November 2008 Entry: System Map

[mmmmmpig]

I don't think that is it. the image is not that big. somewhere around 18 mil pixels

[mmmmmpig]

I am going to need to find a better exporting option than what I am using to retain the original detail. What I am doing currently is creating too many artifacts. It is after 2 am here, so that is a problem for another day...

but anyhooo...

here we are.

I need to:
Shade the elements on the border
Texture the planets and moon
Mask the planetary text
Add trade route and exploration routes
Add the asteroid belt

C & C is always welcome

### Latest WIP ###

[Redrobes]

Its pretty good but I cant get past all the Moire fringing. It was there in the thumb of the last one but when you opened it up it was just about gone with tight concentric circles. This one tho has it even when zoomed. Is it deliberate ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moire_pattern

[mmmmmpig]

I had to export it with the "anti-alias" option unchecked. that created some data loss and caused more of the Moire (so to speak). Some of the effect is intentional, but not as much as is being shown in this export.

[mmmmmpig]

okay it let me post this one

interesting...

i will post some info on "where i am in the process" later tonight

### Latest WIP ###

[Bedwyr]

The effect is fine, I like it. Reminds me of a dollar bill.

Two questions:

1) What tools you use for the line art, pure vector program? I'd be interested to know how you got a nice accurate dashed line outside the border art, whether that was a program function or simply artistic fastidiousness.

2) Brax reminds me of Brack -> Space Ghost Coast to Coast.
"Driving down Highway 40 in my big old pickup truck!"

[ravells]

utterly, utterly beautiful. I just can't wait to see this finished. It's a stunner. I'd love to know how you did the curvy lines too. It looks like a transform x times with some rotate, but there's something else in there too.

[Darken]

Absolutely love it. Clean, but with a hand-drawn style (and we know I love hand drawn ).

Also, bonus points for making the comet tails point away from the sun and not based on direction of travel!

[mmmmmpig]

Thanks for the kudos, guys!

What is left to get done tonight

1. add asteroid belt
2. add trade paths and networks
3. text masking for the planetary and moon labels
4. texture for the planets and moons
5. clean up orbit lines
6. relief shading for the border elements
7. sleep

the hand drawn portraits are the only hand work in the map. everything else has been done in illustrator, but the relief shading will be done in photoshop.

The moire areas are done by creating an interesting line shape. Copy and paste it in place, rotate 1 degree... rinse and repeat. The line thickness is only .25pt, and there is a .25pt dash with 1.5pt space on some of the lines. It is a simple process, although it is tedious.

[Bedwyr]

Going to add sepia or leave it white?