Part 3.. (of, at least, 5)

The previous two WIP's from this collection started off at an advanced stage. This time, I thought I could post the first steps as well, just out of curiosity for you lurkers

My world map isn't all done, in terms of fine detail elevation, but most of Acur, which is the largest continent is. From that detailed elevation map, I made a colored, relief-shaded, version. This one:

relief_painted_mainmap.jpg
I posted a 800px wide map, but the original is 7 times bigger. This file is in equiretangular projection and it spans 90º W to 90º E of the 0º meridian and from the North Pole to 45º South.


From here, on to g.projector to choose the best projection.

zelandyi_coast_gprojectordetails.jpg
I take note of the settings and export the map with and without graticule. In this case, the shape of the coast placed a problem. Being oriented in a SW-NE fashion, it is forcing me to show too much land and too much ocean...


I solved this by rotating the map, after I imported it into PS.

graticule_added_rivers_drafted.jpg
Once I get to this part I start to draft the rivers and plan the human geography in my mind. The final tool for that is to consider the climate.
climate_layer.jpg
Projected, rotated and cropped from earlier work done at full-world scale..

And this is where the Work In Progress is at the moment...