Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: "Natural" Color Palette for Satellite Views

  1. #1
    Professional Artist a2area's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Ann Arbor, MI
    Posts
    186

    Info "Natural" Color Palette for Satellite Views

    I am starting in on my second map and it is a satellite view topographic atlas style map. I have color problems seeing small swatches (it's called color-blend.. not blind) so i made this handy palette which helps me keep in a consistent range of semi-realistic colors and still have some playing room.

    I sampled them from a couple satellite images that have "realistic" (to me) looking colors and arranged them in a (hopefully) logical array. I just used a darker grassy color with a reticulation mask for cultivated land.

    I have attached an example of what my particular topo looked like before i used the palette and after just a little experimenting.. much richer color. It would appear that left to my own devices i have a fear of dark colors. I'm really just concerned with having text show up but i think that even with these richer colors that will be workable.

    On the example i have a sample of some different ranges you can get by applying a filter to the adjustable layer and/or playing with it's opacity. I still have to do fine tuning and blending to make it look good but you can get the feel for the potential of the color chart for those of you who could find a use for such a simple tool.

    Also attached is the Photoshop document with top layer designed to be adjusted.

    Please let me know if this comes in handy for anyone.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	colormixer_palette_ex.jpg 
Views:	706 
Size:	1.22 MB 
ID:	19305   COLORMIXER.psd  
    Last edited by a2area; 12-09-2009 at 06:37 PM.

  2. #2

    Default

    This is a very interesting way. I used to use the stained glass filter on google earth to get colours but I like the way yours are sorted..almost looks like Tartan.

  3. #3
    Guild Journeyer altasilvapuer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Augusta, GA
    Posts
    194

    Default

    Do you use an actual photoshop swatch for this, or just a document open with it which you eyedropper-sample?

    -asp
    My current worldbuilding experiment(s):
    Geidor
    --------------------------------------------

    But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
    I have spread my dreams under your feet;
    Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
    -W.B. Yeats

  4. #4
    Guild Grand Master Azélor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Québec
    Posts
    3,363

    Default

    This should be very useful.

  5. #5

    Default

    Very nice; thank you!

    And +10 points for "reticulation mask."
    Bryan Ray, visual effects artist
    http://www.bryanray.name

  6. #6
    Guild Expert Jalyha's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Out of my Mind!
    Posts
    1,067
    Blog Entries
    6

    Default

    I just found this and it's a much more efficient way of arranging your palette than what I've been doing !!

    Thanks so much! (&& Great colors too!)

  7. #7
    Guild Novice
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Paris
    Posts
    11

    Default

    Do you have same for Gimp ?

  8. #8
    Guild Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Baltimore, MD
    Posts
    71

    Default

    oterrien, GIMP should be able to open the .psd file. Just in case you have trouble with that, I'm attaching the same file in .png format. I'm assuming a2area won't mind since he shared it freely in the first place.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	COLORMIXER.png 
Views:	101 
Size:	46.0 KB 
ID:	63385

  9. #9
    Guild Novice
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Paris
    Posts
    11

    Default

    Indeed, I succeeded in importing and creating the underlying palet. Many thx

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •