171214.jpg 
Views:	68 
Size:	990.0 KB 
ID:	69722

  4. #4
    Guild Artisan
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Paris & Berlin
    Posts
    610

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by basilshotgun View Post
    And little bonus Few minutes for this... mountain chain?
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	171214.jpg 
Views:	68 
Size:	990.0 KB 
ID:	69722
    This certainly doesn't look like a mountain chain or anything natural for that matter
    There is a useful thread about mountains here : http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...ad.php?t=28985

    Once you get used to these boards, you will progress much faster because there are many tutorials, advices and threads about all possible "How tos" encountered in cartography.

    For instance some principles for a believable map :
    You can't have a sand desert on the South pole or at equator.
    Rivers never separate, lakes have to have a single outlet to sea.
    Mountain ranges are rarely in the middle of continents .
    Etc.
    Last edited by Deadshade; 12-18-2014 at 05:35 AM.

  5. #5
    Guild Novice basilshotgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Russia, Moscow
    Posts
    10

    Default

    This is a primitive sketch and nothing more
    But thx for this guide! It's very useful!

    What about the desert ... At the equator ... I agree! But on the pole ...
    On this planet a very specific lighting because of satellites and so on. May be without sand?

    Rivers and lakes- I'll change Just outlined for myself. Because ever forget about them ...
    But the mountains in the center of the continent is not of natural origin(result is magical intervention)

    And thanks again)
    One more question!
    No ideas how to better outline coastline?

  6. #6
    Guild Artisan
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Paris & Berlin
    Posts
    610

    Default

    Coastlines are best done with a fractal tool because fractal is what they are . Many graphic sofwares have a possibility to create or edit a fractal curve.
    There is also a plug in for GIMP here somewhere (have not the link handy) that enables to create fractal curves.

    For the desert on poles. Yes the relative humidity at poles is minimum on any planet.
    But on the other hand the temperatures are sub zero all the time. So while it is dry (like a desert) it is also covered with ice and snow. So it is an ice desert and not a sand desert unless there is no water (oceans) on the planet.

    Of course on a fantasy map there can always be some unnatural features caused by magics.

  7. #7
    Guild Expert johnvanvliet's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    N 42.39 W 83.44
    Posts
    1,091
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    the OLD unupgraded gimp2.6 tool dose work on gimp2.8.14
    fractalize_path.zip > fractalize_path.scm
    http://registry.gimp.org/node/17717

    BUT

    seeing as it is using the old 2.4 gimp API
    the tool opens UNDER the image or if in "gimpshop" mode UNDER the entire window ( hidden )

    deserts tend to be around the "tropics" above and below the equator

    now the location of the two tropic lines
    that is dependent on the planets tilt offset " the Axial tilt "

    for a desert near the southpole ( and NOT a frozen one like we have in Antarctica )
    that tilt will have to BE HUGE
    large enough for the nothern hemisphere to have at least 1/3 of a year IN darkness ( the arctic winter long night )
    then 1/2 year later
    it happens in the south and the north would dry up
    Last edited by johnvanvliet; 12-18-2014 at 06:30 PM.
    --- 90 seconds to Midnight ---
    --------

    --- Penguin power!!! ---


  8. #8
    Guild Novice basilshotgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Russia, Moscow
    Posts
    10

    Default

    Hello again!
    Firstly, thank you very much for your advice and suggestions! They are very usefull and interesting:-)
    But the incident with my friends, champagne and laptop...
    So I started working on a new map, because the source did not survive at the New Year's party...
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	lt0zKOQ.jpg 
Views:	93 
Size:	630.8 KB 
ID:	69982

  9. #9
    Guild Novice basilshotgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Russia, Moscow
    Posts
    10

    Default

    So I keep stepping on the same rake.
    Even in the way, I found a piece of paper and began sketching out the geography one of the regions (red square on the map).
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	ayyGHos.jpg 
Views:	69 
Size:	632.7 KB 
ID:	70002
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	2LtWddm.jpg 
Views:	81 
Size:	1.04 MB 
ID:	70003
    But faced with a problem. Have no idea how could be located the river. Even approximately.
    Do you have any ideas on this?

  10. #10
    Banned User
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Traverse City, Michigan, USA
    Posts
    2,547

    Default

    Rivers always flow straight downhill. So start your rivers at the highest ground (mountains usually) and wind them around hills until they reach the sea.

    Start by reading this tutorial on How to Get Your Rivers in the Right Place: http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=3822

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •