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I like the colored version more than the B/W. Really good map, original style well executed.
Tir Na Scail, Commissioned World Map
Hello everyone! I previously shared it on the Discord server, but I'm posting it here as well. This map was created for author AC James's Land of Shadow book series Kickstarter campaign. I created the entire map from scratch by drawing in Photoshop, with the exception of the different icons -- those were made by the author and her husband and incorporated at her request.
Probably the most time consuming part of this was the Shade, the multicolored forest. For this, I started by shading it all as one color, then using hue adjustment masks and the lasso tool to separate out the different trees. The lasso tool is my go-to for all the coloring. Line art was all drawn using a simple hard brush with pressure size turned on.
I got a basic Inkarnate map from the author that I used as a reference for placement, and I also asked a lot of specific questions about the look of the different courts and locations. I ended up with a multi-page Word document of notes before I started drawing.
Tir Na Scail Map FINAL COLOR.jpg
Tir Na Scail Map FINAL BW.jpg
Last edited by IllustratedPageBookDesign; 05-30-2024 at 10:42 AM.
I like the colored version more than the B/W. Really good map, original style well executed.
Very nice! Love the forests.
Question what was the Canvas size for this map?
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Thank you! I like the colored version more too. I did give the author the line art version though, since she may later on do regular, black-and-white printings of the book.
It was a double-page spread for a 6 by 9 inch book, so 12 by 9 inches at 300 DPI. The author may need to adjust things a bit when formatting, but that's why we did the solid color frame -- it'll make it easier for her to scale things up or down and account for bleed.Originally Posted by XCali
Very nice! Love the forests.
Question what was the Canvas size for this map?
I love your lineart ! So precise, so effective... It gives you a proper style that I find very attractive for the eye
And that's why I prefer the B/W version...
1. There is a lot about this map to like.
2. First and foremost, your choice of colors is very vivid. The eye has a hard time escaping the colors employed in this map.
3. This map is visually very crisp. The line weights in play really boost the visuals on display. They also give the colors an additional visual boost.
4. The white border at the water's edge is the visual icing on this cartographic cake. It helps offset all of that vivid color that's on display across the map, providing a very needed visual balancing.
5. The text is legible.
6. Some of the labels look better than the rest (such as at Skyreach Mountains, rather than at Glimmerkin Court).
7. The text within the labels looks cramped.
8. This same overall style would look significantly better on a much bigger map, with the various regions either scattered farther apart, or if there were substantially more regions and places in visual play, simultaneously.
9. The decorative corners with that weave look are a nice visual touch.
10. That black castle with orange lit windows (I guess that it is) keeps drawing my eye to it (which is a good thing, in this instance), but overall, the buildings in place could be substantially improved upon, architecture-wise. This map is worthy of more unique buildings.
Thanks for the feedback! This map was a client commission, so I have to work within those parameters (size, regions, colors).
I really enjoy your artistic flourishes on this map--my own tend toward the utilitarian. I actually enjoy both maps, but I think some of the colors are the bit close and because the map is very densely detailed it is a bit overwhelming in some of the areas where terrain types meet for me. For that reason, I think I may prefer the B&W slightly.
You mentioned the commission instructions constraining some of your choices--is that pretty typical in your experience, and how do you feel like it impacts your work? I'm curious as someone who would love to do commissioned work someday, and wants to learn as much as possible. Thanks! Again, beautiful work!
Thank you! I’m glad you like it.
As for what came in client specifications… a lot. The size (9 by 12 inches at 300 dpi) to start with, but also all the different regions and descriptions of them.
Here’s an example of a region description:
“ Court - Sylphs
The Sylphs, air spirits with dark skin, reside on a levitating island above the majestic Skyreach Mountains. They don flowing, ethereal garments, embodying the essence of air. A rocky staircase carved into the Skyreach Mountains offers passage to this floating sanctuary, where their castle, designed with open, breezy architecture, stands. Their home up above overlooks the portal to the human realm. They remain distant and aloof creatures who separate themselves from the politics of Tír na Scáil 'Land of Shadows' in Irish Gaelic. Think muted pastels, muted golds, flow, and Switzerland when you think of the Aerielis Court.“
The colors of different regions were often suggested by the author, who also wanted an overall dark, purple, teal color scheme. Some buildings had specific descriptions as well or even real life inspiration with reference pictures. The author also sent me a rough layout in Inkarnate that showed where regions existed in relation to each other. I ended up going through all the descriptions and breaking them down into bullet point notes on each region, which ran three pages. The symbols for each region were also provided by the author.
This author was on the more detailed side, but it’s common for me to get requests for colors and reference pictures of buildings. I don’t feel like it constrains me too much — before I did maps, I did book covers so I’m used to working within client guidelines. Maps are actually easier in that regard, since they don’t have the same pressure of being a marketing tool as covers. With commercial work like this, it’s about collaboration with the client, executing their vision, and being creative inside the “box” of the brief.
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