Mouse's stuff

[ChickPea]

Didn't realise you were using Affinity too, Mouse. I love Designer for map-making. I often use it in conjunction with Inkscape, cos there are a few things Designer can't do (or do as easily as Inkscape). But the fact that both programs support SVG makes it really easy to work between them, without any loss of quality.

I've only used Affinity Photo for, well, editing photos (RAW files, mostly), and it's fairly decent for that. Haven't used it much for mapping, but I've pretty much given up hand-drawing maps these days.

[Mouse]

Didn't realise you were using Affinity too, Mouse. I love Designer for map-making. I often use it in conjunction with Inkscape, cos there are a few things Designer can't do (or do as easily as Inkscape). But the fact that both programs support SVG makes it really easy to work between them, without any loss of quality.

I've only used Affinity Photo for, well, editing photos (RAW files, mostly), and it's fairly decent for that. Haven't used it much for mapping, but I've pretty much given up hand-drawing maps these days.

Oh yes. I got fed up with GIMP not having 'live' filter effects. Didn't want to have to pay again every month for PS, so I tried Affinity since I kept hearing about how it was as good as PS. I've never looked back. Everything I've done in the last 6 months has been done in Photo, with a few bits in Designer.

I used Designer to design the SVG badges for the new Profantasy forum. I've never been able to grasp Inkscape, but AD is pretty much like Corel. Corel is just so overpriced these days.

EDIT:

OMGosh! You're an Administrator now? I'm sorry - I didn't notice the change. Congratulations!

That is such a terrible shame - you not mapping any more! Mapping is really good for the soul. I hope you find time to come back to it at some point in the not too distant future.

[ChickPea]

Oh yeah, admin...thanks!

I haven't given up mapping, just hand-drawing (though, in truth, I haven't made that many maps lately). I'm more interested in vector mapping than hand-drawing. My drawing skills just leave me frustrated, whereas the vector stuff is more enjoyable and satisfying.

Affinity's software ticks a lot of boxes for many people. Photo is not photoshop, but it's good enough for many people, and a steal at the price. I really enjoy using their software, though if they produced a Linux version (which, tbh, is unlikely) it would be my absolute favourite.

[Mouse]

Oh yeah, admin...thanks!

I haven't given up mapping, just hand-drawing (though, in truth, I haven't made that many maps lately). I'm more interested in vector mapping than hand-drawing. My drawing skills just leave me frustrated, whereas the vector stuff is more enjoyable and satisfying.

Affinity's software ticks a lot of boxes for many people. Photo is not photoshop, but it's good enough for many people, and a steal at the price. I really enjoy using their software, though if they produced a Linux version (which, tbh, is unlikely) it would be my absolute favourite.

At last! A straight answer - AP is not the same as PS. Thanks for that.

I find it perfect for my needs, so I won't worry about the difference now. You are quite right - it works really well and is a much more affordable solution.

Since they only recently started providing a Windows version of Affinity (the last couple of years), maybe you will be lucky and get a Linux version eventually? Let's hope so

[rdanhenry]

Glad to see you are still a busy Mouse. I'm sure those cliffs will see a good bit of use. CC3 is probably mostly a frustration for those who think mapping software is "click a button and get a map". A lot of users make serviceable but artistically lacking maps for use in games or references while world-building/writing. That requires minimal skill, and that level of CC3 use is probably much easier to reach than the equivalent level with a general-purpose graphics program. Making a CC3 map beautiful and interesting is probably not easier than making a beautiful and interesting map with a general purpose graphics program, though it might be somewhat quicker, depending on the map.

[Tiana]

CC3 is probably mostly a frustration for those who think mapping software is "click a button and get a map".

