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The Cartographers’ Guild is a forum created by and for map makers and aficionados, a place where every aspect of cartography can be admired, examined, learned, and discussed. Our membership consists of professional designers and artists, hobbyists, and amateurs—all are welcome to join and participate in the quest for cartographic skill and knowledge.
Although we specialize in maps of fictional realms, as commonly used in both novels and games (both tabletop and role-playing), many Guild members are also proficient in historical and contemporary maps. Likewise, we specialize in computer-assisted cartography (such as with GIMP, Adobe apps, Campaign Cartographer, Dundjinni, etc.), although many members here also have interest in maps drafted by hand.
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Pixels ... that was the issue I was having with the coastlines. I didn't realize it, until I got down and nit-combed it. A simple 1-pixel line is never a simple 1-pixel line. It has fuzz and shading around it. The fuzzy tool sees the shading and fuzz as a line and goes around it. I had spaces between islands and the coast, as well as choke points in lakes and bays that were too close together to allow the marching ants to ... well, march. By diligently separating everything, and erasing ...