Help with brushes/strokes/lines/settings

[Tuoni]

Hey. I'm a complete doof when it comes to setting up brushes. I'm looking for tips and hints on how I could achieve stronger and clearer stroke- and linework (that's also thin enough).
I set up some examples:

561e66a9b596c2ab38025165e039faa0.png

1. Random example by me. I used the default PS brushes. The lines are slightly blurry and frail.
2. Part of a map by - Max -. Thin and strong lines. Just what I'm trying to achieve.
3. Part of a map by Sapiento. Again, thin and strong lines.

2. and 3. represent my ideals. What sorta brush setups should I be looking at? I'm using a cheap Wacom Intuos and Photoshop CS6.

[ThomasR]

I guess that Max an Sapiento have the same lines that you do, the difference is that the works they post are at a lower resolution than the one they work at. Here's an exemple of what I mean.

This one is at 400 dpi :
Cadurca NB.jpg

The same one at 200dpi :
Cadurca NB 200.jpg

By lowering the resolution, the blur is less visible.
That might not be right, but it can explain.

(Concerning the grainy feel of the coastline, it's a scatter I added to the brush)

[Tuoni]

Oh, I see. That's interesting. Thanks!

[Josiah VE]

I think yours looks fine. I usually use the stand PS brushes too. Usually 3 or 4 px, 100% hardness and pressure size.

I'd like to see that full map of yours.