October 2015 Challenge: The Island in the Sea

[soggymuse]

I don't know anything about portolan maps, but Variation B feels more balanced to me. The map scale does seem like it could do with a bit more room there, but I like that it and the compass are in the same corner so you don't have to keep zooming in and out to find the map references. I also like that they're diagonally opposite the cartouche.

I love the border and frame. I never have the patience for them so my own maps tend to just have a thick black line around them. ¬_¬ Yours lends the map that historical feel without being distracting.

The only suggestion, and I don't know if you want to muck around at this stage of the game, is maybe having less of a "glow" around the ships. It's quite large at the moment and covers up a lot of the grid lines. If the current glow is, say, 20, I'd go with some thing like 5 at most instead.

The labels are a bit difficult to read, too, even at 100% zoom. I'd probably pick a different font so they're easier to read at this size for future maps. (I wouldn't think you'd want to edit them now.)

[Chick]

### Latest WIP ###
IslandInTheSea 16.jpg

[ChickPea]

Looks great, Chick. I really love this map.

[J.Edward]

That feels much more balanced Chick.

[Pixie]

Pretty, balanced and light are the words that spring to mind.

It's interesting to notice you had no comment on your last post, other than "latest wip". Looks like you are done and happy with it.

[Chick]

Looks great, Chick. I really love this map.

Thank you very much!

That feels much more balanced Chick.

Thanks, J.E, your eye is much better than mine for things like that

Pretty, balanced and light are the words that spring to mind.

It's interesting to notice you had no comment on your last post, other than "latest wip". Looks like you are done and happy with it.

Thanks so much, I don't know what else to do to it, so I guess you are right

[Chick]

Since I had a couple of days left in the challenge, I decide to try making a new compass. I tracked down the tutorial by Torstan (www.fantasticmaps.com) and made my own, following his guide.

I think I'll call this map done now, although comments and critiques are certainly still welcome!

### Latest WIP ###
IslandInTheSea 18.jpg