How to properly learn about cartography

[Qoff]

Hello guys, I'm fascinated by many maps on this forum, specially Aronbor, and also these maps on deviantart:

Vandar
Vaniya (also by Ramah - the region of Aronbor).


I want to get good and learn how to do maps in these styles but I'm kind of newbie, what should I read? Can someone list guides and tutorials that should I read in order to learn that? These maps listed above are so awesome that I can't just admire, I must learn how to do it.

[atpollard]

What about Ramah's Tree Thing Topic

[Qoff]

What about Ramah's Tree Thing Topic

Wow thank you! This seems to be the style that I'm looking for, but I want to learn a lot about it, can you tell me more things to read?

The ways to shape a map seems to be very similar, but I want to know how Ramah shaped his map.

[Azélor]

One way to generate the landmass is to use random method like this one : http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=9056

Or simply to draw it directly. http://torstan.deviantart.com/art/Ho...ines-347300605

[Qoff]

One way to generate the landmass is to use random method like this one : http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=9056

Or simply to dray it directly. http://torstan.deviantart.com/art/Ho...ines-347300605

Very good indeed, and what about the color scheme? My maps aways seems silly because of the colors that I put on it.

[johnvanvliet]

there is the Artistic side and the technical side

the above examples are GREAT artistic examples

then there is the technical aspect
for the most part really only the Map projection part is needed ( mostly)

Now i work with some rather technical Scientific software ( ISIS3 from the USA - USGS and NASA & JPL )
http://isis.astrogeology.usgs.gov/AboutIsis/index.html

99.999% of people here will not need this kind of software
( but common tools like "GDAL" and "Proj4" are very good tools to learn to use)

but there is one tutorial section about map projection that even people NOT using the software can use
-- this gives a good over view
http://isis.astrogeology.usgs.gov/Is...ap_Projections

Wikipedia has a listing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_map_projections


even with "OLD !!!" maps
the need to reproject the SPHERICAL earth onto a piece of FLAT parchment was a debate of MAJOR contentions

for ship navigation one type is better than others
for decoration others are better
for 3D software rendering there are TWO types of map projections
so the NEED and USE of the map do need to be taken into consideration

[Qoff]

I have some creativity but I lack the technical, I can imagine really nice things but I cant put them in the paper.

Also for a professional printing which resolution should I use? I want to print my future maps.

[johnvanvliet]

some CHEEP penny pinching shops will tell you 150 or 300 pdi

600 dpi is your home printer DEFAULT

so 900 to 1200 dpi for a very high quality expensive print

but then there is lithograph !!!
that is a whole different ball of wax

[Qoff]

Thank you, there is some guide that approach the styles in the first post images?

[fifty]

Hi Qoff, welcome to CG

Personally I'd recommend spending a bit of time going through the tutorials already on this forum, http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh....php?t=4987...

pick out ones that fit with the style you like and just give em a go! - Practice a bit and you'll be amazed how quickly you pick things up and when you get stuck on something you can them ask here and the wonderful folk at CG will help you out