And now for something a lil bit different

[Ascension]

Thanks guys! Glad to know I'm on a right path now. I had debated the stroke on the landforms (2-pixel black in the second image and reduced opacity in the first) but I'm sort of shooting for that "old elementary school geography class wall poster" effect but more modern. I may remove it but I'll give a blue a go...this will change the interior borders to blue as well though since I have the 2-pixel black lines on the same layer. I might change the whole kit n kaboodle back to a 1-pixel stroke but that's barely noticeable. As for the rivers I just draw lightning bolts on a new layer with a 1-pixel and 2-pixel brush then make a selection of this layer and copy the ocean layer and put it on top in order to get the color variations.

Here's some more work done, mostly labeling but I added a really cheesy banner and scale. Need to do still: frame, compass, label the rivers, rework the banner, lots of labeling for mountains and islands and such, and a few other bits that I'm not sure how I want to do them yet but will experiment tomorrow.

GP -- Yeah, me too, these new AH guys have some skillz.

[Torq]

Ascension, I think you could really be onto something here. I love the style. Its unique and very artistic. Cool map, great fonts and city iucons too. BUt I agree with other posters. i think the colours are where you really nail it.

Torq