My first map

[kaahen]

Well, I think that is not too bad for being my first map, I've been collecting ideas from several tutorials and this is why I finally have.

I'll have to improve somethings, spetially rivers and water, but I'd like to know your impressions.

Regards

[Klapauzius]

I guess the water is not too bad. The forrests could be a little lighter though and the relief effect seems not fitting

but for your first map, congratulations, mine was really crappy x3

[torstan]

I like it. It has a good colour scheme and a clear layout.

I would avoid the bump mapping on the coastlines. This has given you some very sharp highlights and shadows on the coast - much more so than your mountains, which feels the wrong way around. Instead I would suggest that you remove the bump mapping and pay a little attention to creating a sense of elevation on the mountains. Using a mid gray layer set to overlay is the way that I do it - then paint in lights and darks and they will look like highlights and shadows.

If that all makes no sense at all, let me know and I'll direct you to some tutorials that cover it.

I like the rivers and the water actually, I don't think that's an issue.

Finally, you can upload a high res image by using the attachment manager (paperclip at the top of the advanced view for composing a post). This will give everyone a better chance to see the map that you've created. Oh, and you certainly deserve some rep for your firstmap - congratulations!

Edit: I see that you edited it for that already. Great.

[Steel General]

I like it also... just a couple of nitpicks (and these are more my personal tastes than something that is wrong with your map);

1) The green for the grass is a bit bright - almost neon to me
2) The bevel for the land could be reduced some

All in all a fine effort for your first attempt.

[NeonKnight]

I like it also... just a couple of nitpicks (and these are more my personal tastes than something that is wrong with your map);

1) The green for the grass is a bit bright - almost neon to me
2) The bevel for the land could be reduced some

All in all a fine effort for your first attempt.

And what's wrong with that!?!?!

Nice map, though I do agree, the green could be subdued just a bit.

otherwise, it is a very nice First attempt! You should be proud!

[torstan]

The link in my sig to Drawing hand drawn maps in gimp covers it, but it's a little out of date. Let me see if I can put together something more useful.

What software are you using?

[Steel General]

And what's wrong with that!?!?!

Nothing if you're a Knight, but it just doesn't owrk for grass

[torstan]

@kaahen: Quick and dirty tutorial posted here:
http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...6961#post56961

Hope that helps. I think most of it translates directly to photoshop.

[Ascension]

For a first map, whether first posted or first attempted, it's quite good. The more maps you make the more your style will evolve and the more you will learn. I'd nix the bevel on the landmass but otherwise it's a great map. You can call this done and make something new or you can start putting dots down for towns and start making up names for those places. Nice job and I hope we see more.

[kaahen]

Thanks for you comments guys, I am quite motivated to improve the technique. For me the most important was to have a quite clear map, as well as not making a map too "real" so I think that I achieved it.

Since I think that a map can be quite improved depending on the time you spend on it, I think, this didn't take too long, so I'm happy with that as well.

Now I am very interested in mountains and this half grey layer you mentioned, could you please link me to this tutorial?.