WIP - Hangman Harbor

[ajrittler]

LOL! I can see you're starting to have a lot of fun with this map - with all those little added extra's you're putting in - and that's more than reason enough for drawing a map.

Unless you particularly want the hangman's head to feature quite strongly in the finished map, it might be as well to increase the distance over which the deepest blue is feathered(?) (hope I've use the right term!) I agree with Storm (Ladiestorm) that the shift between the different colours of your ocean is just a little stepped, and might look better if you achieved a smoother tonal blend from beach to deep.

Other than that, its all looking really splendid. I hope you are feeling suitably pleased with yourself

yeah, I am definitely having fun with this. Doing all the testing/practice with the pen&tablet as I try to figure the best way to conquer the sea. I actually tried to fade all of those layers to invisible thinking it would flow together. It didn't. Not well at least. I'll get it figured out tonight hopefully. close. The cays are proving a bit more challenging, but I'll get them too!

Thanks for everything Mouse, appreciate everything!
A.J.

[Mouse]

Hey AJ... (is it all right if I call you that?)

You're welcome. I'm glad to be of some use, even if I don't know all the right techno-speak! LOL

Never get too hung up on a thing if it isn't going right. That's the fastest way to destroy a love of something. So what if you can't get the feathering right tonight? I'm pretty sure there are lots of other things you could do on this same map before returning to it with a fresh cuppa and a fresh pair of eyes.

Relax - have fun - enjoy

[ajrittler]

Hey AJ... (is it all right if I call you that?)

Absolutely Mouse!

You're welcome. I'm glad to be of some use, even if I don't know all the right techno-speak! LOL

Never get too hung up on a thing if it isn't going right. That's the fastest way to destroy a love of something. So what if you can't get the feathering right tonight? I'm pretty sure there are lots of other things you could do on this same map before returning to it with a fresh cuppa and a fresh pair of eyes.

Relax - have fun - enjoy

So true and I try not to get hung up on something. I realized a long time ago that anything I do will be far from perfect It's all new, so hopefully I can only get better as I spend more time doing it. I figure that I'll revisit all of the maps I have done (or am working on) as over time.

[ajrittler]

I ended up not working on blending the darker water or the fade near the cays as I had intended. well, not long at least. I finally decided to turn my attention to the actual hamlet - which I had given ZERO thought to. I moved the jungle back and started dropping buildings - very randomly. added a small cemetery and some foliage. nothing special but fun.

Current Draft
Hangman Harbor v2.0 092016lowRes.png

[Mouse]

I like the new village, AJ! Are you adding any more settlements?

I think I could do with taking a few lessons from you in how to draw trees from above. You make it look easy

[ajrittler]

I like the new village, AJ! Are you adding any more settlements?

I think I could do with taking a few lessons from you in how to draw trees from above. You make it look easy

Thanks! No rhyme or reason to it, but at least it's a start. This will be the only settlement on the map, though I may add a shanty here and there along the shore elsewhere. Not sure.

HA! My trees ARE easy compared to yours! Just some scribbles but they'll do for now.

[ajrittler]

I started playing around with the surrounding jungle last night. A few different versions, playing around with different textures, pattern overlays and opacity. I'm not sure that I like any and will most likely revert back to just "hand drawn" jungle. (the texture look just doesn't seem to fit) So, tonight I hope to get the time to redraw the outlines starting with the edge and moving inland. Then I'll work on the shadows and highlights...see where that takes me.

Light Jungle
Hangman Harbor v2.0 092016g.png

Medium Jungle
Hangman Harbor v2.0 092016b.png

Dark Jungle
Hangman Harbor v2.0 092016e.png

[paulotutu]

Liked the village too! Maybe a couple of huts along the shore? Like, fishmen huts...

About the jungle: I think the light version blended quite well, actually.

Btw, your shores are amazing! So many details!


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[Mouse]

Hey AJ

I also prefer the light jungle. It looks more like the original pictures you showed us, and the darker versions make the sea look a bit too fluorescent.

I'm in a quandary, though, with the actual shaping of the mainland trees. It feels a bit smooth and gigantic, if you can understand what I mean? I'm finding it difficult to know what to suggest, but the forest texture on your islands is top class. There's a lot more detail in those tiny areas, however, and I wouldn't want to suggest that you spend the next 18 months doing the same to the mainland area! There has to be some kind of happy medium that won't take too long to accomplish, or you really will get bored of this map!!!

Maybe there's a treeish texture you can blend in with what you already have there?

All your steps so far have been good ones, though. Keep up the good work, and above all - stick to enjoying what you're doing

[ajrittler]

Yeah, that's exactly how I feel. The main trees are very flat and smooth. I hate the thought of having to draw in individual trees, but I think it will all start with redrawing the outlines. Smaller, tighter, random, jittery lines. Then shadows and highlights to build up the height and texture variation.

When I look at this I see, small, tight, textured with a lot of shadow. I have a good idea on what I want to do - pulling it off will be a challenge!
rock-islands-palau-45.jpg