Tutorial Progress

[OneSeventeen]

I should really, really, really not be still up right now. However, I've been working through RobA's wonderful tutorial in GIMP and I couldn't stop until I'd gotten to a break (after the second PDF in this case).

I'd be interested in folks' feedback. Especially where I deviated somewhat from the exact techniques laid out by Rob. So far, I'm really happy with how this is turning out, though I have been working on this for... over 5 hours, at least. It's been a very educational experience (So, thanks, RobA! I'd give you some Rep, but I have to spread the love before I can hit you again!).


117

[pyrandon]

Oh, this is looking wonderful! Nicely done--a credit to both you adn RobA. How far along are you toward producing "on paper" the end-map that's sitting in your head? I see a few things stylistically that stick out to my eye (ex: the extreme softness/blur of the map), but perhaps you're not done yet?

Also, most all your rivers split downstream, which is geographically possible but atypical in our world.

This is looking great, though!

[OneSeventeen]

Hrm. Good eye on the rivers thing. The ones that're very near the cost were meant to indicate deltas (deltae? Is this Latin?). I guess it's much more common to see rivers flowing together. I'll have to keep that in mind in the future. I don't think I'll bother on this one for reasons that I'll explain... now!

So. There is no map in my head on this one. I mostly wanted to go through the tutorial and learn the GIMP techniques that it went through. So much of this is just kind of thought of at random when it comes to the right step. After I've done this thing all the way (or a lot of the way, anyway), I'll probably work up something larger and do a pre-work sketch-up to get a master view before I start in.

I've added some cities (big dot), towns (little dot) and forts (diamond) and some roads. No labels yet (and those may prove problematic, see below). My idea is that the north-easterly area is not civilized (from the POV of the map maker, anyway) and those forts along the gap in the mountains, there, are for protection. That's why no roads go thataway. The rest is sort of self-explanatory, I hope.

Things may be a bit thick on the ground, I think, but that's what I get for doing this at random with no planning beforehand. I tried to think of purposes behind the various settlements... Ports near river mouths and small towns near mountains and rivers (mining, see) Roads linking most everything. I imagine villages or something at most crossroads that don't already have something.

Anyway, if I've done anything else strange (like the rivers) I'd love to hear of it. Even if I don't change it on this one, it'll be good to know in the future. I'm having a good time with this tutorial and I hope I can adapt some of these techniques for different uses in the future, too.


117

[Midgardsormr]

to indicate deltas (deltae? Is this Latin?).

Delta is Greek letter. A river delta is called such because it is triangular in shape, much like the letter.

I think the Greek plural should be deltata, but I know very little Greek, so I can't be sure. In any case, it's a fully Anglicized word, so deltas is correct.

[OneSeventeen]

In any case, it's a fully Anglicized word, so deltas is correct.

Yeah, but "walrus" certainly isn't Latin and "walri" is more fun to say.


117

[RobA]

Looking good 177!

Glad you were able to follow the tutorial with happy results!

If you have any comments, alternate steps, or suggestions, please let me know, as I am (in my spare cycles) cleaning up the tutorial to a more printer friendly version (as opposed to a series of posts).

-Rob A>