WIP: Pyrus (commission, for Shadire)

[Deadshade]

I am not specialist for town maps but definitely no red glow. And even in the second one, you could remove the red glow around the numbers. As they are white, they are well visible anyway and I rather felt bothered by the red around.
The first idea I had looking at this map was that these ships were impossible.
Almost all berths in the harbor are occupied.
But the many outgoing ships should have left a free place in the harbor, shouldn't they ?
And as they didn't (why ?) then there is no place for the ingoing vessels either.

Well if there is a harbor master, he should hang

[- Max -]

I agree that the red outer glow around locations isn't necessary. For the sake of legibility, I would also get rid of the red outer glow on numbers and switch to a black or dark brown one and switch the outlined font of the legend to a plain and solid one. Last, the sea color is nice but too bright and saturated in my opinion, it distracts from the city itself. I would try to tone it down/desaturate it somehow.

[Wingshaw]

Thanks, those are excellent suggestions. I'll remove the red glow and try desaturating the water a bit. I also like the idea of doing the legend as dark text without the stroke on it.

I only just noticed that, in order to get the images to an acceptable filesize for CG the text has become hardto read: is that just my screen, or can nobody read the writing?

@Deadshade: I showed this map to my father, who is a naval history enthusiast. Apparently many medieval ports would have a large number of ships waiting at anchor in the harbour.

THW

[Freodin]

I agree with Max that the sea colour is a little too saturated.

Other than that: this map is officially amazing!

[Chick]

I only just noticed that, in order to get the images to an acceptable filesize for CG the text has become hardto read: is that just my screen, or can nobody read the writing?
THW

I find that keeping the size larger and using a lower quality setting on the image is more readable than the reverse. I typically have my .jpg images at 3000-4000 px but the .jpg save quality at 3 or 4 (out of 12). That seems more readable than 1500-2000 px at quality 8 for the same file size.

[arsheesh]

Wonderful work THW! The line-work is great, especially for the terrain. I was also going to suggest getting rid of the red glow surrounding the buildings and text, but sounds like several others have already addressed this. Beautiful work.

Cheers,
-Arsheesh

[Deadshade]

@Deadshade: I showed this map to my father, who is a naval history enthusiast. Apparently many medieval ports would have a large number of ships waiting at anchor in the harbour.

THW

I thought about that but it is excluded too. The incoming ships are all Under full sail and have the keel wave behind them showing them going hard. So they can't be on Anchor and waiting.
It may be a detail that doesn't matter but it was the first thing I noticed - too many ships sailing Inside the harbor yet they have nowhere to go.
As for the outgoing ships, they are only a few minutes from the harbor so they should have left plenty of free place.

[Ilanthar]

I agree with previous comments and just want to say that it's a beauty! The frame is a very nice touch.

[Wingshaw]

Thanks everyone for the comments. The finished map thread is now up, with a few of the recommended changes made, here. Unfortunately, I'm already noticing the mistakes I made, but I don't think any of them are too big, so I'll let it pass.

I thought about that but it is excluded too. The incoming ships are all Under full sail and have the keel wave behind them showing them going hard. So they can't be on Anchor and waiting.
It may be a detail that doesn't matter but it was the first thing I noticed - too many ships sailing Inside the harbor yet they have nowhere to go.
As for the outgoing ships, they are only a few minutes from the harbor so they should have left plenty of free place.

Oh well, in that case I'll just call it artistic licence

I find that keeping the size larger and using a lower quality setting on the image is more readable than the reverse. I typically have my .jpg images at 3000-4000 px but the .jpg save quality at 3 or 4 (out of 12). That seems more readable than 1500-2000 px at quality 8 for the same file size.

Thanks Chick, that's a good tip to know. Strangely, I found that the poor resolution and illegibility only existed on my tablet's screen, and not my computer. I suppose it makes sense, but I've never encountered that before.

THW