A new world map, untitled

[Gandwarf]

Very nice, as always.
Most of us are trying to master a specific style, but it's very cool see you experimenting with different styles.

Another thing I noticed is that most of us tend to create maps for one specific world... but you keep thinking of new things
Where do you get the inspiration for your maps?

[Ascension]

Thanks, G. I guess that I've always been one of those idea guys...and since I don't have a staff of artists to do the work that means that I have to do it. Also, I'm trying to not get pigeon-holed into any one style (even tho I think my maps are pretty easy to spot) so I try different things on purpose in hopes that it'll make me more flexible. So I think of something and if it has been done before I try to put a new twist on it, if it hasn't been done then I try to think of how it could. Mostly, it's all about experimenting and learning; the final map is largely irrelevant to me and it shows most of the time. If I ever got serious or got attached to any one world then I'm sure that I'd go that extra mile to polish it off. Since I can create some basic continent shapes in about 5 minutes I never really get attached. I am rather fond of some of the place names I've come up with like Tower of the Infinite and Cuttlestink Maybe I should practice some hand-drawn style with those.

[Malakor]

Very nice map ascension. How do you do your folds in the parchment? I wanted to try something like that to give the parchment version of the Leshan map some flavor.

[Ascension]

Mal -- In PS I drag out some guides to cut the map into 6 sections, use the marquee tool to drag out a selection according to the guides, I use the gradient tool (right click on the bucket tool to change), at the top left there is the gradient options so chose foreground to transparent, use white as foreground and drag that out a bit at an edge, for this I did the tops and rights of all the squares, go back and use black to clear and do the other edges, lastly set the layer to overlay and turn down the opacity to suit. I added a second layer of folds for the misaligned ones. I'll do up a proper tutorial with pics if you'd like.

I was sittin around bein bored again this afternoon watching my Cardinals lose and was thinking to myself...if I had a magic map and I was some powerful Fistandantilus dude I'd want my map to look somewhat real instead of drawn. So I put my normal style onto the continents and then gave em a huge drop shadow to make it look like they're floating above the map (probably one of only two times when we actually want floating landmasses -- the other is for floating citadels like Steel did). I haven't put the rivers back in yet but I'll do that after I do a folds tut.

[Ramah]

This is starting to look really amazing. I wasn't too struck with the original direction you were going with it but now it looks beautiful. Very well done.

[Gandwarf]

Malakor, I noticed you repped me for this thread. I think you wanted to rep Ascension?
But thanks anyway

[Malakor]

thanks for the tip ascension. I'll try that monday when I get to work (my home computer doesn't have enough power to handle my now 1gb map )

[Ascension]

See if you can't merge some of those layers together to free up some RAM. That happens to me all the time when I work at 5000 x 5000 pixels with 20 or more layers.

[Gandwarf]

thanks for the tip ascension. I'll try that monday when I get to work (my home computer doesn't have enough power to handle my now 1gb map )

How do you people get to work on a map at work? I have seen several people making statements like this. My colleagues would definitely frown their eyebrows when they see me working on personal stuff

[Steel General]

How do you people get to work on a map at work? I have seen several people making statements like this. My colleagues would definitely frown their eyebrows when they see me working on personal stuff

I do this sometimes too, only when things are very slow however.

@Ascension - Love the floating land masses on your last version. Looks like you can reach into the screen and touch them.