Improved Handdrawn Regional Map ~ The Sodality of the Wyrmkin ~

[geamon]

Recently, I felt like I've turned a page on my use of the tablet and wanted push myself with an ambitious non-comp map. So I will work on this in pieces over time, after one day of work this is where I stand. Hope I didn't bite off more then I can chew...

P.S. Diamond, sorry I didn't finish the other encounter styled one I started in the lite challenge...Lost motivation/interest in it since it felt to familiar to what I've done previously.

Edit: Gah, the title is supposed to say Improvised!!!

[Chashio]

Gah, the title is supposed to say Improvised!!!

haha You wanted to work on your hand drawn mapping. That's the universe giving you opportunity. But by the looks of what you've got so far, I believe you're well on your way to a second bite.

[geamon]

Just a quick update & questions for those willing to answer.

Contrast: Is my highlight layer to bright/opaque?

Workflow: What's some of you're drawing habits... At the moment, I only have a highlight, line work and shading layers using transparency over two base layers one texture and other white...

[priggs]

I think the contrast is good.

[Chashio]

It looks okay to me. If you're not sure about the contrast at any point in the progress, I'd suggest keeping a levels adjustment layer on top that you can fiddle with to see what you like best. And/or a saturation/color layer filled with black that you can click on and off to see it in greyscale if you begin using colors. Your workflow and layer organization is simple, and effective for what you're doing. One thing... if you're ever aiming for a 'completely done on paper' look, the highlights would only be lighter than the original paper background if you were using a lighter pigment on top of it. But I like it the way it is. You have a nice drawing style.

[geamon]

So my wife basically told me my forests looked like amoeba's.....Need to iron that out before I continue. Here's another take in comparison, more Schleyesque. Any suggestions/input?

[priggs]

Ha! My wife is my toughest critic.

The new version looks good to me. If you need more ideas, you might look at Erwin Raisz symbology.
Erwin Raisz map symbols for physical geography

[- Max -]

The forets looks like top down view forests and it clashes a bit with iso mountains.

[geamon]

Long time no update or even activity...

Decided to pick this one back up, going island by island to completion and finishing this one off. Here's the Island of Ghoa without labeling. Also I've included with this post a couple of .png's of some of the elements I've used so far for the island, hoping they are useful. You may need to clean these up for use since they aren't brushes just hand-drawn elements specific for the map.

Any critique is welcome.

Edit: Uploaded wrong version of the map....water color was adjusted.