How do I make a dungeon/cave "feel" like it's underground

[NathanC]

This sounds like a stupid question, when I say it out-loud, but I need a pointer.

I've been working on a map and the first level decends into the earth. I though I had that feeling but the more I look at it the more I really don't think I have any idea what I'm doing.

Basically I'm trying to get the effect that the ground level is at the base of a hill/mountain and the dungeon decends into the depts below.

Pointers appreciated.

[Gamerprinter]

I've got a tutorial for how I create cavern maps, though it doesn't have a top entrance. I would create the caves as shown, but instead of a same level entrance, I'd enclose the entire cave, then create the entrance at a corner area and use bevels the same way the caves are created and placed above the cavern layers. The entire entry layer would have a heavily feathered edge, or a circular transparency (no transparency in center, 100% transparent on outer edge).

Although I used a vector application (Xara Photo & Graphics Designer), you can easily achieve this in Illustrator, GIMP or Photoshop.

Here's how I'd do it...

sample-cave.jpgsample-top-entrance.jpgsample-combined.jpg

[NathanC]

Thanks for the input, I'll give it a shot when I get back to the map