The Erbian Isles - WIP

[AlfansosRevenge]

### Latest WIP ###
ErbianIsles.png

I've been working on this map for a few days now, and I've been pretty happy with the results so far. I'm not positive I like the mountains as they are, so I might change that. Also, the rivers are just placeholders for now. The next big step is to add color to the map, but I have no idea how I want to do that. I've used a couple coloring techniques on past maps, but nothing I've tried looks good on this one. Suggestions and criticism are more than welcome. I like the map and I'm eager to get past this roadblock, so I could use the help!

[Vigilus]

Great mix of line work with the heightmap, looks like you've made a good signature style!

[AlfansosRevenge]

Great mix of line work with the heightmap, looks like you've made a good signature style!

Thanks! This is definitely a style I tend to fall back on the most, although I dabble in others as well

[MistyBeee]

Maybe it would be a good idea to have a look to Jonathan Roberts' website : the map you have here is pretty close to his style, and he made a couple of great tuts for coloring, like this one or this one. Maybe they can help ?

[vanScoota]

I like this style a lot! Still, there is something that bothers me. To me, it looks as if some of the forests were taller/bigger than the mountains. This may be caused by the way you detail your forests. Some of the lines look as though they portray individual trees.

[AlfansosRevenge]

Maybe it would be a good idea to have a look to Jonathan Roberts' website : the map you have here is pretty close to his style, and he made a couple of great tuts for coloring, like this one or this one. Maybe they can help ?

You've got a good eye. I used Jonathan Roberts' website quite a bit when I was first starting out, so my style originated there. I've used that coloring technique before with good results, but the colors seemed a bit too neon on this map. I'm guessing the parchment texture is responsible.

I like this style a lot! Still, there is something that bothers me. To me, it looks as if some of the forests were taller/bigger than the mountains. This may be caused by the way you detail your forests. Some of the lines look as though they portray individual trees.

I hadn't noticed this before you mentioned it, but I can definitely see it. I went back over the tree details with a light eraser and tried to reduce the significance of the lines. I did the same with the lighting in the trees. They seem flatter now, especially with respect to the mountains.

### Latest WIP ###
ErbianIsles_WIP4.png

[vanScoota]

I went back over the tree details with a light eraser and tried to reduce the significance of the lines. I did the same with the lighting in the trees. They seem flatter now, especially with respect to the mountains.

That helped a lot. The colors let the mountains stand out even more. I am already curious about the next version.

[acrosome]

The style reminds me a bit of colonial-era US Civil War-era hand drawing I've seen, though the mountains are represented differently. (All West Point cadets had to learn to draw until rather recently.) I kind of like it.

The forest layer is obscuring the rivers, though. Most folks find it more aesthetic to show the rivers.

[AlfansosRevenge]

The style reminds me a bit of colonial-era US Civil War-era hand drawing I've seen, though the mountains are represented differently. (All West Point cadets had to learn to draw until rather recently.) I kind of like it.

The forest layer is obscuring the rivers, though. Most folks find it more aesthetic to show the rivers.

For the time being, the rivers are just placeholders so I can still mess with those in the future. Personally, I like when the rivers get blocked by the forests. It suggests that there's something more to the forests than just trees. This map is eventually going to be used for an rpg compaign, so the mystery is valuable to the storytelling. If I were just trying to represent some land, I would definitely agree that it looks nicer to see the rivers.

[Joker87]

Me gusta mucho la vista desde arriba, buen trabajo amigo. Esperando el siguiente paso. Saludos.