Detailed Atlas-Style Topo Map, “Deianerra”

[Peter Toth]

Thank you so much Naima. I'm very happy to finally hear some real criticism, which I strongly rely on to improve each map. (I try to never make the same mistake twice!)

I was kind of hoping a couple more seasoned, expert Guild members (such as Arsheesh or Pixie) could have responded, because I study their work and use it as a model to strive for. I was disappointed that no one expressed any interest in the full-resolution map, especially considering that I offered some "sneak peeks" in my last post. Why is feedback so important to me? Very simple: I immensely aspire to create fantasy maps for a living! Perhaps with enough commission, I could one day afford that updated PC of my dreams (and Photoshop), to enable me to produce better quality maps. Until then, my work might be somewhat mediocre. But please tell me, so that I can improve my future work.

Thank you to all who took the time to view my map, and thank you to all responders.

Peter

[Tiana]

Perhaps with enough commission, I could one day afford that updated PC of my dreams (and Photoshop), to enable me to produce better quality maps.

I have paid for my setup with commissions, so it's not really a "perhaps"... I didn't even mean to become a professional cartographer, I just liked drawing maps and was trying to become a freelance artist. So if you actually WANT to, yeah, at some point you'll find yourself able to buy computer upgrades with your income from drawing maps. Be confident about it and eventually you'll be there. I started doing art professionally in 2013 and I am now at a point where all of my computer add-ons were purchased with a bit of hustle and income from my artwork (I did not pay anywhere near full price for any of my equipment, unless it was a program from a small company).

I'd say prioritize RAM, an art tablet, then a video card with a decent amount of VRAM, storage if you don't already have it (map files get big and you'll find yourself collecting stock photos and textures), a comfortable keyboard and mouse. Only then would I bother to get Photoshop, to be honest, I've found the non-Adobe competition to be shockingly sufficient, though I don't exclusively use one program that does it all, I only had to pay for each one of them once. Whatever software you used to produce this map is sufficient. From what I've heard tons of people are still getting great use of Gimp. You can fool around with Photopea too, it's a free in browser editor I've found occasionally useful.

For the record: I use Other World Mapper for mapping-specific needs, I use Clip Studio Paint for drawing, I use Corel Painter for painting, Affinity Photo and Designer instead of Adobe's suite, Lazy Nuzmei to cheat, and I've been using free video editing software VSDC for my screen capture videos. I've also started fussing with making music and I use Audacity and Bandlab (free).

The only equipment that made a significant change for me as an artist was going to a Wacom Cintiq instead of a disconnected eyes-wrist tablet experience, and even still, I did a lot of great art with a more basic tablet. Of course having more RAM made it easier and some programs have better workflows for certain tasks (which is why I use so many different programs) and you'll figure that out as you go along... but the best thing you can do is just put your art out there and make it known that you're willing to draw maps.

My critique for this map:

While you can get away with doing text without a contrasting stroke or shadow, there are a few places where you have text intersecting a line. This could cause trouble reading the word for someone, Vimino Isld is the one where it causes the most difficulty, at first I thought it was an O at the end but I think it's actually a D. This is easy to be mindful of when placing text. Just don't overlap text with a border of the same color, and if it's unavoidable, put a bit underneath it to create contrast or give all of the text an outline.

I would say that for the most part people here are not going to fall for 'hype building tactics', so if you want feedback on the full map, just find a way to post it instead of trying to get people to ask you for it. As a salesperson I understand why you're doing it, and if the crowd here weren't dominated by other miserly artists, it might even work. Feedback comes at a trickle, and it's best to just be upfront about what you want, and where you want it on this forum. Especially since it ranges quite a bit in whether people want critical feedback or not. But, be the change you want to see. A couple of solid new participants who make a point of commenting on other people's projects can do a lot to liven up the forum. I suppose the thing to remember about forums is that people don't always show up (drawing, I suppose) but if you keep activity on your thread they may eventually still see it. If you really want a certain person's feedback though, I'd just outright private message them and ask! Don't hope for the future you want, go and take it, if you want to learn from the person who inspired you, the worst they'll do is say they're too busy right now or ignore you.

[Badger]

For the record: I use Other World Mapper for mapping-specific needs, I use Clip Studio Paint for drawing, I use Corel Painter for painting, Affinity Photo and Designer instead of Adobe's suite, Lazy Nuzmei to cheat, and I've been using free video editing software VSDC for my screen capture videos. I've also started fussing with making music and I use Audacity and Bandlab (free).

Lazy Nezumi is a about the greatest cheat in the world. I wouldn't be able to draw a straight line without it. This is one little app that I have to say is worth every penny you spend on it. Every Cartographer should have this tool in their toolbox!!

Del

[Peter Toth]

Thank you Del, Tiana and Jo,

I highly appreciate the advice, the critiques, the pep talk, and the tips you've offered to help me become a professional fantasy cartographer. Perhaps this Christmas, or whenever I acquire a better computer, I’ll fully commit to pursuing this decades-old dream, and start advertising my work on my own private webpage. But is it realistic to aspire to earn a living catering to the very few who enjoy atlas-style maps rather than the classical "Tolkien Style" ones? I have to admit that my artistic style is still very experimental, so I very much rely on all your valuable criticism.

By the way, Tiana, your website is full of absolutely beautiful, aesthetically pleasing maps. Very inspirational!

It’s a pleasure to hear from you all.

Peter

[Badger]

Thank you Del, Tiana and Jo,

I highly appreciate the advice, the critiques, the pep talk, and the tips you've offered to help me become a professional fantasy cartographer. Perhaps this Christmas, or whenever I acquire a better computer, I’ll fully commit to pursuing this decades-old dream, and start advertising my work on my own private webpage. But is it realistic to aspire to earn a living catering to the very few who enjoy atlas-style maps rather than the classical "Tolkien Style" ones? I have to admit that my artistic style is still very experimental, so I very much rely on all your valuable criticism.

By the way, Tiana, your website is full of absolutely beautiful, aesthetically pleasing maps. Very inspirational!

It’s a pleasure to hear from you all.

Peter

You do have to be fully committed. 11 years ago, I was fully committed, and even started earning small amounts of money each month from commissions, but then the circumstances of my life changed drastically and I was forced to take a job at the only thing I knew how to do and that was driving a big rig. Needless to say, this left me very little time to pursue cartography or art. Then, yet again, the circumstances of my life drastically changed and I was stuck at home unable to work (and for a about a year, unable to even get out of bed). I again am no fully committed to making this a profession for at least the next decade. My advice I guess is not to quit your day job, you will definitely need a source of income because you won't be raking in the dough at first. Practice makes perfect, so perfect your style of mapping. You may create a whole sub-genre of mapping one day, you never know

Del

[Misjay Maps]

Lazy Nezumi is a about the greatest cheat in the world. I wouldn't be able to draw a straight line without it. This is one little app that I have to say is worth every penny you spend on it. Every Cartographer should have this tool in their toolbox!!

Del

I had never heard of this.. looked it up and added it straight to my wish list looks amazing