Sci-fi Map/Screen

[RobA]

I got the idea to generate a random map then pixelize it to make it look hi-techy, and I wanted to see what it would look like.

I got a bit carried away on a simple "test"

The process I followed was:

- Render a random map.
- threshold it to get nice continent shapes
- pixelate it using 8x4 pixels (I liked the rectangles as they reflect the map proportions)
- threshold it again to make the pixels black and white
- blur it with a 4px radius blur
- threshold a third time to get a "rounder corner square pixel" effect.

I saved that to a channel for masking, stoking, etc.

Then I went nuts (too much?) with a bunch of GIMP tech brushes I got from deviant art.

City icons were from that bulletball font I posted a while back.

The satellite traces were drawn in Inkscape as paths and imported into gimp and stroked.

It looked "nekid" without a border, so I made up a brushed aluminum looking frame, and added a few screws and keys to it.

Also threw in some scan lines, screen reflections, and some bg phosphor noise.

-Rob A>

[pyrandon]

Great Bootfulls of Biscuits! That is amazing! And you say that was just playing around???? Sheesh!!!! Dang!

[Gamerprinter]

The satelite lines really give this the sci-fi map of the world that you'd find at a control center, military HQ, etc.

I'm really going to have to study your steps, presented - I've got uses for maps like these!

[RobA]

The fun thing is that if you have a "real" world map, you can turn it into something like the actual map portion quite easily.

-Rob A>

[ravells]

Rob! You have a family! Stop thinking of maps!

Behind every genius is a very understanding wife.

Ravs

[Midgardsormr]

I felt an undeniable compulsion to click the buttons, even though I knew they wouldn't do anything. Nice work!