Grimmsmouth

[arsheesh]

This is already looking very nice! Can't wait to see the completed project.

Cheers
-Arsheesh

[Weery]

Hi all,

Long time since I posted on here.

When I began working on this map I got a lot of excellent feedback on how to not only improve my drawing but also how to improve my workflows.

I've implemented that advice and created a 1 square kilometre workbox that allows me to finish each section of my map to the standard I wanted instead of rushing away over several kilometres without finishing any of them properly.

To that end, here is 1 square km of my city finished. I am almost finished with a second km to the north and will post that when I am done.

Attachment 94990

My pace is glacial but we cartographers never draw anything unless it is worth taking a long time to draw. Hroom, hm.

[Mouse]

Hey Weery

Missed you!

This is looking really great

Things will get faster with each kilometre

[Ilanthar]

That's excellent, Weery! One small critic : the dots in the big streets (like north king st) make the labels hard to read, imho.

[Weery]

Thanks Mouse! I've been lurking and continuing to leach inspiration from everyone but I didn't want to post an update until I'd followed the advice I'd been given

Thanks also Ilanthar. I completely agree with you. I've reduced those dots (townland and parish borders) to 50% opacity and will include them when I post an updated image.

I can't believe I hadn't even considered that but then that just goes to show the benefits of having more eyes on a map while it's a WIP.

Thanks again!

[Weery]

Hi again everyone,

Promised update with second square kilometre to the north.

Attachment 95268

Next I will begin to sketch towards the west of these two squares in greater detail. I'll post that as I have it.

Any and all observations welcome

[Mouse]

Oh yes - the readability of the street labels is much better this time, and congratulations for completing the second lot

Here is just a thought (and please please ignore me if it doesn't trouble you), but you could separate all the text out from the rest of the map and make it all a bit more readable by turning the linework charcoal-mid grey instead of black, so that there is a slight contrast between the map and its labels, no matter where you put the labels. I know that's not how the Victorian maps were done, but I think you've got the Victorian style down to a T to be able to modify it that way without doing too much damage

[Weery]

Hi Mouse,

Thanks for the comments. I began to make the adjustments regarding your advice but it's going to take me a bit longer to produce a comparison image. I use a few different effects on various layers as well as the line work and all of these need to be adjusted but to different levels to produce a sample. Also, the final step in producing these maps is to make a composite image as a background so I need to factor in that, too.

Basically, it's worth my while having a look to see if it improves the map but it might just take me a while to produce it

Here's a sketch of the map showing where I'm going to head west next, towards the canal. Better build some bridges...

Attachment 95328

[Steel General]

Very impressive so far!

I did some fairly large cities in the past, but nothin' on this scale.

[Weery]

Thanks so much General

This map keeps growing on me as I begin to consider what's beyond the edges and then get a need to sketch them out! But I'm still maintaining control over myself and am about halfway through the third sq km atm.

Thanks for having a look and commenting!