Starting from scratch ..paper.

[Colin Logan]

Firstly, thanks for having me aboard. I came here looking to learn and share that's about the sum of it. Being a gamer I've drawn a few maps before but I have always been in love with technical drawings in general. Something about all the extra lines and directionals and datum contrasting beautiful images just does it for me.

On to the goodness, I've just begun work on a world map and will share some pics as it goes. I'm sure many mistakes will be and have been made thus far but there's the fun. I bounce around a bit between projects ( I'm sure I'm not the only one ) so it make take a while to complete this.

Right now I am trying to learn about geography and climate to make more logical placement choices for forests, tundra etc. Also this world has no official name yet so I'll call it Urth 1.0. This is the first sketch/doodle and then the beginning of something larger..

[Greason Wolfe]

Welcome to the guild, Colin. If you're looking for tips or advice, you've come to the right place. I would suggest the tutorials sub-forum for starters and don't hesitate to ask questions, most everybody here are friendly and more than willing to answer questions or offer advice. Looks to me like you are off to a good start, so have a little Rep for that and for posting a map in your first post.

[Colin Logan]

Thanks for the warm welcome, GW!

I'm adding notes as I learn what not to do. Hopefully this will help other amateurs avoid mistakes or at least garner a chuckle or head shake from the pros.

So far, I inked in the tropics line before I understood what a Mercator projection is. So when I redrew my latitudinal lines the tropics fell off. no problem, I'm an artist and a few extra cryptic measures can enhance its fantasy feel .. I hope.

Also there was little planning before I jumped on the large map and in so doing scale was decided after the land masses were drawn and adored. I got real lucky that the scale came out close to what I wanted and I just happen to have 24 longitudinal marks. Needless to say, I am using Earth as my model; axis; rotation etc.

Also wik, and this is shameful, I had to redraw my main river because it forked in the wrong direction.


so Now, I am trying to find the style I want for mountain ranges.

I wonder if there is a name for maps that have grossly embellished images for landmarks and towns but are otherwise useful maps.