Professional cartography and income

[waldronate]

It's too bad there isn't a negative category in there... I don't do enough mapping to even pay for the tools that I use to do it.

My brushes with paid cartography mostly are in my role as toymaker for others with a very rare bit of paid work. Some of the toys pay reasonably well, but the vast majority of my income is from helping one group of people kill others with minimal collateral damage. A bit of that work involves GIS work that could be called cartography if you're willing to stretch things a bit.

[Diamond]

I do fantasy cartography as a hobby. I know if I actively pushed for commissions and tried to make it a bigger part of my income I'd start to lose interest and the fun would go out of it for me. So I very very rarely take commissions; just once in a while if something really intrigues me. So clearly the 0 - 9% range for me.

[Midgardsormr]

I am a visual effects artist, and that occasionally requires a bit of cartography. Usually it's along the lines of creating satellite imagery and overlays for burning in to monitors on NCIS. Sometimes we make maps of locations for reference. Those maps and floorplans do not usually see light as actual artwork.

Anyway, I'd say the amount of time I spend on map and satellite-related work in my job is somewhere around 0.5 - 1%. I haven't taken a commission in several years. To be honest, I haven't even made a hobby map in more than a year. I'm considering one of a cyberpunk Detroit for my current RPG group, though.

A great deal of what I learn here is applicable to my day job, though, and I frequently draw on my professional experience to answer questions.

[jpstod]

I just started creating original Maps for RPG use..Offering them on DrivethruRPG..The Wayward Traveler's Guid..John Paul Stoddard...I use Campaign Cartographer 3, Their Art and Dundjinni Fan Art from their Forums......so Far I am up to 1 and a few "pay what you wants" I have made less than 8 dollars But I have been contacted about a Map commission for $50 from an Individual.....No Paizo or WOTC or any other Publisher yet...But I am dreaming.