Newbie Mapmaker

[momofkings]

Hi all! I'm interested in making some detailed maps for a fantasy novel/series I'm writing. I need the maps to help me write the books because I need see things to be able to describe them. I've thought for a long time that the only way I'd be able to make maps is to shell out money for Campaign Cartographer, but coming here has helped me figure out that I do not necessarily need to do that which is great because with 7 kids, I have no budget! LOL

So I'm here to learn how to make maps of planets, continents, countries, cities, and even buildings with GIMP. I am still feeling lost. I was hoping to find a good random generator to get me started, but all the ones I've seen just confuse me more.

Well, thanks for having this forum and I hope that someday I can contribute.

Dawn

[tilt]

Impressed that you have time for mapping and writing with 7 kids ... and welcome to the guild - start by going to the tutorial section and find something you like - then post it in the WIP section for critique and help

[Steel General]

Welcome Aboard!

[Redrobes]

Hi Mom !!!

I write a continental autogenerator for windows which is dead easy to use as all you have to do is page to next and next again until you like one then hit the save button. If you want it higher res then go to the previous one, up the Map Size box and go next again. Its not very sophisticated tho so don't expect great geography.

http://www.viewing.ltd.uk/cgi-bin/vi...nstant_islands

There's some planetary generators as well but cities are not so easy to autogenerate and are still the hardest of the set to produce. The tutorials will help greatly in all types of map tho.

Good luck - perseverance is what you in most need of tho

[Gidde]

Welcome! There are quite a few of us mapping for our novels; try some of the tutorials, you'll find yourself making great maps (and being inspired by them) in no time!

[NeonKnight]

Welcome to the Guild!