The Continent of Sparax

[zaffu]

Hi, guys! I've been lurking here a while off and on. You all have definitely inspired me to try to improve my cartography skills. This post is to introduce myself as well as to share a map I just finished. About me: I've been planning out fantasy worlds (and doodling maps for them) since I was a kid obsessed with Middle Earth and Narnia. One of these days I'm going to finish writing a novel. Seriously. One of these days.

In the meantime, here's a map of the continent of Sparax. This is a world where civilization is emerging out of dark ages caused by powerful wizards unleashing hordes of monsters upon the world. Now, the remaining monsters are hunted down, and magic is only practiced in secret.

Software used was mostly GIMP and Inkscape. Style inspiration was various old maps. I got frustrated trying to draw mountains and ended up tracing some off of this 18th c. map and making my first custom brush. Fonts are Caslon Antique and Roman Antique available at these links:

http://www.moorstation.org/typoasis/...r/romanant.htm
http://www.moorstation.org/typoasis/.../caslonant.htm

And here's the map:

[Ascension]

You have learned well young grasshoppah. Very nice.

[Steel General]

Nicely done...

[Molag]

Really love those mountains. They really look beautiful. Great job

[zaffu]

Thank you!

[jbgibson]

I think you have this style down pretty good. Nice job! I like it all. And welcome out of the Land of Lurk - it's much more interesting out here in the asylum. Next one like this, will you show us a WIP as you go please? I'd like to do similar effects, but at my present level it would take me forever.

[zaffu]

Thanks! I'm glad you like the style. And I'm planning to do another map in pretty much the same style soon, so keep an eye out.

[Diamond]

This is great work! I love Inkscape maps; they always look so clean and pretty.

[Schattenherz]

Lovely style! I tried that once, too, but the result was not half as good as yours

[Midgardsormr]

Very impressive! I like pretty much everything about this map. You did miss a text padding mask on the label "Loshisat R."

And thanks for sharing links to the fonts. Superb choice of typefaces.