Saying "Hi" and also few questions...

[andycomro]

Hi guys and gals,

I'm Andy and it's the first time I'm designing a map. I am working on my fantasy-medieval (not very original, I know! board game. From what I've heard there are a few programs and tools you can use to create maps, but I want to illustrate mine using Photoshop. I think an interesting way of doing that (and a faster way) is with personalized brushes (that I probably have to design myself). If there are any cartographers using Photoshop for their maps and can spare some tips and tricks I would be most grateful.
I'm sure there is plenty of information on this forum, but it's kind of difficult to find precisely what I am after. I'm also looking for people with same interests (Photoshop, maps, medieval, fantasy, board games) so I can follow.
If you know any threads on this forum that can give me a heads start, please show the way and I'll follow.

Many thanks in advance and I can't wait to plunge into this cartographer's world!

Cheers,
Andy

[ChickPea]

Hi Andy, and welcome to the Guild. Probably about half of the people who post here use Photoshop and everyone's into maps, so you may need to be a little more specific with your questions!

It may be worthwhile to head for the Tutorials section and work through a couple of them. Even if the final result of the tutorial isn't entirely what you're looking for, you'll learn some techniques that you can bring to your own mapmaking. Once you've got the basics down, feel free to start a thread in one of the Work In Progress folders and you can ask for advice and critique as you develop your map. Of course, if there's something specific you want to know, ask away (this may not be the best thread for it, however. Not everyone reads the intro posts). A number of people use pre-made brushes (or make their own) so someone will be able to help you with that, I'm sure. If you're looking for brushes others have made, you might find some in the Mapping Elements section.

Take a look at this Quick Start post to get going, or download some PDF tutorials from this thread. Otherwise, browse the WIP folders. If you'd like to know how someone created/drew something you see, just ask them. We're a friendly bunch.

I hope you can find what you're looking for, but if you need more specific help with something, just ask.

[andycomro]

Hey thanks for the quick reply. Some really good info in here and you pointed out some directions for me to follow. Thank you for that! I can't wait to explore the forum and find all the goodies hidden in here.
Cheers,
Andy

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

[Straf]

Hey Andy as ChickPea said there are a lot of tutorials available and there are plenty of custom PS brushes on the web too, depending on your Google-fu belt colour.

However, I am a noob when it comes to mapping and software, etc. The real reason I came here is to ask if you're planning on mapping a particular part of your great city to post here. I'd love to see an award winning map here that is actually a complete Shambles

[andycomro]

Hey Andy as ChickPea said there are a lot of tutorials available and there are plenty of custom PS brushes on the web too, depending on your Google-fu belt colour.

However, I am a noob when it comes to mapping and software, etc. The real reason I came here is to ask if you're planning on mapping a particular part of your great city to post here. I'd love to see an award winning map here that is actually a complete Shambles

Hehehe... nice one! Not yet, but who knows...that's an idea to keep in mind.
At the moment I have this huuuge map that I have to do in less than two weeks and I don't even know where to start. I mean, I know now that I'm here among the cartographers.
You'll hear more from me soon. I will open a WIP thread as soon as I'm getting my map layout sketched.