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The Cartographers’ Guild is a forum created by and for map makers and aficionados, a place where every aspect of cartography can be admired, examined, learned, and discussed. Our membership consists of professional designers and artists, hobbyists, and amateurs—all are welcome to join and participate in the quest for cartographic skill and knowledge.
Although we specialize in maps of fictional realms, as commonly used in both novels and games (both tabletop and role-playing), many Guild members are also proficient in historical and contemporary maps. Likewise, we specialize in computer-assisted cartography (such as with GIMP, Adobe apps, Campaign Cartographer, Dundjinni, etc.), although many members here also have interest in maps drafted by hand.
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I was sure hoping that I would be farther along than I am. Got tied up with trying to figure out how to crop, and that led to image enlargement and reduction, and those pesky pixels are back again. The first tutorial I became involved with said a 2000 x 2000 was a good size, but I am starting to believe that I might have needed a 4000 x 4000 to do what I want to do. I got another sketch pad (a smaller one) to hang out with me at work. I'll keep it in my tool box just in case I have some extra ...
I found out where I was on the map ... finally. The towns and roads made themselves clear to me at the same time. I was only able to make one label, and that was for the Watch Tower. I haven't figured out what I did yet to make that first label, and the tutorials I walked through didn't shed any light on it either. But I've got roads ... and I've got towns. I might have to see if I can do a representation of the twin cities that appear to be the capital on this island. Good news, the people ...
I got out the ol' pad and pencil, and drew the watch tower that I could see from where I was. The light was fading, so I finished just before the sun left for the evening. That's it, enough waiting ... I'm going over there. I still have a knife.
Pixels ... that was the issue I was having with the coastlines. I didn't realize it, until I got down and nit-combed it. A simple 1-pixel line is never a simple 1-pixel line. It has fuzz and shading around it. The fuzzy tool sees the shading and fuzz as a line and goes around it. I had spaces between islands and the coast, as well as choke points in lakes and bays that were too close together to allow the marching ants to ... well, march. By diligently separating everything, and erasing ...
On closer inspection of the map from my satchel, there were several things that stood out to me. Rivers ran loosely into the lakes and sea, hills and terrain sat on top of each other, the coastline was too thick, and I still didn't know where I was on the map. How do you orient yourself to imagined terrain features when you don't know your starting point? It's too much to even think about all at once ... small bites, still eats up the elephant. I set about trying to relax and just take ...
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