Practice map 2017: Andoria

[tainotim]

Hello everyone

So I spend some time today drawing a black and white practice map. I want to find a more consistent style that might work good in books, while still being easy and fast to draw. Anyhow, this was the result.

I make this post hoping to get some feedback on the style, incase people have a second to comment. Does it work or is it to cluttered? Are the labels to large/small?

Any feedback is much appreciated.

This was drawn with fineliners on a4/a5 (something in between), and then labeled in Photoshop. Took about 3 hours.

Cheers and thanks in advance,
Tainotim

andoria 2 s.jpg

[Mouse]

Hey Tainotim

Its a great little map for a practice map. I wish half my serious maps were as good.

If you are looking for some immediate response on first opening it, though, I would say its all pretty great, but I think it might look even better if the line work wasn't quite as thick. Only slightly though. The labels get a bit lost. Maybe, if there is anything else at all from where I'm looking at it on a very small laptop screen, might I suggest a thicker 'stroke' of white (that is what you call the outline around the text isn't it?), just to lift it clear of the map so that its easier to read?

[tainotim]

Thank you Mouse. Two good suggestion, I will keep them in mind for the next attempt! Those are the details that are hard to see on your own

Much appreciated.

Cheers,
Tainotim

[Mouse]

You're welcome

Just bear in mind, however, that I only have a 15 inch screen to look at, so these things I've pointed out might not be a problem for the rest of the world. You all seem to have much better gear than I do

[Wired]

Nice work there! As for the "is the lineart too thick?", it looks fine, if maybe a tad bit on the bold side on my 27" screen.

[tainotim]

Thank you Wired! I have a 24", so I definitely agree

I tried printing it today on a a5, and the line work turned out pretty great actually. However, the labels could use some more white around them for legibility like Mouse mentioned.

Cheers,
Tainotim

[Abu Lafia]

Lovely work Karl, always nice to see a regional map from your hand beside your stunning city maps
Since you asked for feedback, here are a couple of things:
1.) The trees are nearly as tall as the mountains, how dare you! ... XD
2.) On a more serious note, the dots you used for the roads are a bit too far stretched out in some place, so that they sometimes "disintegrate" into the other elements around, or not forming an intuituive unit instantly for the eye (hope you get what i mean by this )
3.) The hatched shading of the monastery symbols is all around the crosses, which diffuses the shape of them a bit.

That said, your work is always a pleasure to look at and very inspiring!
Cheers,
AL

[J.Edward]

I like it. It has a nice period aged feel.
I do agree with the points made by Abu and Mouse, with an exception.
I don't think the linework looks too thick. I think the thickness actually contributes to the period look, which I like.

Only thing I can add is more from a layout direction....
The white peaks and mountains leading up to deadfort feel as though you were trying to 'fit' them in and they also feel like they are too straight.
Part of that is how the 'white peaks' text label is affecting the appearance but up near deadfort they seem straight too.
Don't fear running them off the page I feel you did that better with the mountains toward the bottom.

[tainotim]

Thank you both. Those are some great suggestions.

Funny thing about the mountains and trees, I didn't even realize until you said it! And I definitely understand what you mean about the roads Abu, and agree.

Yea you are completely right J. Looking at it again, those mountains you talk about almost look like I just copy pasted, and that's never good. Ugh. I will have to avoid that.

Big thanks for the feedback!

Cheers,
Tainotim

[Ilanthar]

Very nice map, Tainotim. My only nitpick would be about the mountains label which are legible, but could be even more, imho.