Cartography programs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cartography programs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
roninwolf109
09-06-07, 10:48 PM Can anyone suggest a good cartography program? I'd like to have one to make maps with because I can't draw that well but the few programs I've tried were so complicated I couldn't figure out how to use it.

Thanks and zombie weiner dogs for all!
TyWebb
09-06-07, 10:56 PM Have you tried AutoRealm (http://autorealm.sourceforge.net/index.php)? It's free, and all the cool kids are doing it.
roninwolf109
09-06-07, 11:16 PM I tried it, and I can't make it work for the life of me. I think I might have to play with it more later.
shadzar
09-06-07, 11:22 PM i jsut use the thing that comes with AD&D core rules 2.0. not the campaign cartographer, but the map maker. does well enogh for all types of maps.

at one point i thought there was a place you can downlaod it,b ut cant find it anymore...

other than that as big a pain as it is campaign cartographer is the only other thing i have tried that can do outside areas.

dungeon crafter and many other programs used to do interiors.

not sure where to find many of them these days either.

sourceforge might be a good place to look for mapping software.
_Jayne_Cobb_
09-07-07, 05:13 PM I do all my maps with a combination of hand-drawing, Illustrator and Photoshop. However, I already have both of those programs cos of my line of work. Though the results are great not everyone has the cash for them, and really they shouldn't be expected to. If you already have access, though, the results are unbeatable.

I've not used Dundjinni but I have heard nothing but raves about it, and the maps it makes look really nice. It seems to be more oriented around combat-scale maps, and being tile-based it may have certain restrictions on what you can do with it.

I personally cannot stand Campaign Cartographer cos I think the results look like terrible. Many people absolutely swear by it, however. They like the versatility - it is vector-based like Illustrator - and most aren't as hung up on the aesthetic aspect as am I so it meets their needs admirably.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
roninwolf109 09-06-07, 10:48 PM	Can anyone suggest a good cartography program? I'd like to have one to make maps with because I can't draw that well but the few programs I've tried were so complicated I couldn't figure out how to use it. Thanks and zombie weiner dogs for all!
TyWebb 09-06-07, 10:56 PM	Have you tried AutoRealm (http://autorealm.sourceforge.net/index.php)? It's free, and all the cool kids are doing it.
roninwolf109 09-06-07, 11:16 PM	I tried it, and I can't make it work for the life of me. I think I might have to play with it more later.
shadzar 09-06-07, 11:22 PM	i jsut use the thing that comes with AD&D core rules 2.0. not the campaign cartographer, but the map maker. does well enogh for all types of maps. at one point i thought there was a place you can downlaod it,b ut cant find it anymore... other than that as big a pain as it is campaign cartographer is the only other thing i have tried that can do outside areas. dungeon crafter and many other programs used to do interiors. not sure where to find many of them these days either. sourceforge might be a good place to look for mapping software.
_Jayne_Cobb_ 09-07-07, 05:13 PM	I do all my maps with a combination of hand-drawing, Illustrator and Photoshop. However, I already have both of those programs cos of my line of work. Though the results are great not everyone has the cash for them, and really they shouldn't be expected to. If you already have access, though, the results are unbeatable. I've not used Dundjinni but I have heard nothing but raves about it, and the maps it makes look really nice. It seems to be more oriented around combat-scale maps, and being tile-based it may have certain restrictions on what you can do with it. I personally cannot stand Campaign Cartographer cos I think the results look like terrible. Many people absolutely swear by it, however. They like the versatility - it is vector-based like Illustrator - and most aren't as hung up on the aesthetic aspect as am I so it meets their needs admirably.