WIP Kingdom of Braegor - New style(for me)

[landorl]

This is a new map that I am working on, and I am trying out some new styles. I started by drawing the map in pencil, then scanning it in. I then broke the map into two layers. One for the coastline, and then one for the mountains/hills. I erased the hills from the coastal view, and the coastline from the mountains.

I then added layers for the background colors, roads, towns and rivers.

I am obviously still working on this, but I wanted to see what others thought of the style. I am going to redo the scale bar so that it can be read, but the distance is supposed to be 20 miles.

So far, I have spent about 6 hours on the map, and before I go much farther I wanted to know if it was worth it.

[ravells]

The map has a really 'light' sketchy feel to it which I find very pleasing. I like the combination of the mountain symbols and ridgelines - particularly the placement of the latter. I'm not so sure I'm too keen on the green you've used for the land (too oversaturated) for me (I would keep it a very light green as you've done but just desaturate it a tad) and the really big outer glow on the continent, but I guess those are just personal preferences.

This has the potential to be a really great map in that because of the simplicity of the elements you've used, you should be able to pack in loads of labels without sacrificing clarity.

Ravs

[Paul]

I really like the geographical treatment. It's a good palette and style.

The soft depth transitions in the water aren't wowing me, though. I might try a hard transition, or a stylized "vintage" ocean style, just to see how it looks. (By "vintage" I mean with littoral lines a la Tolkien and perhaps just the lighter blue).

[pyrandon]

Hey Landorl, bully for you trying something new. Bravo!

I agree with the statements made by the others (especially the soft water lines, which gives the map too airy a feel, and the overaturation of the green.) I would also like to add that the trees being so detailed offsets the rest of the map & seem out of place. I do really like your mountains, and the general sketch feel of this, though. Nice job, keep going with it!

[landorl]

I didn't like the feel of the woodlands that much either, so I will try to find something a little different to use. I will also try to do a little different with the water. I agree that it doesn't quite fit with the style of the rest of the map.

[landorl]

I've done some more work on the mountains, and on the background color as well as the trees. I am a little more pleased with this. I think it is getting there.

[ravells]

Looking great.....I think I've found a work around on the anti-aliasing problem with CC3. You use a method called the Orton Effect . This is normally used in photography to make images look slightly hyper real but a by-product is a controlled blur on the edges. (The Orton Effect is basically a gaussian blur overlaid on top of the sharp image). You will need an image editor like The Gimp to do it. I've had a play and this is what I came up with (I also increased the contrast a bit). It's not better or worse, but just different and adds a subtle depth to maps which might otherwise appear flat. To see the method, click on the link. It also seems to make contrasting colours pop a little more which is always nice.

Ravs

[pyrandon]

... It's not better or worse, but just different and adds a subtle depth to maps which might otherwise appear flat. ...

I gotta say I disagree: that version is much, much better IMHO. The colors and the details that landorl has so wonderfully crafted are much more clearly visible and attractive. That's my 1.645 cents!

[Robbie]

The new version (before ravells) looks a lot less sketchy and more digital, you've done a great job of cleaning it up.

As for ravells changes...I've long known abotu the orton effect, and used a similar process to create softer photos as well as using a blurred high pass layer on overlay or soft light to brign out contrast and sharpen up pictures as well as give them an otherworldy look...The only thing I dont' like about the OP's map though is the pastels...never been a big fan of pastels.

[landorl]

I'm actually doing this in Photoshop and not CC3, though I do use that for some things.

I have not done this yet, but I plan on redoing the water. I will repaint it in slightly more subdued colors, and I hope to end up with a little better effect to more match the rest of the style of the map.