Oct / Nov '17 Lite Challenge: Thunder Island

[Mouse]

That's looking really good now, but I would recommend that you do away with the metallic framework. Its very distracting. Try something very much more simple, like a subtle wooden frame, or even just a parchment fill

[ladiestorm]

I don't know, I think I like the metalic frame... it's different, and unique! The thing that I would like to see, is where on the island these cities are. Right now, you have a very small island in the middle with these big settlements surrounding it, but there's no indication of where they are on the island. Or did I miss that?

By the way... I love my landing! So nice of you to have a spot just for me! ;D

[QED42]

I don't know, I think I like the metalic frame... it's different, and unique! The thing that I would like to see, is where on the island these cities are. Right now, you have a very small island in the middle with these big settlements surrounding it, but there's no indication of where they are on the island. Or did I miss that?

By the way... I love my landing! So nice of you to have a spot just for me! ;D

I'm gland someone likes the border but I'll try out some different ones if I have time left once I've labelled everything.

I do plan to mark on the island where the cities are but right now I'm suffering from complete labelling paralysis, I can't seem to get started with anything I like.

[XCali]

Nice map so far!

Regarding the font. One thing I can say is if the outline around the font is too big, it tends to smother the word. I don't know why. To see what I mean read the font while zoomed out. That is one of the best ways to see if a font alongside its outline is legible.
Hope that helps. I know personally the pain with fonts.

P.S. I really like how you did the label "Thunder Island"

[Mouse]

I'm sorry - my bad

I read that comment I made about the frame and I realised I was a bit sharp! I still don't like it, but that really is my own personal taste

Whatever font you use don't get tied up in worrying about it, just play and have a bit of fun before you decide. I normally end up going through my entire repertoire of fonts before I make a final decision - and just like when clothes shopping I end up 'buying' the first one I tried

That monastery map is quite impressive. Do you think it might look better if it was shrunk away from the frame just a bit? I'm getting a sort of cramped feeling about it where its touching the frame. Maybe have a play with the blend mode on that layer as well? Overlay looks really nice if you have a generally dark map on a paler textured background, as it lets the paper texture show through a bit and makes the ink look like its actually drawn or painted onto the paper background. Sometimes it can look too pale, but if you like the effect duplicating that layer (wth both copies in overlay mode) will make it twice as dark

[QED42]

Nice map so far!

Regarding the font. One thing I can say is if the outline around the font is too big, it tends to smother the word. I don't know why. To see what I mean read the font while zoomed out. That is one of the best ways to see if a font alongside its outline is legible.
Hope that helps. I know personally the pain with fonts.

P.S. I really like how you did the label "Thunder Island"

Good news is I've changed the labels you didn't like, bad news is I also changed the one you did like! Oops

I'm sorry - my bad

I read that comment I made about the frame and I realised I was a bit sharp! I still don't like it, but that really is my own personal taste

Whatever font you use don't get tied up in worrying about it, just play and have a bit of fun before you decide. I normally end up going through my entire repertoire of fonts before I make a final decision - and just like when clothes shopping I end up 'buying' the first one I tried

That monastery map is quite impressive. Do you think it might look better if it was shrunk away from the frame just a bit? I'm getting a sort of cramped feeling about it where its touching the frame. Maybe have a play with the blend mode on that layer as well? Overlay looks really nice if you have a generally dark map on a paler textured background, as it lets the paper texture show through a bit and makes the ink look like its actually drawn or painted onto the paper background. Sometimes it can look too pale, but if you like the effect duplicating that layer (wth both copies in overlay mode) will make it twice as dark

I don't have a problem with changing the frame it's just I have a lot of other stuff to do to make sure the map gets finished. The idea was to make it look like all the maps had been combined in a nice metal frame. Nothing is going to overlap on top of the frame so I can cover it over with some different stuff later as a last step.

The Monastery map sizing really annoyed me when I realised I hadn't left enough space round the edges for the frame. That's what you get for not planning ahead properly! I'm hesitant to shrink it down because the lines look so nice and sharp right now I'm worried they are going to get messed up if I start scaling things.

Here is how things look now I've had a mess around with some of the labels.

### Latest WIP ###
combined - labels1b.jpg

Having a look round at some of the other maps on the site helped me get a bit of a clearer idea on how I wanted to do things. I'm not sure if the coat of arms are going to stay or not. The primary motivator for removing the shields would be I'm not sure I can come up with enough variations on the storm themes for all the cities.

[Mouse]

LOL! You're punishing me, aren't you. I really don't like the wavy fake metal textures, but like I said before - that is absolutely my personal taste. I believe it plays havoc with my depth perception - the dark and light stripes in the metal texture seem to be saying to me that this thing is bending in and out of the map at me - but that's probably only happening to the .25 % of the population that have my particular brand of autism. We seem to process visual information slightly differently to others

Ignoring the wiggly metal stuff and the weird illusion I'm getting from it, that's a much nicer font you have there - good choice

[QED42]

LOL! You're punishing me, aren't you. I really don't like the wavy fake metal textures, but like I said before - that is absolutely my personal taste. I believe it plays havoc with my depth perception - the dark and light stripes in the metal texture seem to be saying to me that this thing is bending in and out of the map at me - but that's probably only happening to the .25 % of the population that have my particular brand of autism. We seem to process visual information slightly differently to others

Ignoring the wiggly metal stuff and the weird illusion I'm getting from it, that's a much nicer font you have there - good choice

Sorry I was trying to go with a colour/style that might reflect the stormy/lightening theme of the island! I'm considering giving it a blue tint in future versions to be more lightening like but give me a heads up if that makes it better or worse

[Mouse]

Oh don't apologise - its your map!

I think you might make it a bit better if all the metal stuff was the same colour, certainly, and blue/white is definitely associated with lightning - yes (again - personal opinion)

[QED42]

Just to prove I'm not ignoring you Mouse I followed your advise on the monastery and tomb complex. I think it looks much better now and I've labelled it up as well. Hopefully it fits the space a bit better now. Thank you for the suggestions there!

If I had time and could actually draw I'd probably include a profile sketch of the monastery in the bottom left under the legend.

### Latest WIP ###
combined - labels1d.jpg