Regional map somewhere in 1200 CE Japan
The first version is available on my introduction post:
http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=4247
I haven't marked any towns or special places on the map as I'm not
sure yet which style would suit this map best. I think the mountains and
other elevations still need a lot of work as they seem to be lacking something.
The forests could have been done differently also, and on a closer look the
ground texture is a bit too bumby.
I would appreciate tips on how to make the mountais more spectacular, as
they get lost too easily to the map (not elevated enough..). I'm currently doing
all the work with photoshop, and having tried other software (dedicated for
creating mountains etc) I came to conclusion that photoshop works better
for me. Also comments on the town etc markers are welcomed.
ps. I know the roads aren't finished
Here's the map:
Last edited by Jykke; 02-09-2009 at 08:53 AM.
It looks like you used Ascension's tutorial(s) as a base for this. I'd go back and look at how he uses Photoshop lighting effects filter to bring out the "height" in his mountains.
I agree the regular grass is to 'bumpy', but that should be easily fixed with a different texture or by perhaps changing the scale of the one you are using.
Because the map itself is quite dark it's difficult for me to say much about the trees/forests.
My Finished Maps | My Challenge Maps | Still poking around occasionally...
Unless otherwise stated by me in the post, all work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
Actually I missed the whole tutorialOriginally Posted by Steel General
. But I'll be definately giving it a closer look. Thanks!
and.. I'll brobably have to do the texturing all over again..
First off, I'd make a layer of solid white, set the blend mode to soft light, then change the opacity to suit...this will brighten things up nicely and maybe the mountains will stand out a bit more. If not some color tweaks, lighting effects and maybe a bevel will help along with upping the scale/size of the mountains layer with an edit-transform-scale. Also you might try a layer of 50% gray set to overlay then grab the burn and dodge tools to create gulleys and ridges.
The only real problem I see is that the forests shapes are too regular. You can fix that with a layer mask in black/white (forest is white everything else is black) then hit it with the brush strokes-spatter filter. All in all, it looks pretty solid, just a few minor tweaks will make it shine.
edit - i mean forest edges are too regular, they need to be broken up a bit, the general shapes are great though.
Last edited by Ascension; 02-09-2009 at 10:11 PM.
If the radiance of a thousand suns was to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One...I am become Death, the Shatterer of worlds.
-J. Robert Oppenheimer (father of the atom bomb) alluding to The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 11, Verse 32)
My Maps ~ My Brushes ~ My Tutorials ~ My Challenge Maps
Nice start, a bit to dark.
I like the general lay-out and color use
Started plotting the map in 3d:
Like the 3d look so far
Daniel the Neon Knight: Campaign Cartographer User
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will suffice!
Any questions on CC3? Post them with CC3 in the Subject Line!
MY 'FAMOUS' CC3 MAPS: Thunderspire; Pyramid of Shadows; King of the Trollhaunt Warrens; Demon Queen's Enclave
The 3D look is pretty durn cool.
My Finished Maps | My Challenge Maps | Still poking around occasionally...
Unless otherwise stated by me in the post, all work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
Looks like the place where I live.
Update on the work process: Testing main road (red)..
I think I got the mountain textures right.. but the landscape
doesn't seem to work as well as I had hoped. Needs some tuning
I also think the camera angle is pretty ok as it is.
All tips appreciated.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
