How do you make maps? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How do you make maps? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Venomweb
05-30-07, 07:46 PM Hi. My DM made this world, but (unfortunately) he also tried to hand-draw a map:OMG! :weep: . It was horrible, I almost screamed from sheer terror:gah: .

SO I wanted to ask: is there a map-making site or downloadable/buyable program somewhere we can use? Or, failing that, can you at least give me some map-making tips to give to him?:help:
Araes
05-30-07, 08:41 PM There are several available options for making maps with a slightly cleaner look to them.

One of the freely available options is AutoRealm (http://www.autorealm.org/). There are some quality issues, and it can be a little difficult to pick up, but its also free.

Campaign Cartographer (www.profantasy.com/)is a popular purchasable option for those who don't mind spending some money. The quality is rather good, and it offers a wide selection of options for symbols and characters. (The site appears to be down right now)

Dundjinni (http://www.dundjinni.com/) is a relatively good option that is mostly focused on creating towns and villages.

Finally, Fractal Mapper v7.0 (http://www.nbos.com/products/mapper/mapper.htm) is another good option that produces relatively clean and readable results. I'm partial to this one as it uses a technology I like, and its symbols are quite clean.
Celcion
06-01-07, 12:42 AM campaign cartographer is a beast to use if you aren't artsy to begin with.... i think it's way harder to use than a pen and pencil in regards to things looking how you want them to. just find an artsy folk and pay him or her a couple bucks.... way better than the super high priced program and you can always take it to kinkos and laminate it :D
Theskippingman
06-01-07, 01:41 AM Fractal mapper 7.0 rules for world maps (recommend it to your DM).

Dunjinni's greatest merit is the sheer mutability of the map elements in conjunction with the wonderful visual quality, although the focus is mostly kept to towns and buildings and such; it's easier and more fun to use than almost anything else.
Araes
06-01-07, 01:54 AM just find an artsy folk and pay him or her a couple bucks
Actually not a bad option at all if you've got one around or can find one online.

As far as art tips for how to make a map that is decent and usable, one question I have for you is whether the problem with the map is just that the physical quality of the map is bad, or is it that the person creating it has no concept of how to make a cohesive and semi-realistic world?
Naderion
06-01-07, 11:30 AM I draw all my maps with pen, and it usually comes out very good.
Xaer
06-01-07, 10:42 PM Pencil on the back of old calculus pages. Generally, I just describe the surrounding areas unless a player demands to see an overworld map, at which point I'll open up photoshop and draw it quickly with the pencil tool and fill bucket.
Venomweb
06-02-07, 12:27 PM Thanks. I really have to show that Fractal Mapper one to my DM. How much does it cost? I couldn't find it at the site.
Araes
06-02-07, 02:28 PM Fractal Mapper v7.0 (CD) $39.95 US
Fractal Mapper v7.0 (Download) $34.95 US

You can also download trial version of them to see how they work.

Further information can be found here:

http://www.nbos.com/order.htm
Grond
06-17-07, 11:12 AM I've got Campaign Cartographer and I stumbled around with it for a long time, never really getting a feel for it. I have since switched over to AutoRealm and I don't think I'll ever use anything else.
seygas_theatear
06-18-07, 03:43 PM I was having a huge problem with this for my homebrew world, my old map wasn't cutting it and I wanted a real professional look. If the mapmaker is willing to do the work, take your rough draft or whatever you currently have and set that to the side. Go grab a current forgotten realms digital map and save it to your computer. Its actually very simple to "mimic" the style of the FR maps. Simply take the color dropper on the left side of your standard bitmap image editor and take a sample of the FR map. Start by filling in all areas with the water color, then draw a basic land shape after getting a shoreline color, get a central basic land color and fill in the landmass. Then for instance mimic the style of the mountains, which is basically a thick dark line, then circle it with a brownish color and make streaks leading towards the thick line from the outside... etc... etc... essentially its pretty easy and you dont have to be artsy.... There is even a cut/paste option you can play around with.
Jürgen Hubert
06-19-07, 02:37 AM I use GIMP and Inkscape, both freely downloadable Open Source programs available for multiple platforms.

See this Cartography Workshop (http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=174110) for some advice on using them.
mlasater
06-19-07, 08:11 PM I use Campaign Cartographer for my homebrew world.

Hand drawn maps can look nice but have some problems with a long running campaign setting.

