[Award Winner] Using GIMP to Create an Artistic Regional RPG Map

[wisemoon]

So, I tried again with the alternate mountains technique. I posted it over in the Regional Map discussion forum, but thought I would also post it here in case anyone's been interested in seeing where I'm going with it.

I fixed the mountains (got rid of the inverted ridge), also sharpened them this time (no flat tops), and also fixed the forest. I put in three color layers for the forest (first one Normal mode, second one Grain Merge Mode, third Overlay--slightly different color definition in each layer), did one bumpmap for overall texture, and another bumpmap to bevel the forest (make it pop out more) around the mountains.

Here's the result, and it's what I'll be going forward with as I finish the tutorial:
Xamel_Region_Methd2_Mnt2.jpg

[Proud2baNerd]

I downloaded and unzipped the file. When I tried to to install the color palette but I couldn't find the folder. I am using a Mac so maybe there is a different way to install it? So far I have opened the contents of GIMP's application folder then looked through it and searched the whole computer using Finder.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

[jfrazierjr]

I downloaded and unzipped the file. When I tried to to install the color palette but I couldn't find the folder. I am using a Mac so maybe there is a different way to install it? So far I have opened the contents of GIMP's application folder then looked through it and searched the whole computer using Finder.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Go to the Edit Menu and select Preferences. Scroll down to the Folders and expand that. You should see Palates as an option and when you click on that, it should show the application path for your OS of where to place the files... Also note that you can add additional path locations so you can store them in multiple locations.

[Proud2baNerd]

Go to the Edit Menu and select Preferences. Scroll down to the Folders and expand that. You should see Palates as an option and when you click on that, it should show the application path for your OS of where to place the files... Also note that you can add additional path locations so you can store them in multiple locations.

Thanks, I tried that and it worked! I will now see if I can do the rest . . .

[Gofarman]

Ok, so I have been having a plethora of problems with this tut, I see its value and really want to be able to do this but every step I run into a road block. I have repeated the first parts several times and as I notice one mistake I made another pokes up. This is my latest and likely most basic mistake I am creating the "sea shape" layer and using the Guassian Blur effect when I get a very strange outcome.

Before:


After:


I can't get the Guassian Blur to work now (even after a Gimp restart) and am slowly coming to the conclusion that the learning curve it too steep to troubleshoot everything alone.

...Help me cartography people your my only hope.

[Rhotherian]

Perhaps I shoudl try that too. Not too fond of the coastlines, though...

[jfrazierjr]

ok.. thats not right. In your first image, the Sea Shape layer should be EXACTLY like the Land Mask layer before you do anything to it. Then, make sure you have nothing selected (since that selection limits what the filter works on) by doing Select->None. Then run the Guassian Blur filter and this layer should now look like a big blob kind of the shape of your original Land Mask layer.

If you'll notice you first picture has a black to transparent gradient from the upper left to the lower right and thats why it's not coming out correctly....

[jfrazierjr]

ok.. thats not right. In your first image, the Sea Shape layer should be EXACTLY like the Land Mask layer before you do anything to it. Then, make sure you have nothing selected (since that selection limits what the filter works on) by doing Select->None. Then run the Guassian Blur filter and this layer should now look like a big blob kind of the shape of your original Land Mask layer.

If you'll notice you first picture has a black to transparent gradient from the upper left to the lower right and thats why it's not coming out correctly....

[Gofarman]

mmm, not so.

Even after I delete the Sea Shape layer (with the funny gradient) and duplicate Land Mask I get the same outcome (which it(it being the Sea Shape layer) then looks like the gradient in the above pictures)

[Gofarman]

I'm going to start from scratch again, hopefully I don't make the mistake again.