Just to clarify about mapping elements/textures/brushes/etc?

[Jalyha]

Well, okay, so I scaled them down, and dialed down the bright tree-colors, and got this:



Which, although not as scary as the first, now just looks like green spots on the page. *sigh*


So,... guessing that either A) I should just use them for individual trees (or not at all) and find another way to convey forests, or B) Try it by drawing smaller more detailed trees from the start... then again, that gets into the color variation issue, so....

Yeah, I don't know where to go from there

I think I might try to switch to a more simple line style (whatever it's called?) on parchment, and see how far I get with that?

Or keep playing with my trees... I'm not sure atm because it's past my bedtime

[Azélor]

I would recommend to lower the colors saturation and a bit less luminosity variation.

[Jalyha]

Yeaaa... the luminosity I will have to change the individual trees, I think

[Jalyha]

Is this any better? >.<

[Jacktannery]

Is this any better? >.<

I disagree with Azelor and Madcowchef. I think these low-saturation trees are amazing, and a really good job if you did them yourself. I love the subdued greyish colour and their blurred shapes. I think maps using these would look excellent at any scale. I also think it is much better to make your own map objects, and to assert your own style and palette, than to use a hodge-podge of other people's work in your maps.

[madcowchef]

Trees are my enemy on local maps. Having read tutorials and what not I still am not overly satisfied with the results. I have even gone so far as to consider investing in some more software, which grates on my cheapness. So if you come up with a solution I'd love to hear it!

[Azélor]

Ok, the difference in color is still to big. Ideally, you should pick a color and put some tree randomly on the map. Then change the color slightly. I don't know which software you are using but you could either play with the different color sliders, saturation, luminosity... Just change it a bit so they look different. To get new colors it better to start form the original color and make a different change at each time.

I made an example here. I used other options such as random size and random colors (very low around 3%)

Attachment 61096

[Jalyha]

Aye, I see what you mean. :/

I think my issue is still that I'm looking at a "tree" as a painter... not a mapper... I see a tree as a billion different shades of green on a leaf... and another billion on each other leaf, and so on...


But each tree in yours is just one color (basically) with highlighted and shadowed areas... so, what, 3 tones all together?

And most of the other trees are just slightly lighter or darker versions of that one.

Mapping is hard >.<

So... I just need to simplify things? Wouldn't it start to look kind of ... blah... like that, on a map of a much bigger area?

[Azélor]

Aye, I see what you mean. :/

I think my issue is still that I'm looking at a "tree" as a painter... not a mapper... I see a tree as a billion different shades of green on a leaf... and another billion on each other leaf, and so on...


But each tree in yours is just one color (basically) with highlighted and shadowed areas... so, what, 3 tones all together?

And most of the other trees are just slightly lighter or darker versions of that one.

Mapping is hard >.<

So... I just need to simplify things? Wouldn't it start to look kind of ... blah... like that, on a map of a much bigger area?

No need to simplify things. The forest I just made could be good on a small scale world map. Otherwise, the 2 trees in the top of the map might be better (maybe too dark). It's pretty much the same idea but with some stroke around and shadow/light layers.

For a very realistic approach I would recommend that you look into Gameprinter and Bogie works

examples:: http://www.cartographersguild.com/fi...ral-ruins.html
http://www.cartographersguild.com/ma...village-3.html

and maybe there are some trees here idk : http://www.cartographersguild.com/ma...es-chairs.html

[Jalyha]

Aye, that's what I was trying for with my (original) trees

I still have too much color/light variation, though, I see what you mean there

Maybe I should just do outlines or something D: