Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: [WIP] The Democratic Republic of Vistany

  1. #1
    Guild Applicant Prolet's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Finland
    Posts
    3

    Wip [WIP] The Democratic Republic of Vistany

    Somewhere in the South Atlantic lies a nigh forgotten island of misery and strife. Its population has endured countless civil wars, and the country is ruled by an iron fist by John Canton, Chairman of the Democratic Party. The Vistanian Islands were originally settled and claimed by the Dutch, but were later sold to the United Kingdom. However, the islands were gifted to Sweden soon after. Before Vistany's independence, the islands were briefly given back to the UK, but by this time, the most spoken language in Vistany was Finnish - numerous settlers from Sweden's eastern provinces had migrated to Vistany in hope of a better life.



    Any and all suggestions to improve the map are welcome. I'm especially at a loss on how to create a proper legend.

  2. #2
    Professional Artist Guild Donor Sapiento's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Salzburg, Austria
    Posts
    3,655

    Default

    Fine map. Maybe some different colours for depths in the sea? What kind of information shall the legend show to the reader? Political? Geographical? If you think about this, you maybe get an idea for the legend.

  3. #3
    Guild Applicant Prolet's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Finland
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sapiento View Post
    Fine map. Maybe some different colours for depths in the sea? What kind of information shall the legend show to the reader? Political? Geographical? If you think about this, you maybe get an idea for the legend.
    I know pretty well what I want to have in the legend - mostly political information, but I don't really know how to make the legend. Any good tutorials about this for Photoshop?

  4. #4
    Guild Expert Guild Supporter Lingon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    1,212

    Default

    Looks really nice! I like this modern style, though I have no idea how to make it myself One suggestion: I'd move the Atlantic Ocean label to sit southeast of Horse Island and curve upwards, and also lower the opacity of it – that'd group the islands together into one focal point, rather than split it into two, and the lower opacity would make it instantly obvious that it's about the sea and not one if the islands.

    As to the legend, do you have any ideas for a border around the map? If so, you could just put a white/yellow/anything box in the upper left corner and copy the border to sit around it. Or don't make a cartouche at all – just write directly on the ocean. Maybe put some swirls around the text afterwards, again to group it together.

  5. #5
    Guild Apprentice
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Sanremo, Italy
    Posts
    38

    Default

    i like it! I never attempted a "modern days" map, i'll give a try sooner or later

    about the legend, i think you should evaluate the situation: what do you want to offer to the viewer? Is it already on the map? Considering this, you can work on it.

    As it is now, your map gives some visual informations: you used colors for altitude, if i am not wrong, so your legend could offer an explanation (a patch of color with associated the altitude range, maybe?).
    You should also indicate the scale of the map.
    You could even make some differences in city icons, and then explain that the black dot with a circle around indicates a city of more than 500000 people etc. etc. There are roads? If you trace them, maybe there will be differences between them (double line for highways, single for main routes, dotted for secondary ones?)

    It's a good map, hovewer!

  6. #6
    Guild Applicant Prolet's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Finland
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Thanks for the tips! Current progress:


  7. #7
    Guild Expert Wingshaw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Usually Denmark
    Posts
    1,531

    Default

    Nice. The one thing I'd suggest is perhaps toning down the...are the red lines districts? provinces? Anyway, the bright red looks a bit off (at least, that's my observation). Maybe a black dotted line, or a lower opacity or something.

    But otherwise very nice. I like the simplicity and clarity of it.

  8. #8
    Guild Adept Viking's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    436

    Default

    Nice work so far! A border would only add to this fine map I quite like your region names by the way!
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Finished Maps: Skenth - Prints Available!
    Works in Progress: Arinthia - region of Skenth

    Need something commissioned? Send me a message!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •