Overland map symbols?

[Locution]

I have been looking through this site rather extensively and can't seem to find exactly what I am looking for.

What I have in mind for my map is, rather than using the standard dots and squares to mark my castles, towers, towns, ruins, etc., using actual small sketches. As I have little to no artistic talent I was hoping there was a resource available on this site. I just can't find one. Any suggestions?

[rdanhenry]

Well, you don't need a lot of artistic ability to do a few simple symbolic drawings. The trick on a lot of drawing is to make it much larger than you're actually going to use it, as shrinking makes a lot of little flaws simply vanish. It also depends on what you are looking for: do you want each item to be unique, so Castle Vaardarasha has a different symbol from Castle Dundonerksh? You'll likely need to draw your own. You want to use a font for the symbols? There are a few that exist that'd do that. Brushes? What?

It might be helpful to at least let people know what software you are using to make your maps.

[Locution]

Sorry, to clarify I am using photoshop CS2 and was looking for brushes perhaps though I am open to other options. I will look more into fonts like you suggested.

I will also try my hand at drawing my own but I shudder to think what I might come up with.

I rather like the ones used in RobA's Landrathor map though I do not need each icon to be so unique.

[Gandwarf]

There's several brushes available on this forum, but you will have to search for them.

There is also the CSUAC, a collection of thousands of symbols, from trees to buildings. These symbols are PNG's for example, so you can use them in Photoshop.
The CSUAC can be downloaded from here:
http://www.gmsapprentice.com/
(you need to register, but it's free)

Here is another nice set of symbols (it's multiple pages):
http://www.clker.com/search/map+rpg/1

[Locution]

Thanks Gandwarf. That clip-art link seems great. I will have to spend some time and look at it in greater detail.

[Sir Alain]

http://clipart.nicubunu.ro/?gallery=rpg_map is a good place to start. They are in svg format, so you'll need something like Inkscape to read them (free). Hope it helps.

[Locution]

Thanks Alain, its the same sort of stuff Gandwarf linked me to but it seems a bigger selection in that same style. I like it quite a lot. I need to see if I can get them to work and if I can alter them somewhat to my particular style.

[Sir Alain]

You are very welcome! There is a link at the bottom of the page, where you can get the entire set in a zip file. Inkscape is a free, open source vector image editor, similar to Adobe Illustrator. The guy that posted the collection also has a tutorial on his site for creating iso style icons in Inkscape. Very nicely done too. Happy mapping!