Need help improving map for this game!

[jesuisbenjamin]

Wow thanks it's great stuff. I managed to improve considerably the map so far. I cleaned up the meridians and exceeding islands, cleaned up the edges (although it needs refining) and added a nice background. Now i need to see if i can add some effect for the sea. I am also concerned with the pixelisation of the land. Is there any effect to improve the quality of it without affecting it too much?
Here is what i have done so far. (Sorry, i keep using google.sites)

[tilt]

the problem is when a picture is allready pixelated, it hard to do anything about it except scaling down - that sharpens the lines. Your current map is about 6000 pixels wide - that would mean that in an offset printer you could print it at 20 inches, you'd see some of the pixelation, but some would disappear in ink-bleed. If you want a map that you can print in huge sizes, the best way to go would be vector graphics, ie Illustrator or Ink...something (free). Then you can scale as you want to

[jesuisbenjamin]

Hi there!

Thanks for all the tips so far. I will see what i can do about the pixelisation of the land texture, perhaps throw an artistic effect. So far i managed to clean up the map and i created a border for the sea-line. Although i am not sure about the colour of the latter.
Latest update.

Thanks, keep the tips coming!

[jesuisbenjamin]

Well this is it, i finished my new map. I'm quite happy with it
See map here.

[tilt]

the waterborders are very thick and blurry - I'd make those in the same style as the land borders, but perhaps with another type of dots or a different lenght of lines/gaps

[jesuisbenjamin]

Yes, agreed! I'm working on that.
Also i'd like to curve the region names in areas where it looks somehow rigid. But i don't know how to write on a path with GIMP. Do you have any idea?

[Gamerprinter]

You can do it in GIMP, but you're better off saving the file importing to Inkscape or other vector app. Text on a curve is much easier not using GIMP.

GP

[hohum]

I second that. Import a jpg or png into Inkscape. Once you get the hang of how it works it is way easier to manipulate text labels and then you can export it as a png and put it back into your raster program.

[jesuisbenjamin]

Well despite your advices i used GIMP to produce text to path. It was a bit convoluted but it's fine for me now.
I managed to improve the map very much so far, and i still like to hear your comments, tips. Thanks.

[hohum]

This is the first I've seen your map, sorry I don't look at outside links very often. Have some rep. And kudos for sticking with GIMP for the labeling, it does work it's just frustrating.

@Quabbe - After seeing your water example I am going to have to incorporate it into my map of Linlandia. I knew the technique but for some reason didn't consider it until seeing it just now.