Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Managing Inspiration Images/Documents

  1. #1
    Guild Expert Facebook Connected Arimel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Posts
    1,146

    Default Managing Inspiration Images/Documents

    My question is rather straightforward:
    How does everyone manage images that they find inspirational?

    I have, until now, been doing this via a word document with a link to pages where I find an image that I admire by another cartographer. I would write key words so I could search the document should I be looking for specific inspiration for deserts, or figures, or forests etc. However, I have recently had trouble trying to find specific inspiring maps that I remember but can't put a name or a cartographer to and individually opening every link in the document could take quite some time. So how does everyone else manage this? There must be more efficient methods!

  2. #2

    Default

    I use a software call PureRef, it allows you to make like a canvas of multiple images and quickly check them, I highly recommend it. To my surprise, it is remarkably fast, even with a huge amount of picture in it.
    You can even save your ref file with all the pic in it, so you could have, for example a bunch of maps that you check for reference for a particular subject, lets say deserts. Whenever you want to check those, just open the software, pick the file you wish and voila, all the pictures/maps are there.
    My explanation is pretty terrible so here is a link for you to check it out.
    https://www.pureref.com/
    Beside that it's just a well organized system of folders and sub-folders for me.

  3. #3

    Default

    I agree, PureRef is a great app. I use it for putting together environment ref pics when I'm doing a more specific sort of map, like deserts.
    It's really useful to see all of the images together to get a better feel for generalities about an environment that you might not notice on an image by image basis.

    And also agree - just keeping well organized folders. Even then, i still have to search for stuff sometimes.

  4. #4
    Guild Expert Facebook Connected Arimel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Posts
    1,146

    Default

    Thank you both for the suggestions! PureRef is amazing and is precisely what I wanted.

  5. #5
    Professional Artist Tiana's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada!
    Posts
    1,825

    Default

    ...Pinterest.

    That is the only word I have to say on the subject.

    Click my banner, behold my art! Fantasy maps for Dungeons and Dragons, RPGS, novels.
    No obligation, free quotes. I also make custom PC / NPC / monster tokens.
    Contact me: calthyechild@gmail.com or _ti_ (Discord) to discuss a map!


  6. #6
    Community Leader wminish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Christchurch, New Zealand
    Posts
    576

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tiana View Post
    ...Pinterest.

    That is the only word I have to say on the subject.
    I agree 100%, pinterest is also what I use and it's great. There is also the added advantage that you can use pin boards that other people have put together rather than having to always make your own.
    View my map and asset packs on CartographyAssets or DrivethruRPG. Support my work on Patreon. Take a look at my work on my Website or Instagram.

  7. #7

    Default

    I use pinterest too. As Whimish said, the possibility of using others pinboards is a great feature.

  8. #8
    Professional Artist Tiana's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada!
    Posts
    1,825

    Default

    And you can pin your own maps into collections of cartography. Watermark your map before doing this. Other people will now start to find it and pin it without your help when they view associated work.

    Click my banner, behold my art! Fantasy maps for Dungeons and Dragons, RPGS, novels.
    No obligation, free quotes. I also make custom PC / NPC / monster tokens.
    Contact me: calthyechild@gmail.com or _ti_ (Discord) to discuss a map!


  9. #9
    Community Leader Kellerica's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    South Scotland (originally Finland)
    Posts
    2,830

    Default

    Damn, look at y'all being so sensible and efficient! I'm just saving the images to a folder on my external harddrive I name the files with the artist's name in brackets first, "(JohnMapmaker) The Fantasy Map" so the folder sorts the all the maps by the same artist together, and have separate folders for city and regional maps (as well as tutorials and other references) but that is the extent to the amount of organisation that goes into my inspiration pile I think the folder has at this point +200 images or something to that effect.
    Homepage | Instagram | Facebook | Artstation
    Just give me liquorice and nobody gets hurt.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •