This is the first room in a small tomb complex I am working on. Its done using the GIMP with some of the objects supplied by the goos people on the Dundjinnin forums.
Please feel free to comment and/or make suggestions. This is my first post.
This is the first room in a small tomb complex I am working on. Its done using the GIMP with some of the objects supplied by the goos people on the Dundjinnin forums.
Please feel free to comment and/or make suggestions. This is my first post.
The internet! It\'ll never catch on.
Software Used: Terranoise, Wilbur, Terragen, The Gimp, Inkscape, Mojoworld
A very good start. Did you make this map in Dundjinni, then import it over for post processing in the GIMP? Or did you make the map entirely in the GIMP?
A few suggestions:
1) Is there an escape in the top of the room? Or is there a light source from the ceiling? You picture suggests that. One thing you could do is lower the opacity of your shadows a bit, and drive up the spread. If it was me, I would take out the drop shadow all together, as it does not sell the illusion that the walls are in a dungeon. If the GIMP has the function, try applying a inner glow instead. This will try into my second suggestion below:
2) I would not cover up the walls with the texture of the stone. Have them go right up to the walls. If there is no drop shadow on the outside of the walls, it will sell the illusion that this is a dungeon better for you.
I will try to do something to demonstrate what I mean for you after school... as I need to go now.
A great first map. Keep it up.
Sandeman
No, I dont use Dundjinni, although I do have a demo of it. Its all done in the GIMP. Thanks for the tip on the shadows, I'll try to implement the ideas, although I just love shadows and I dont think I'll lose them altogether. The walls I will fix in the way you suggested.
The GIMP doesn't seem to have an inner glow effect but there may be a plug-in out there somewhere.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Torq
The internet! It\'ll never catch on.
Software Used: Terranoise, Wilbur, Terragen, The Gimp, Inkscape, Mojoworld
There is a set of script-fu to simulate the basic photoshop layer effects:
http://users.telenet.be/ev1/gimplayereffects_en.html
Unlike layer effects, if you change the layer (other than moving it) you need to delete the effects layers and re-apply them. But it is a handy time-saver.
(p.s. really the only difference between a "glow" and "shadow" is the colour
-Rob A>
A little "auto-thread-necromancy" here.
I thought this layer effect plugin didn't do a great job with the bevel/emboss, so I wrote my own over the weekend. After all the sweat and blood, I discovered this was already done, using the exact same method I though of!!!!
It is also available as a python plugin, which I would recommend as it provides a preview button, and is a bit faster.
Oh yeah. Link is here:
http://gimp.foebud.org/node/186
-Rob A>
My tutorials: Using GIMP to Create an Artistic Regional Map ~ All My Tutorials
My GIMP Scripts: Rotating Brush ~ Gradient from Image ~ Mosaic Tile Helper ~ Random Density Map ~ Subterranean Map Prettier ~ Tapered Stroke Path ~ Random Rotate Floating Layer ~ Batch Image to Pattern ~ Better Seamless Tiles ~ Tile Shuffle ~ Scale Pattern ~ Grid of Guides ~ Fractalize path ~ Label Points
My Maps: Finished Maps ~ Challenge Entries ~ My Portfolio: www.cartocopia.com
Welcome to the boards Torq (yet another Rob )!!
I like what you have done so far. It definitely gives the impression of a dark scary dungeon, but I agree with kalmarjan's suggestions. The first thing I thought was that there was a hole in the ceiling of the room or some sort of dim light source. I look forward to seeing more of your work as it unfolds.
Others have already taken my suggestions (Thieves! All of 'em!). Great first post, though. Wow, what a start!
Don
My gallery is here
__________________________________________________ _______
"Keep your mind in hell, but despair not." --Saint Silouan [1866-1938]
I am not sure how the GIMP does this. The main difference between the two, Drop Shadows and Glow Effects lies in one semantic.Originally Posted by RobA
For overhead maps, the drop shadow gives a sense of distance from the layer below. A lot of people compensate for this by setting the distance to 0. It sort of works, but then you are left with a perspective that is off in my opinion.
For me, it works better to have a glow effect that set to a multiply that has a choke distance twice as long as the object casting shadow. I also play with the direction of light as well. What happens at that point is you get a better shadow, and the illusion that the object is stationary.
I hope this example does what I am saying some justice. Notice the last sample applies to this map itself.
Sandeman
Thanks to all for the kind words of encouragement and welcome.
RobA I snagged those scripts thanks. To answer your question properly kalmarjan, the GIMP does now have an "inner glow" layer effect. It also has an inner shadow one which is just a black "glow" with certain parameters. I've been working with it but the effect always seems a little insipid. Maybe I'm too much of an atmosphere over realism freak. I'll keep eperimenting with it.
By the way I didn't use the drop shadow function for the map, rather retraced the outline of the room on the layer below then stroked the shape with a much thicker pencil and applied a gaussian blur. It created a much heavier effect than the drop shadow, or even the inner shadow does.
Torq
The internet! It\'ll never catch on.
Software Used: Terranoise, Wilbur, Terragen, The Gimp, Inkscape, Mojoworld
Well it is nice to see someone who goes all the way then. That just made my day.
Going this way gives you the best options of all, as you have ultimate control over the shadows themselves. Is there a clipping option for layers in the GIMP? The reason I ask is that on your original image, it looks like the shadows surround the walls, giving me the impression that you dropped a drop shadow effect on the walls. Even though you have covered it up with the texture on the top, I get the feeling that the shadow is still there, and that is what looked wrong to me.
With a clipping layer, you can control exactly what shows in the shadow layer, that is driven by the walls layer themselves. You could also go with a mask function, but the clipping layer would have more options on the placement of the shadow layer if you decide that you do not like the placement of the shadows.
In your case, by applying a multiply layer style (which darkens the layer below) and applying a gradient to your shadow may do the trick. You can also try erasing the shadow area a little with a low opacity eraser to get a more soft effect. Lots of possibilities.
Cheers, and thanks for making my day.
Sandeman