Ieluin - My first map

[Ephene]

Hey guys,

So here is my first map, done with Photoshop few days ago.
I consider it pretty much done even if some stuffs could be improved.

This map was, for me, a perfect opportunity to practice and learn Photoshop so I'm glad enough for a first one even, if it's not perfect :p
Right now, I'm working on a different style of mountains (Hand drawn mountains) and forest for my future maps.

[The_Sleeping_Dragon]

Wow
Its beautiful
I would add a little shape to the eastern mountains, perhaps a branch so that they don't look like a straight line (even the Rockys or the Caucasus have shape)
I assume there is a southern Hemisphere to come? as the bottom edge is Equatorial rather than polar
That is a massive ice cap. What climate are we talking about here as I would expect massive current changes, storms, hurricanes even water spouts, terrible winters and then massive seasonality. Have you worked through ecology, seasons, currents, winds, precipitation yet or is this now to follow?
My reason for asking is that it is often harder to create the reason for terrain than to create terrain to meet a reason ie if you think first about poles, seasons, length of day, currents, winds, rainfall seismic/tectonic activity etc then the terrain draws itself
Will you add volcanoes and rain forests as currently the tree life would not sustain an atmosphere whilst the level of glacialisation will see huge precipitation not trapped by forests leading to soil erosion and turning your land into desert plains. Think how do I get atmosphere then build those trees and volcanoes needed for one

The above are just an indication of your next stage which is to imagine you are living in this world and what sort of day/night/weather/seas must I live with

The drawing technique is truly amazing - now it must go from map to world

The Sleeping Dragon

[Mouse]

That's a great first map Ephene

[foxtrot]

It's really pretty, especially for your first map I like everything about the map itself - the mountains, forests, coastline, colours.

I think it's let down a little bit by some of the labeling and decorative stuff - "World's Backbone" is very hard to read, and the compass and title look a bit out of place from the rest of the map.

These are just small picky things though, really nice overall

[Ephene]

Thank you all for your comments
Yeah of course, practice is the best way to have better maps !

The_Sleeping_Dragon : To be honest, I didn't though about all of this when I start drawing. But you're absolute right, it will bring a real plus!
Thank you for your advice, I'll remember for my next map !