Uh, nope, it's because the logic required is vastly different than any other program I've used, the requirements to getting an asset for making new maps in the future are far higher than just making a little drawing transparent and installing it as a brush, stylizing or even selecting a color is a several click process for something that should be 1-2 clicks max, even the fractal edges for the coastline and rivers are less severely organic by nature than I would prefer, and every single workflow within it seems to take twelve times as many steps as just drawing the thing originally would have taken me, with the exception of one tool that blew my mind: the house tube.

As someone who's used general purpose programs and other mapping programs, I think once you learn CC3 you can make maps that look just like CC3 maps and will always be recognized to anyone who knows mapping programs. That doesn't make them bad, and they might even be relatively fast (since someone can spend a ton of time to make a custom set for a specific style of map in theory you can even lose the CC3 look, but many people who use it don't get custom assets).

So yeah, it's harder to make a CC3 map beautiful. It is no less rewarding if you're just supporting your team of awesome gamers, but it's certainly frustrating for reasons other than "what? I couldn't auto generate a map and be done in two minutes?!" as that is not what I expect as an originally Photoshop mapper who later began trying the map related programs. I just expect efficiency in UI choices, which CC3 did not make. For reasons unknown to me everything is more convoluted than just drawing original assets feels.



Also yeah Mouse! Affinity is a great alternative! Not perfect but pretty impressive! I switched to it too.

[Kellerica]

Hey Kellerica!

Thank you!

I see you are using Affinity Designer these days. I'm using Designer and Photo to make new styles for CC3. I haven't got around to making a whole map in Affinity yet, but I probably will eventually. What do you think of it? Is it as good as PS? I don't know, you see. I never even tried PS.

Oh, I do use Affinity designer, but not for mapmaking. AfDE these days is my go-to app for vector design, but for maps I'm still strictly a pixel graphic artist (vector just doesn't allow for the heavy texture work I love so much) and for that I still think PS takes the cake for my personal needs. Vector is good for some mapping elements, mind you, the occasional decorative icon or compass rose, and other more graphic design oriented work.

But yeah, when it comes to maps I'm still PS's collared b*tch, I'm afraid I do own AfPho, but to be honest I haven't touched it in ages. Back when I got it, it had a few features (or lack of them, to be precise) that were absolute deal-breakers for my workflow, so I went back to PS almost right away. I might give it a go again at some point, but the up-to-date version of PS is so great that I'm not in a terrible hurry to get rid of it. I can afford it just fine for now, and I know my way around it too well.

[Mouse]

Oh, I do use Affinity designer, but not for mapmaking. AfDE these days is my go-to app for vector design, but for maps I'm still strictly a pixel graphic artist (vector just doesn't allow for the heavy texture work I love so much) and for that I still think PS takes the cake for my personal needs. Vector is good for some mapping elements, mind you, the occasional decorative icon or compass rose, and other more graphic design oriented work.

But yeah, when it comes to maps I'm still PS's collared b*tch, I'm afraid I do own AfPho, but to be honest I haven't touched it in ages. Back when I got it, it had a few features (or lack of them, to be precise) that were absolute deal-breakers for my workflow, so I went back to PS almost right away. I might give it a go again at some point, but the up-to-date version of PS is so great that I'm not in a terrible hurry to get rid of it. I can afford it just fine for now, and I know my way around it too well.

I'm a multimedia artist myself. Never tie yourself to just one app - it cramps your growth no matter what it is. I guess that AP is not PS, but I've never used PS, so AP is my current go-to for asset creation. CC3 is my go-to for map creation. I have a hard time finding enough time to do maps the long way around on a non-specialised app, though I've been seen doing it several times right here at the Guild in the past. That's how I know that in my case it takes longer

I think it's a workflow thing, different for each person, and depends very much on what you're used to using

[Kier]

I am still in the dark ages, still using GIMP, although I have begun to use blender a lot more for landscape masses and help in the realistic 3d effect.

I still have my CC3, although once I started creating my own assets that went by the wayside.

[ChickPea]

I have to admit... I'm terrified of Blender. I mean, jeez, I don't even know where to start.

Mad respect to all you Blender users!!