Sandy Ravine encounter map - Dark Sun Battlemaps

[Invictys]

An encounter map of a Sandy Ravine I made in Photoshop CS6 playing around with height maps.

I've attached a 2000x2000 version as well as a 4096x4096 version in case someone wants to crop it to use just a portion.

I used the excellent height map tutorial by Pasis to do this as well as his sample height maps

I think it came out looking pretty sweet. I can't thank Pasis enough for the tutorial!

2000x2000
SandyRavine-smaller.jpg

4096x4096 (4mb)
SandyRavine.jpg

[Invictys]

Same map but with green foliage covered hills and a cobblestone road for use in non-arid landscapes =)

This one came out a bit darker than I'd like so I have a lighter version too

GrassyRavine-smaller.jpg

lighter
GrassyRavine-smaller2.jpg

[Simon33600]

Wow, the height map looks awesome!

[Meshon]

Nice topography! And thank you for the link, I will definitely see what I can do with this.

cheers,
Meshon

[nyogtha]

Good work, thanks for this nice map !

Nyogtha

[Ben Burch]

i like the lighter one quite a bit more, i love the amount of detail in such a small area

[Londonsmee]

Can i suggest try playing with different blending modes in layers. you could get some nice contrasts. For you made some nice work but looks like a spray can of colour. Maybe a noise layers with some other colour blended. over the rocks. ( only suggested as you said newbie to PS ) plus some masks over the vegetations. Masks and layers are you friends.

[Invictys]

Thanks for the feedback =)

@Londonsmee I agree could do more on the coloration side of things. I'm very much still learning Photoshop at the moment, getting better all the time but still a relative newb! Thanks for the suggestions I will try them