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Thread: Tidal lock world map shaded relief discussion

  1. #1

    Discuss Tidal lock world map shaded relief discussion

    Hello all,

    I am new here and would like to introduce myself along with my current project. My alias here is Nautilus and I have recently started trying to make maps again after a long hiatus. My current worldbuilding project is still in its early stages. It is a tidally locked earth-like planet. This means the same side always faces the sun. So you have a desert directly below the sun, a twilight strip that's habitable and then a dark side covered by ice.

    I am mapping using a trifecta of VP planet generator (https://toolslib.net/downloads/viewd...anetgenerator/), GIMP and Wilbur. I use VPPG because i makes o.k. heightmaps, allows for a great deal of flexibility and most importantly, I can zoom into the map or seed to an arbitrarily deep level and use the zoom levels for regional maps. This ensures consistency in the maps, which is extremely important to me.

    I want to use shaded relief heavily because I love the way it looks. The maps are just tests of style and technique, the geography is just a placeholder.
    The reason I'm posting here is to get feedback on the techniques and to discuss shaded relief in general and in world maps in particular. My main problem is the amount of detail. Obviously features have to be exaggerated extremely in order to be visible on a world map. I have attached a map prototype, please let me know what you think and what your workflow and advice is if use shaded relief.
    Maptest3.png
    I am looking forward to any answers! Please use this thread to discuss shaded relief tips in general if you want, I am very eager to learn something new. Same goes for Wilbur, still learning that as well.

  2. #2
    Guild Expert johnvanvliet's Avatar
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    not bad , but keep in mind that Wilbur DOSE NOT erode a full planet in simple cylindrical format well

    there are issues with the pole areas
    basically 45 N to 90 N and 45 S to 90 S

    the netpbm tools are ok 'ush

    the program "planet" by Torben Ć. Mogensen
    this got a bug fix in 2016 but the code is 30 years old for a computer of the late 80's and early 90's
    ( think 32 meg ram )

    Olsson's tool is well ?????? not good
    it is a fracture type fractal with way TOO LOW of a iteration rate
    ( planet ALSO has this issue but not as bad )


    all in all the above image looks rather good

    BUT
    the "tidal lock" issue

    the planet that is about the earth size needs to BE VERY VERY close to the star
    SO close that is will not have liquid water anymore ,unless it is a VERY dim and small red dwarf star
    think "TRAPPIST-1" for example
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRAPPIST-1
    F)
    has water and locked but mostly frozen


    E)
    is a more earthlike ( i only have a heightmap for "e")


    there will be a lot of ice on the anti solar point
    Last edited by johnvanvliet; 09-08-2017 at 07:40 PM.
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  3. #3

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    Your right about Olsson's, don't know why anyone would use that.
    I am not familiar with netbpm, got any tutorials or samples?

    The map distortion (or lack thereof) in Wilbur is not a big problem for me as the relief is exaggerated anyway and not realistic. I usually just apply a layer mask to my b/w relief and feather the layer towards the extremes in latitude.
    About habitability: I am ok with taking a sun /earth like system and just saying the earth's rotational period around its own axis takes 365 days. Could happen because of an old impact or something. Stranger things have happened. This, coupled with a nice thick equalising atmosphere and a bit of libration and I think the resulting planet would be quite habitable.

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