Colour Blur/Blend in Photoshop?

[Smithy]

Hi,
I am currently trying to produce a map using one of the tutorials and have hit a problem with blending the colours. I can't seem to get the Blur effect to work? What am i doing wrong. I went back and tried the tut again and still no blur. I am new to using Photoshop so am a bit clueless.

Here's a pic of where i am at, you can see the sketchy lines of colour that i cant get to blur/blend. (I tried some other things out using brushes etc so ignore the vaguely blended bits in middle.)

Unblended Map.jpg

Thanks,
Smithy

[thamupp]

Might I ask what tutorial you are following?

[- Max -]

How did you try to blur it?

[Smithy]

Sorry, should have mentioned that. I merged the 5 layers and then went to 'Filter / Blur / Blur'. I tried various things here, but the tut just says "Blur the merged layer" and doesn't elaborate for noobs like me on how you actually do it.

[- Max -]

The simple "Blur" Effect is a very light effect, especially on big shapes. Try "Gaussian Blur" playing with values to see if it goes better.

[vorropohaiah]

can youlink back to the original tutorial and tell us which step it is?

[Smithy]

Tried Gaussian with higher values and it looks better but not the smooth effect of blending seen in the tut.
Unblended Map2.jpg

Like this....
Tut Map.jpg

[- Max -]

can youlink back to the original tutorial and tell us which step it is?

What Vorropohaiah said...

[Smithy]

It was in Jeremy Elford's one......
http://www.cartographersguild.com/at..._tut_map04.pdf

Part 1.7 where he talks about sketching colours in etc.

[- Max -]

Hmm...It seems that your coasltines were very pixellated before you applied some blur, so you probably have to blur them a lot but doing this, you lost outline quality. I'd suggest you get first a landmass that is less pixellated.