Riak World Map... 3 Years of Progress

[nothingbutblue]

Hey guys!
My second map post here. I started off with a regional map (https://www.cartographersguild.com/s...ad.php?t=36054) that I completed early this year, but I think it's time to get to my bigass magnum opus world map. Especially since I've just decided to rework it! (again!)

The date I have on my earliest file for this map says December 2013... so 3 years in the making at this point, with several reworks along the way. This was my first real cartographic undertaking, and the start of it all. I think it's come a long way.


12.13 First map attempt

Riak Map.jpg

9.15 A bit more work... trying a videogame ui approach

Riak-Map-2-small.jpg

11.15

Riak-Map-5.jpg

1.16 The biggest push I've ever done for a map. A huge step for me (and a huge load on my computer trying to process all those damn text layers..)

Riak-Map-7.jpg

11.16 A small recent update, mostly for names, colors, and readability.

Riak-Map-3web.jpg

Even though this last update was just last month...after poking around here and seeing everyone's work, I've decided that it needs to be redone from the ground up! Starting with more detail in the linework (and thinner lines... I always have a tendency to go to thick as I'm worried about readability from a distance). I'm also doing all mountain ranges by hand for the first time (I was doing my own brushes before), and I'd like to add some better symbols, regional borders, and perhaps a fancier overall border. We'll see how it goes!

Linework progress on the northwest section for today:

Riak-Map-4-progress-1.jpg

[Abu Lafia]

Very interesting land shape nothingbutblue! The overhauled mountain ranges look really fine. Looking forward to see the next steps.

[Diamond]

I agree, great looking mountains. And nice, strong linework.

[AntonioFrade]

I agree with Diamond and Abu Lafia. Great shapes! I feel myself the iching in my fingertips to start drawing in them

[nothingbutblue]

I agree with Diamond and Abu Lafia. Great shapes! I feel myself the iching in my fingertips to start drawing in them

That's a good sign! I was just thinking as I posted this that it's somewhat surprising that I've never changed the shapes of the overall landmasses. I've always been pretty happy with them.
The world is actually divided up into four general cultural regions, though all but one lack a unified government structure. I refer to them as the Knife (grey), the Wind (yellow), the Tide (blue) and the Song (red). This region I've started with here is the Knife region, which has both the world's largest city and it's only unified "country". It's also the world's most technologically advanced country... and they like to keep to themselves.

Riak-Map-2-regions.jpg

[ThomasR]

That's promising ...

[nothingbutblue]

Progress! Forests, shallow water areas, cities and markers for them.

Riak-Map-4-progress-2.jpg

Doodled up a fancy compass idea last night, and pared it down for city and town markers..

Riak-Map-Symbols-1.jpg

[Tiluchi]

Wow, those markers are fantastic! Though when they're put on the map they lose some of those great details, especially the city markers. This looks great, I can't wait to see where it goes, especially when color is added.

[ThomasR]

I really like those markers and the compass !

[Josiah VE]

Awesome map!
Those compasses are absolutely outstanding!!