[Award Winner] Making Map Borders in GIMP

[arsheesh]

There seemed to be some interest on the topic of how to make map borders using GIMP, so I decided to write a mini-tutorial on the Subject. Below I've included a png of what the completed map borders should look like. This is not intended as an exhaustive treatment of the topic, and if anyone would like to add their own tips and tricks to this thread please feel free to do so.

What You Will Need::

In addition to using GIMP 2.6.1, I also make use of a plug-in called Layer Effects, which is a script that attempts to emulate some of the features of Phostoshop's Layer Styles. I will also be using a Slate pattern, which you can find below. To import this to GIMP, click on the image and save it as a file somewhere where you will know where to find it. Then reopen the image in GIMP and save it as a .pat file in the "Patterns" folder of GIMP (I'm using Windows 7 and in my directory it looks like this: Computer > (C:) > Users > Owner > .gimp-2.6 > Patterns). Close and reopen GIMP, and the Slate pattern should be in your patterns dialogue.

Hope this is useful to some of you out there.

Cheers,
-Arsheesh

[Ascension]

Those look super sweet, man.

[jtougas]

This is really great arsheesh. Maybe now I can finally make a decent border. Have some rep.

*EDIT* I guess I recently whacked you with my stick of repping and can't do it again. but consider yourself "repped"..

[Jaxilon]

Thanks so much bro. I'm totally psyched to use this next time around. One area I haven't spent any real time on is making borders for my maps so I'm very glad you did this.

I'm going to take my rep stick now and club you like a baby seal

edit: OUTRAGEOUS!! I'm unable to hit you now....musta been the politically incorrect comment, lol

[arsheesh]

Well thanks guys, I do appreciate the kind words (and the attempted rep), but I'd also like to know if you guys have any constructive feedback on the tutorial. I tired to make it accessible to both those who were bran new to GIMP as well as those of you (and by that I of course mean you Jax and JT) who are old hands with the software. However if you come upon any vague or missing instructions as you're reading through the tut would you mind letting me know? Thanks.

Cheers,
-Arsheesh

[Ascension]

I skimmed it but didn't read it word for word and it seemed fine to me. I saved it and will read it through tomorrow.

[arsheesh]

Thanks A, your feedback is always valuable.

[ravells]

Fabulous! I don't use Gimp, but it looks very easily translatable into photoshop. Love that slate texture too which I've nabbed.

[Steel General]

Nicely done Arsheesh, maybe someday I'll actually get to put it to use (after its converted for Photoshop).

[Ramah]

Nicely done tutorial, Arsheesh.

I'd like to say though, that although it might not be real-world historically accurate (no idea, I'll take your word for it) but I prefer my checkered graticule edging to have mismatched corners. I tried it both ways when I originally did one and I just preferred the looks of it that way.