image040.jpg
Here's a 222-page PDF raster mapping tutorial for Fractal Mapper 8 (TM), aka FM8, from NBOS Software. The book covers just about every facet of raster mapping with FM8, including how to make one's own symbols (objects) with FM8, how to make irregularly shaped PNG symbols with transparent backgrounds, how to use the multi-zoom feature of FM8 that lets one change resolutions at differrent zoom levels, etc. etc. The tutorial is free, open and released under the Open Game License 1.0a. It's a 43 MB download. You can get it here:
http://www.vintyri.org/vintyri/tu1.htm
For those interested in evaluating FM8, it also will work with the free trial version of the program offered at:
http://www.nbos.com/download/download-trial.htm#FM