[WIP]railroad/transit system/map in fictional slavic world

[Triplicate]

Within cities (though that's not on the scale of this map), there are still workers who commute. Agriculture still takes place outside cities. There are still mines and factories and... In summary, socialist governments are stuck with inequalities in geography and resources, and the transport system still has to get people and things where they're needed. Combine that with the same technology, and the transport solutions look awfully similar to non-socialist countries.

Some things could've gone differently. For example, socialist governments could've set policies of more distributed production, reducing the need for long distance freight transport. They generally didn't. Maybe it's just a consequence of centralized decision-making. Maybe (almost certainly) regional economic autonomy was deemed conducive to separatism.

The new map definitely looks more believable, if less immediately evocative. I'm trying to guess the geography. Hmmm... possibly an east-west mountain range between Brojimjesto and Ljovamjesto, otherwise there'd probably be direct routes from Pydjalek to Plocica and Zalino. That logic only makes sense for a small country (if at all); if the mountain range were longer, they'd build through anyway.

[Otviss]

possibly an east-west mountain range between Brojimjesto and Ljovamjesto, otherwise there'd probably be direct routes from Pydjalek to Plocica and Zalino. That logic only makes sense for a small country (if at all); if the mountain range were longer, they'd build through anyway.

Great observation, Im keeping that!

[Otviss]

Another idea.
You like it or not?
3deffecttrainmapwithcitynames.PNG

[Triplicate]

So instead of the Brojimjesto-Ljovamjesto trunk line passing south of the mountains, it follows the valley between two ranges. I like it.

[Otviss]

That's right. So, im starting to get there, map wise. still no history has been created. It shouldnt matter too much.
What's important is to finish the map, though i do not have the necessary photoshop skills yet.

[Otviss]

To those of you who have been following this post, hello again.

Here's what im working on at the moment, the lines you see are different layers/areas such as mountains, forest, valleys, plains.
These helplines are only for me to know what to color in the future.

This is done in inkscape and im sure that if i knew how to work with photoshop perhaps, i could have skipped many steps, but no matter, the map is coming along nicely.

Uncolored 3D map.png

[Otviss]

Coloring, experimenting with textures on mountains and "Filters" for after effect.

CGGgarsponvtbit.png

[Otviss]

odvaRevampblank.png

Haha This project is going nowhere. Though this time i figured i do a revamp of the old map and make it a bit more realistic. Starting over in other words. Hopefully this will give me motivation to continue!

After having worked myself to death with the old semi isometric/3D map ONCE again, starting with the mountains:

mapfiltdrybrush.png

I gave up. Didnt take me anywhere. Probably because i was trying to do things that are too difficult.

Im thinking of what kind of style my map should have. I am truly a photoshop noob but i do what i can. With my old paint picture i experimented with this computer generated kind of thing:

Komputersmaller.PNG

But that didnt take me anywhere either as far as having an overview of the world. I wanted something more realistic and detailed. Well you know the deal, i'll come back in a few months and see what i bring! If you have any feedback or suggestions, go ahead.

[Otviss]

Bah! I need help. Not sure how i should go about making these mountains i've tried several styles with colors and contours. But then again maybe the problem lies in that i don't know what style im aiming for! If you guys know any good speculations regarding how to make mountains please tell me. I've been spending these last days looking at how to draw mountains on here, but nothing quite suits my need yet.
heightmont.png

[Pixie]

Right, some help on drawing mountains... Let's see what I can do for you.

First, style. It seems to me that you need to start with a sort of heightmap. Your work will be very smooth if you have a grayscale heightmap - or bump map (a DEM, you can search about this on the web). If you never saw one of those, they should look like this:
05_DEM.png

Now, obviously this is a real world image, so it has an absurd level of detail. Nobody can paint this manually! But you can download a few (or a lot of) DEM's and copy/paste bits and pieces to an image so that it suits what you have in mind.

Starting with contours is not the best method because any changes are harder to make.

... I think I have just come up with an idea for a tutorial... hmm, be right back

In the meanwhile, what software do you have or can get your hands on?