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Thread: Some Advice

  1. #1

    Map Some Advice

    I was in a real rush to get this city map out for a game this weekend. I think I did OK on a few things. I like the borders. Mostly this was Gimp w/ An automated city map and some Wonderdraft.

    So what are things you do on short notice that are low effort I could have done differently? Is there a way I could have improved the rooftops without hand drawing? Really they are just filled in textures/patterns.
    helgosmall.jpg

  2. #2
    Administrator waldronate's Avatar
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    Use a bevel (a lighted shapeburst gradient) on the rooftops to give them the appearance of illuminated angles. https://www.cartographersguild.com/s...ead.php?t=1932 can be useful, but you might not have large enough rooftops to benefit much from the technique.
    The icons to identify the places could benefit from a different color scheme or something to make it easier to pick them out of the sea of semi-uniform rooftops. If the rooftops are darker, the icons might pop more as they are. I would suggest that the icons ought to be immediately discernable (probably not readable) when the map is zoomed out on the screen.

  3. #3

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    Thanks a ton... I thought about the icons. I threw a deep drop shadow to try and make them stand out... I probably should have gone with a different color set of rooftops but I wasnt thinking that far ahead at the time.

    I didnt think about a bevil. I am going to try that!

  4. #4

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    Holy... I mean HOLY CRAP that is a cool tutorial. I thought for sure with the bazillion GIMP updates since then the script RobA made from 10 years ago wouldnt function but it sure does.

    Thanks for that link!

    I will be fiddlefarting around with that for a while.

  5. #5
    Guild Master Josiah VE's Avatar
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    Really nice map, love how it looks.
    What I often do for city maps is a layer mask and square brush to give the idea of roof shadows. Here's what it looks like:

    Waterdeep.jpg

    Use a selection of all the buildings to add a layer mask to a layer above the buildings layer. That way if you draw it only draws on top of the buildings. Then you can you a square brush/line tool to get straight hard lines and draw in shadows on one side of the buildings to give the impression of rooftops. You can draw in black with a low layer opacity.

    I find this way quite effective, and pretty quick once you get used to it. Personally I usually prefer it over a bevel effect.

    I offer map commissions for RPG's, world-building, and books
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  6. #6

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    Thats really interesting. Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference between that and a drop shadow?

  7. #7

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    I should add... Spectacular map. Very well done.

  8. #8

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    Thank you gentlemen. I spent some time on it and my update to the map:

    helgosmall.jpg

  9. #9
    Guild Master Josiah VE's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Silky Johnson View Post
    Thats really interesting. Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference between that and a drop shadow?
    A drop shadow is an automated effect while I was talking about manually drawing in the shadows for the rooves. I also added a drop shadow for the effect of the shadow cast by the building.
    Really great work on the map, looks wonderful with the effects!

    I offer map commissions for RPG's, world-building, and books
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  10. #10

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    Oh I reread the post and I get it. Shadows in top of the roof. I like it. Very cool.

    Any ideas on making the trees more 3 dimensional so they match the buildings?

    I have already spent way more time on this thing than I intended but it is fun.

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