You can't change them. Suppose your setting has a major war & a land gets conqurered. You can't easily redraw the political boundries without redraing the map.

Its hard to keep the detail the same. If you draw a map of a smaller (or larger area) it is hard to have it match up with the other maps.

Advantages of Campaign Cartrographer

Scaling - this is one of the greatest advantages and im my an opinion a requirement for any program intended for serious campaign mapping.
The ability to scale a map up or down without lose of detail. In order words, you can copy your continent & past it into a world map or scale down to a single kingdom. Standard paint programs cannot do this.

Symbol Selection - CC has a large array of commerical symbols plus a further free selection from the community. You can also make your own. The new version (CC3) is able to use Dundjinni art in addition.

Excellent customer support. Profantasy has the best customer support I have ever had with a software company, and I hold them up as an example of how a software company ought to be run.

Downsides
Price - the program is expensive, especially once you get all the add-ons. You can get package discounts from Profantasy, but it is still significant investment as a hobby expense.

Learning curve.
Campaign Cartographer isn't a paint program & doesn't work like one. It isn't a program you can just install & easily use. You will need to read & refer to the manual. Use the tutorials, get and read Profantasy's Ultimate Mapping Guide & you'll get the hang of it - but it does take time & can be frustrating. Their is a CC list server which is useful for getting help/questions answered.

