New to Digital Cartography? Software General Information

[Rodan]

I had purchased a copy of CC3 after coming across their site, and I agree that I wasn't so interested in the symbols as much as the quick ability to put together a map. I then observed PS and taking hand drawn work, and even having the ability to splice large pieces of work together seamlessly. This took me through a one year digital graphic's course to learn both PS and Illustrator. I also like to use Adobe Indesign to put together several graphs into one book. I'm looking forward to really start working and gaining the experiance to place what I dream onto this media.

[Schneden]

Greetings,

I'm a writer with zero experience in GIMP, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc., and I can't draw for sheit. What I do have is a fertile imagination and a hankering to start making maps. Is CC3 a good place to start? Anything that allows me to drag/drop/point/click is preferred.

Thanks!

Brian

[Gidde]

Welcome to the Guild! CC3 has a pretty steep learning curve. If you can deal with that, it's a fantastic program. If not, however, I'd recommend downloading the GIMP (it's free: http://gimp.org) and perusing the Tutorials forum for GIMP tutorials you like. That will get you started very quickly.

[Schneden]

Thanks for the tip!

[Hexenmeister Raven]

I'm using the CC3, also Bryce and Hexagon. I have no talent to draw something by hand, so if I need new symbols for a map I usually make it with a 3D programm, then use Gimp to give it the final touch and then put it into my mapping program.

@Schneden: If you feel inspired enough to read through one or two documentations to learn CC3, it shouldn't be too hard to learn, you don't need things like the command line as a beginner. Btw, CC3 was my choice exactly for that reason: I have no talent to draw.

[imredave]

Well I kind of gave up on Campaign Cartographer after version 2, as most of the key clicks are the exact opposite of Autocad which I use at work (drove me crazy). Most of my maps are done with Paint shop Pro (version 8 ) although I do a lot with colored pencil and scanners. I like Paintshop pro because I can work with both vector and raster layers in the same drawing. My wife makes fun of me because I keep buying mapping programs (including dujini, and fractal mapper, as well as campaign cartographer), she manages to produce gorgous maps using Windows paint (her favorite program, because it less features to confuse her and can cut and paste with one less click that Paintshop Pro)

[vorropohaiah]

Photoshop and a cintiq for me. wish there were more tutorials for vector mapping as i cant quite figure out the advantages, option it offer cartography

[Juce734]

Right now I don't have any software to make maps. Been thinking of DLing Gimp but I know nothing about it really other than it is a nice substitute for photoshop basically. Where can I find tutorial for this program and a safe download of the program? Sorry and please excuse me for being a newb if this is posted in the wrong place.

[Hai-Etlik]

Right now I don't have any software to make maps. Been thinking of DLing Gimp but I know nothing about it really other than it is a nice substitute for photoshop basically. Where can I find tutorial for this program and a safe download of the program? Sorry and please excuse me for being a newb if this is posted in the wrong place.

This isn't really the right thread but you can get GIMP from the GIMP website: http://www.gimp.org/ which is linked to in the second post of the List of Mapping Software sticky thread near the top of this forum. You might also want to try Inkscape which is a ways further into the thread: http://inkscape.org/

[LindaJeanne]

I find vector a lot easier to work with than raster, though raster is good for touching up. I've played around with CC, but keep ending up back at Inkscape.