Elysion - Generic JRPG world

[Naeddyr]

Hi Naeddyr, so far it's looking pretty good, except that the dark outer-shadowsurrounding the land-forms looks out of place; almost as if the land-forms were hovering above the ocean. Rather than making an outer-shadow, have you considered an outer-glow? Perhaps of a lighter hue of blue? That might help give the impression of shallow water along the coast.

Yeah, of course I did the outer glow first (what there's now is an inverted layer from that), I'm just trying something new.

Eh, maybe I'll do a proper ocean-bottom topology.

Also, I might do a floating continent and for that I could use the drop shadow effect...

http://i.space.com/images/i/000/014/...jpg?1327886705

Cyan shallow waters, at least in the tropics...

I need to find more true color images of ocean.

EDIT:

Though if I make a more stylised map style (I've got one idea) I might go with the black borders. I'll do a quick mockup...



Just using edge-detected lines to accentuate the separate colours of the the landscape, makes it seem more painted...

EDIT:



Something like this.