Overall opinion.
For a one-shot campiagn world - its probably not work it. A hand-drawn map will do everything - It doesn't even matter if its ugly - most players shouldn't need to see the map any way. For a campaign world which will be used in multiple campaigns with dozens or more maps, especially for those DMs you like detailing cultures & places, its well worth it.
Druss_of_The_Sword
06-21-07, 01:44 PM i would just use a map from a fantasy series like lord of the rings and shannra and build the world around them. this is because they have all the races and they are very varied in terrain types (problem lord of the rings has no gnomes and shannara has a limited water source)
drade
06-22-07, 09:27 PM I do all my maps with Photoshop but it does take some skill that way. If your DM knows anything about it then you make fine maps that can be printed changed and used in may different ways. I have magical Islands that float in the sky in the world I created because of Photoshop I can move them each month to a new place without haveing to change my map a lot.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Venomweb 05-30-07, 07:46 PM	Hi. My DM made this world, but (unfortunately) he also tried to hand-draw a map:OMG! :weep: . It was horrible, I almost screamed from sheer terror:gah: . SO I wanted to ask: is there a map-making site or downloadable/buyable program somewhere we can use? Or, failing that, can you at least give me some map-making tips to give to him?:help:
Araes 05-30-07, 08:41 PM	There are several available options for making maps with a slightly cleaner look to them. One of the freely available options is AutoRealm (http://www.autorealm.org/). There are some quality issues, and it can be a little difficult to pick up, but its also free. Campaign Cartographer (www.profantasy.com/)is a popular purchasable option for those who don't mind spending some money. The quality is rather good, and it offers a wide selection of options for symbols and characters. (The site appears to be down right now) Dundjinni (http://www.dundjinni.com/) is a relatively good option that is mostly focused on creating towns and villages. Finally, Fractal Mapper v7.0 (http://www.nbos.com/products/mapper/mapper.htm) is another good option that produces relatively clean and readable results. I'm partial to this one as it uses a technology I like, and its symbols are quite clean.
Celcion 06-01-07, 12:42 AM	campaign cartographer is a beast to use if you aren't artsy to begin with.... i think it's way harder to use than a pen and pencil in regards to things looking how you want them to. just find an artsy folk and pay him or her a couple bucks.... way better than the super high priced program and you can always take it to kinkos and laminate it :D
Theskippingman 06-01-07, 01:41 AM	Fractal mapper 7.0 rules for world maps (recommend it to your DM). Dunjinni's greatest merit is the sheer mutability of the map elements in conjunction with the wonderful visual quality, although the focus is mostly kept to towns and buildings and such; it's easier and more fun to use than almost anything else.
Araes 06-01-07, 01:54 AM	just find an artsy folk and pay him or her a couple bucks Actually not a bad option at all if you've got one around or can find one online. As far as art tips for how to make a map that is decent and usable, one question I have for you is whether the problem with the map is just that the physical quality of the map is bad, or is it that the person creating it has no concept of how to make a cohesive and semi-realistic world?
Naderion 06-01-07, 11:30 AM	I draw all my maps with pen, and it usually comes out very good.
Xaer 06-01-07, 10:42 PM	Pencil on the back of old calculus pages. Generally, I just describe the surrounding areas unless a player demands to see an overworld map, at which point I'll open up photoshop and draw it quickly with the pencil tool and fill bucket.
Venomweb 06-02-07, 12:27 PM	Thanks. I really have to show that Fractal Mapper one to my DM. How much does it cost? I couldn't find it at the site.
Araes 06-02-07, 02:28 PM	Fractal Mapper v7.0 (CD) $39.95 US Fractal Mapper v7.0 (Download) $34.95 US You can also download trial version of them to see how they work. Further information can be found here: http://www.nbos.com/order.htm
Grond 06-17-07, 11:12 AM	I've got Campaign Cartographer and I stumbled around with it for a long time, never really getting a feel for it. I have since switched over to AutoRealm and I don't think I'll ever use anything else.
seygas_theatear 06-18-07, 03:43 PM	I was having a huge problem with this for my homebrew world, my old map wasn't cutting it and I wanted a real professional look. If the mapmaker is willing to do the work, take your rough draft or whatever you currently have and set that to the side. Go grab a current forgotten realms digital map and save it to your computer. Its actually very simple to "mimic" the style of the FR maps. Simply take the color dropper on the left side of your standard bitmap image editor and take a sample of the FR map. Start by filling in all areas with the water color, then draw a basic land shape after getting a shoreline color, get a central basic land color and fill in the landmass. Then for instance mimic the style of the mountains, which is basically a thick dark line, then circle it with a brownish color and make streaks leading towards the thick line from the outside... etc... etc... essentially its pretty easy and you dont have to be artsy.... There is even a cut/paste option you can play around with.
Jürgen Hubert 06-19-07, 02:37 AM	I use GIMP and Inkscape, both freely downloadable Open Source programs available for multiple platforms. See this Cartography Workshop (http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=174110) for some advice on using them.
mlasater 06-19-07, 08:11 PM	I use Campaign Cartographer for my homebrew world. Hand drawn maps can look nice but have some problems with a long running campaign setting. You can't change them. Suppose your setting has a major war & a land gets conqurered. You can't easily redraw the political boundries without redraing the map. Its hard to keep the detail the same. If you draw a map of a smaller (or larger area) it is hard to have it match up with the other maps. Advantages of Campaign Cartrographer Scaling - this is one of the greatest advantages and im my an opinion a requirement for any program intended for serious campaign mapping. The ability to scale a map up or down without lose of detail. In order words, you can copy your continent & past it into a world map or scale down to a single kingdom. Standard paint programs cannot do this. Symbol Selection - CC has a large array of commerical symbols plus a further free selection from the community. You can also make your own. The new version (CC3) is able to use Dundjinni art in addition. Excellent customer support. Profantasy has the best customer support I have ever had with a software company, and I hold them up as an example of how a software company ought to be run. Downsides Price - the program is expensive, especially once you get all the add-ons. You can get package discounts from Profantasy, but it is still significant investment as a hobby expense. Learning curve. Campaign Cartographer isn't a paint program & doesn't work like one. It isn't a program you can just install & easily use. You will need to read & refer to the manual. Use the tutorials, get and read Profantasy's Ultimate Mapping Guide & you'll get the hang of it - but it does take time & can be frustrating. Their is a CC list server which is useful for getting help/questions answered. Overall opinion. For a one-shot campiagn world - its probably not work it. A hand-drawn map will do everything - It doesn't even matter if its ugly - most players shouldn't need to see the map any way. For a campaign world which will be used in multiple campaigns with dozens or more maps, especially for those DMs you like detailing cultures & places, its well worth it.
Druss_of_The_Sword 06-21-07, 01:44 PM	i would just use a map from a fantasy series like lord of the rings and shannra and build the world around them. this is because they have all the races and they are very varied in terrain types (problem lord of the rings has no gnomes and shannara has a limited water source)
drade 06-22-07, 09:27 PM	I do all my maps with Photoshop but it does take some skill that way. If your DM knows anything about it then you make fine maps that can be printed changed and used in may different ways. I have magical Islands that float in the sky in the world I created because of Photoshop I can move them each month to a new place without haveing to change my map a lot.