Nestefor & Astérédia

[Eowyn Cwper]

Hello!

My current project is mapping part of a planet, mostly two of its continents: Nestefor and Astérédia. There's already about 7h15 of work involved, plus a couple hours of experimentating. It's not my usual style and I'm looking for feedback and advice to make it look best!

[Eowyn Cwper]

For comparison, here's the v1 of the graphics charter (is that the right term?) and the v3 that I might use now.

[Kellerica]

You're off to fantastic start! Your coastlines look very natural to me, which can be tricky to accomplish, so nice job! The elevation looks great too. What software are you using, just out of curiosity?

[Eowyn Cwper]

To be quite honest, this is a commission and the names aren't my idea. ^^ I wasn't sure I could mention that but I don't see anything about it in the rules.

ANYWHO! Thank you so much to you both. <3 My commissioner prefers the bleak version because it looks more like an old map but it's not really my fav haha. Any ideas on how to improve that?

What software are you using, just out of curiosity?

Inkscape!

[Kellerica]

To be quite honest, this is a commission and the names aren't my idea. ^^ I wasn't sure I could mention that but I don't see anything about it in the rules.

Definitely not against the rules to post commission work - a lot of people do. I think the more relevant question is whether your client wants you to share the work while it's still unfinished

Inkscape!

I figured it was a vector based app. Very impressive, I've never had the patience to work all-vector. Nice!

[Klaus van der Kroft]

To be quite honest, this is a commission and the names aren't my idea. ^^ I wasn't sure I could mention that but I don't see anything about it in the rules.

Now that we have masterfully extracted this sensitive information, we can proceed to employ it for nefarious purposes of ill intent!

[Klaus van der Kroft]

I like the style, the shape, and the names!

I want to see how this grows and develops.

[Eowyn Cwper]

Yeah he's OK with that. ^^

Does vector take that much time? I like detail and it doesn't feel like it to me anyway.

[Kellerica]

For me it usually does, yeah. It just always feels like very much effort Could just be lack of practice, and probably is. I think it's also partly because I don't like using a regular mouse that much, I prefer to use my drawing tablet for as much as I possibly can when doing anything art-related. I'm not completely against vectors, by any means, I do use them for designing logos and symbols and things like that. Most of my maps contain at least some vector elements, even if those usually get painted over pretty heavily.

[Tiana]

For me it usually does, yeah. It just always feels like very much effort Could just be lack of practice, and probably is. I think it's also partly because I don't like using a regular mouse that much, I prefer to use my drawing tablet for as much as I possibly can when doing anything art-related. I'm not completely against vectors, by any means, I do use them for designing logos and symbols and things like that. Most of my maps contain at least some vector elements, even if those usually get painted over pretty heavily.

I too hate doing vector art, tablet or mouse. The blob brush makes it barely tolerable for my workflow. If I never have to vector again it will be too soon, but I know that will never be the case. While I know enough to know how this map was made, I personally have no desire to try it myself. That means that yes... it is your world, Eowyn, do art however you'd like to do it, because that's what makes your art special. I feel like people either love vector or loathe it... I only use it if absolutely necessary and actively encourage the mappers who love it to use it because then those clients won't come to me anymore. T_T Okay okay I kid, I did enjoy doing a couple of vector pieces... or maybe I just enjoyed their finished state and I've blocked out the hours of agony spent in between. Illustrator CC is far better than CS2, that's for sure.

As for the question of commissioned artwork, the only feelings you must take into account are your clients. I never post work in progress commissions for that reason, and also, because I don't want to take into account stranger's opinions... it's for them, not for the community, so if I took work in progress videos or screenshots I only assemble them once the piece has been finalized. There is no rule against it if your client is fine with your sharing and soliciting outside feedback. I'm sure many of my clients would be fine with it too, I just prefer to keep that part of the job a back and forth between me and the visionary.

The map is a pretty impressive piece of vector work, the mountains are grand. You will definitely have clients. I am not sold on the cartoon waves next to the realistic topographic mountains. Really, I think the best thing to do is topographic ocean terrain, maybe not to as much depth, even 3-4 stages. (I'm counting what you have as 'sandbar' and 'regular depth' so my choice would be to add a couple of levels of deeper area and maybe a couple of underwater mountains represented with some variation where it might be dangerous for ships or prone to volcanic activity. I'm interested in seeing how you represent terrain features if you choose to, in this style. I like the symbolic mountain peak measurements.