Hello! Posting my first map

[We Will Fall]

Hello. For the first time I tried my hand on creating a map using image manipulation software (GIMP) and I'm somewhat proud of the result (although its nowhere close to the excellent work I've seen on this forum).

Tutorials used: http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=4335(RobA's mountain drawing) for the mountains and hills
http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=7579(Gidde's forest tutorial) for the forests
+others for basic GIMP using and techniques

I haven't added any landmarks yet so its actually a geographical map, it's based on the DnD Forgotten Realms Faerun and I am going to use it for a campaign I currently run.

Would like to know your opinions on the quality of it + any suggestions.

PS: I'm thinking of adding a large chasm somewhere in there and I haven't managed to find a how-to, so if anyone knows a good one it please tell me.

[SteffenBrand]

Well... GOOD JOB on your first map and welcome aboard!
As for the chasm: Your mountain ridges set a specific view, in this case top down. This means, a chasm could follow the same principle and you just use an area with opposed lightning, making it 'down' instead of 'up'. You could also think about indicating lava in there, if this is the sort of thing you think about including. As for positioning, you should think about tectonic movement, if you want to go for realism. Where are the plates drifting, where would they break. There is a bay in the middle, stretching from there to the North-North-West along the East of the mountains seems a good place to me (and likely the place two plates would touch).

Quality: I'll be honest here and say this - it is very good for a first map, really! But (I guess you aren't doing this professionally or haven't learned Photoshop extensively, etc.) there is room for improvement - as always even among the best here. There is a big tutorial-section here, there you will find A LOT of stuff to help you. Maybe you should take this map over to the Work-In-Progress-Section, I'm sure the community is willing to help you step by step with your questions and with suggestions! =)

Best wishes and keep up the good work,
Steffen

[We Will Fall]

Thank you Steffen for taking the time to reply!

As for the chasm

I appreciate your feedback on the lighting but my real concern is how to give the impression of depth and the general drawing of the chasm. I have tried the opposite of what I did with the mountains but my first attempt was a failure). As for the positioning: The chasm have not occurred naturally (this world is heavy on magic) so I was mostly trying to figure what effects it would have on its surroundings. I was thinking putting a large one between the sea in the middle and the bay you mentioned considering that it could have "pushed" the mountain ranges to the side, or that part of a larger range collapsed. Also maybe I'll put more than one.

I guess you aren't doing this professionally or haven't learned Photoshop extensively, etc

Hehe... actually this is my first contact with any image manipulating software other than MSpaint.

I will check as many tutorials as I can (I already checked yours) and try to improve my designs.

Again thank you for your reply.

[jpstod]

I like the simplicity of your Map.
Myself I prefer more simple maps most of the time.

My Advice save it at several stages...
Be sure to save them as separate files..

[Chick]

Hello We Will Fall, Welcome to the Guild!

To get you started, there is a great tutorial in the sticky section of Tutorials, called
Quickstart Guide to Fantasy Mapping: http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=4276

From there, go to
Hand Drawn Mapping for the Artistically Challenged: http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...ad.php?t=10655

Once you have completed those two tutorials, you'll be well on your way!!

[We Will Fall]

@jpstod Thank you very much! Well I too like its emptiness though it just came out as such (mostly because I was just testing ways of creating things on it)

@Chick I started experimenting on regional maps using the city map tutorial that's in the guide so my second map will be ready soon. Thank you too for the help!