Komoros -- A Practice Session to Render Realistic Topography

[Peter Toth]

Hello Guild,

As I'm planning a huge project in the near future, I am honing my Photoshop skills and the specific ability to render realistic topography. Could you let me know how I'm progressing? Is there any aspect of this map that could be improved? I highly appreciate any guidance that you, the Guild masters, could provide.

My sincere appreciations.

Peter

Komoros2.png

[Ryan Pourchot]

Looks like it is coming along; progressing since you had first joined.
I recommend smoothing the transitions between lower, and middle topography to bring more realism too it. Adding some incise flow to the low and mid elevation, or erosion may help as well.
The continental shelf could use some lighter blue as well, to darker blue ocean will contrast your landmass better. I'm still learning new techniques on photoshop after 5 years, and elsewhere, especially from the cartography greats.
You are doing great though.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

[Peter Toth]

Thank you Ryan!

I've redone the map with a more rugged algorithm, but I don't quite understand exactly what you meant by smoothing out the transitions between my lower and middle topography. Have I fixed the issue or at least made an improvement?

Just to let others know, I'm not cutting and pasting actual satellite DEM data; I'm using my very own algorithm for rendering realistic (I sure hope so!) topography.

Further suggestions are welcome. I so yearn to master this art form!

Peter

KomorosNew.png

[Antoine.L]

Nice island, I like this shape.

About topography, I think you could have some places where the level get high from the sea faster than what you have: I mean places like cliffs for example, where you get strait from water to high. In my sailor opinion, the first one shows a lack of depth variation on water close to the shore, if you want it more realistic.