Welcome!
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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Two years ago I spent about two or three weeks playing around with GIMP over Christmas break; I think this is really the best way to learn the basics of the program. I did a walk through of Ascension's Atlas style Tutorial (which Gidde had done a GIMP conversion for), and this gave me some good practice. I'd recommend doing something similar: find a tutorial that you like and then just practice running through it a couple of times in GIMP. Anyway, hope you enjoy yourself. Cheers, -Arsheesh
I downloaded Gimp the other night but have not yet gotten into it to start practicing... but I got all winter free so who knows how long that's going to take to learn
Well it's great to see another fellow OPer here at the Guild! This is such a great community by the way, I knew literally nothing about digital map making, or about digital art for that matter, before coming here. The good people here helped to get me on my way though. I hope that you enjoy this community as much as I do. Let me know if you have any questions about anything. Cheers, -Arsheesh
Greeting arsheesh, I decided it was time to start trying to make a few maps and what do you know I see a name i recognize form the Portal