The Kingdom of Arcadune

[EdythMiller]

I was introduced to this forum yesterday and was so inspired that I pulled out one of my old map concepts and created it anew with all the new tricks I just learned.

Created in Photoshop 7 (the curved text was created in Illustrator 8). Used a mouse. Took about a day, all told.

The Kingdom of Arcadune is one of four countries on a small island continent. Though it holds the central-most position geographically, it is culturally isolated. The map represents that- it highlights only the area the Arcadanians are most interested in- their own territory. The whole island sits about 500 miles north of the tropics, so Arcadune has a warmish temperate climate (think Tennessee). The slightly greener areas indicate forests.

I wanted it to look kind of girly and soft- almost cartoony- as the Arcadanians are a very docile people. They are politicians, scholars, architects, and the like, not warriors. Their general social structure is late medieval, but they are a bit more technologically advanced, so I included more modern elements, like the scale bar and the detailed compass rose (which is Dutch in origin, not sure where I found it).

I'd love to hear what ya'll think! I've always loved cartography, especially of the fantasy world-building kind, so I'm thrilled to find that I'm not alone and that this isn't strange!

Janis

[AslanC]

Very nice work sir

[Coyotemax]

If playing around making maps is wierd, then you've stumbled across the Keep of the Truly Odd.



Not bad, it's got a clean style to it, and does get the effect you were going for. but Girlish? you obviously don't know some of the women I know (I was working on a gore/blood themed flash intro for a friend's website a few months ago, and my wife looks at it and tells me there's not nearly enough blood in the scene - "the guy with the sword should be postively dripping with it".. heh)

But yeah, not too bad. Depending on how detailed you get with the background I could see some very interesting long term effects to this world if one was to start playing in the world as it is (example, how are relations with Buthadel? that's a pretty long border, if that nation is aggressive, it won't take much for them to push Lorshan back past the mountains and claim that territory for their own)

[EdythMiller]

he he. I'm a chick. Not sure that came across in my original post.

I was going for more of a grown-up bubble-gum girl slant than the blood and gore variety

Actually, Arcadune once tried to invade Buthadel (ancient history) and utterly failed at it. Buthadel is a very thick old forest. Imagine aiming trebuchets at a forest... you're just crossing your fingers that you're going to hit something other than trees.

Janis

[AslanC]

Well then, well done ma'am

[Coyotemax]

If your history is covered, then all is good I just tend to put a lot of thought into the background these days

But yes, you achieved the look you were after

oh, and welcome to the guild!

[Gandwarf]

Welcome to the guild EdythMiller!
You certainly achieved the effect you were after, the coloring of the map is very elegant and soft.

[The-Somberlain]

Nice map, with nice colors indeed. I think you could randomize the mountain brushes a bit more, just to give it a less computerized feeling. And also maybe some less stroke on the rivers.

[Steel General]

First off...Welcome Aboard!

I think you've done a fine job, strait forward, but has a bit of 'elegance' to it (for lack of a better word). The compass rose is neat, never seen one with all of the points defined like that.

[EdythMiller]

Nice map, with nice colors indeed. I think you could randomize the mountain brushes a bit more, just to give it a less computerized feeling. And also maybe some less stroke on the rivers.

I actually drew those with the brush tool and duplicated the layers because I couldn't figure out how to create a custom brush. I only had the patience to draw four different kinds. But I do agree- it does need a bit more randomization. I also did three types of tress and pasted them all over, but that became very tedious and too cluttered, so I nixed that idea.

Any pointers on how to turn a layer into a brush in PS7?

Janis