Upgraded Mac, Software Issues - GIMP, KRITA & CC3+

[Redrobes]

Dont know if this is the same thing but when you asked for a tool that fills in a line with a selection of houses then it brought to mind paint shop pro's image pipes. I just did a check for Gimp and it has similar too:

https://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Image_Pipes/

I recall I made a similar feature for my mapping app but mine would only take the one current icon you were holding and randomly size and rotate copies and you moved it. Mine was done more for trees, bushes etc rather than houses. But with a pipe you had a selection of icons lined up and it would drop them in. So maybe that would be useful to try out.

[damonjynx]

Thanks for the advice & tips folks. I’m strongly leaning towards cc3+ for these reasons:
1. It comes with Overland, City & Dungeon mapping capabilities.
2. I am no digital artist. I struggle with many aspects, apart from the actual drawing, colouring and shading are my bane.
3. I wasn’t overly impressed with the maps done in some of the YouTube tuts but after googling cc3 maps-images, I did find quite a few I liked.
4. My commission work is primarily old-school style dungeon maps and I feel I won’t be disadvantaged using this program.
5. I also want to produce quality maps quickly and while it does have a learning curve, so does every graphics program I’ve looked at.

I’ll probably try the Wave ootion.

[heruca]

Humble Bundle have a great deal on CC3+ $51AUD for CC3+ lifetime license, City Designer, Dungeon Designer and a heap of other content. From what I''ve seen of some sample maps, they look similar, more polished without question, to those created in Dundjinni.

I think Dundjiini-made maps tend to look better than CC3 maps, even after all these years. There are occasional exceptions, but comparing output from a typical user of each app, I think DJ maps tend to look better.

[damonjynx]

Well, I am comparing them to the maps I made in Dundjinni years ago��

[Azélor]

Back at the root of the problem. I don't understand why a 32 bit software can't work on a 64 bit system. The problem should be the opposite.
Maybe Macs are different but on PC, we got many 32 bit programs still running. Although most of these are small and would not benefit being coded in 64 bit.
Even if 32 bit Photoshop is not optimal, it should work.

[Mark Oliva]

Back at the root of the problem. I don't understand why a 32 bit software can't work on a 64 bit system. The problem should be the opposite.

I think you're misunderstanding something. 32-Bit software does, of course, run just fine under 64-bit Windows. It's just that 32-bit software cannot address and use many of the resources of a 64-bit system.

on PC, we got many 32 bit programs still running. Although most of these are small and would not benefit being coded in 64 bit.

Correct. There's no need to write smaller 32-bit programs into 64-bit code. They don't need and usually wouldn't use the full resources of a 32-bit system. But large graphical programs like the cartographic applications that I named would perform much better if they had access to memory over 4 GB and the other resources that a 64-bit system has to offer,

Servus,

[heruca]

The problem is that Mac OS v10.15 (aka Catalina) doesn't run 32-bit apps, like all other prior OS versions did. And Mac users are quick to update their OS, probably because most people leave their system set to do so automatically. Mac users not yet on Catalina can use MapForge (and other 32-bit apps) no problem.

In the case of MapForge, I am currently working on putting a 64-bit WINE "wrapper" around the 32-bit app to allow it to run on Catalina. Initial tests are promising.

[waldronate]

In the case of MapForge, I am currently working on putting a 64-bit WINE "wrapper" around the 32-bit app to allow it to run on Catalina. Initial tests are promising.

Just in time for the new Apple Silicon Macs!

[damonjynx]

Wow...

Some really great information and insight, thank you everyone, particularly Mark and Tiana.

I'm still leaning towards the CC3+ bundle in spite of its shortfalls. As Mark mentioned in his post, even without using the program, the ability to use the symbol sets in other programs is probably worth the cost of admission alone. Coupled with the extras included in the bundle, namely the Token, Castles and Temples & Tombs packs it really is good value and a heap of symbols...

I would call my maps 'procedural' rather than 'artistic', meaning that by and large they were created using Ps techniques; filters, path tricks, layer masks and effects and so on, more than artistic skill. Speaking of which, I'm quite sure that many of the fine cartographers who grace these pages and those in many, many RPG books and games have developed shortcuts, their own personal brushes and or objects, that they use in their maps. I can't imagine them re-drawing differing, individual tree types for every map as an example...

One of the things I was looking forward to using in GIMP, and Krita now that GIMP is dead to me, is animated brushes, but alas, that requires some artistic skill, which to be brutally honest, I lack. I could import CC3+'s symbols into either of these programs and try them out I suppose...that might be an interesting experiment for a later date...

Anyhow, I'm going to bite the bullet and spend some time getting to know CC3+ with a Winebottle! I think for my purposes; creating the mix of maps I need for my plans using Roll20 and maintaining my old-school maps for my publisher, the CC3+ bundle will do the jobs nicely, and if it doesn't, well it's only a little over $50, I'll go without a couple of take-out dinners!

As an aside, I Googled 'Campaign Cartographer Maps' and was pleasantly surprised by many, certainly not all, of the maps created. Looking at an old annual, I believe it was the 2015 one, there are OSR styles, a cross hatching dungeon one , very much like Dyson's and a host of others, and a LoTR, Greyhawk kind of overland one, which I will no doubt use heavily...

[heruca]

What's an animated brush? Is it a stamp tool that changes to another stamp/symbol after every click?