This is, I think, pretty much the nature of the beast if you're using software that's anything other than a "stamper" type of thing (like Dundjinni).
Like most pro map-making software, and indeed, professional graphics tools, it's learning curve looks easy at first, but steep to get really elegant results.
I've got a demo download and hope to purchase it in the near future: usefully, it can important map data, and thus you can use real-world geographical data as source material for maps. However, recently I discovered Ortelius, which looks like it's purpose-built, vector-based, software for professional map-makers. The article by Jeff has a decent sample, and there is a gallery of samples online, too.įinding map-making software on the Macintosh has been really difficult, other than the general purpose vector and raster graphics software packages which do exist (Illustrator, Photoshop, Painter, and others like them). has a sort of weird-o user interface easy to learn, but weird.has a fairly active forum with lots of cool ideas and examples.is like MS Paint, in that you just click and drag to lay down terrain.doesn't produce maps that look like professional cartography.produces maps that will tickle your nostalgia, if you've been gaming long enough.Then, I read about Hexographer in an article at Jeffs Gameblog. I'd given up and was using Skitch, a great screen capture tool, for its lousy doodling features. Basically everything else mentioned so far went on my "no, thanks" list for one reason or another. Everything I tried was a complete pain to use, had a huge learning curve, wanted to run only on Windows, cost an arm and a leg, or was in some other way not going to work for me. I guess I'm a little late to the rodeo here, but I struggled with this question for quite a while. This is done by drawing the symbols and terrain in vector but have commands treat the objects as bitmaps as needed for various effects.īoth Inkscape and AutoRealm are free to use and download. However Campaign Cartographer and Fractal Mapper has done some interesting work in combining the advantages of vector drawing with the advantage of paint program. While powerful these program lack the powerful tools of the mainstream vector drawing program. There are specific mapping program like Profantasy Campaign Cartographer, NBOS' Fractal Mapper, and Autorealm. For maps that are more artistic in presentation you can export images from any one of these programs into a paint program for final image processing. Many have the ability to manage sets of symbols. The advantage of vector drawing programs is their ability to incorporate fine details, infinite zoom, and ease of editing. All three are vector drawing program as opposed to paint programs like and paint shop pro. Inkscape, CorelDRAW, or Abode Illustrator.
Part of what I try to maintain whilst using Photoshop is to make things as fluid as possible with regard to change, so I use a lot of non-destructive style techniques using adjustment layers and layer masks, I'm not sure if or PSP have all those features. Here's the kind of look and feel I'm able to achieve quickly in Photoshop.Īnd here's a map I'm making in a style that I really couldn't imagine doing in anything other than Photoshop.Īny of these styles should be possible in other programs like or PaintShopPro. I did persevere with Campaign Cartographer for many years, but found it hard to use and the maps always looked like every other CC map. Sometimes I'll use Autorealm to generate some fractal coastlines or rivers quickly as well. Modern style floor-plan maps I've started to make in Flash, it's just turned out to be the fastest method for me. Things like initial outlines of coasts and things I find best in Illustrator, but then move to Photoshop for the real polishing of the look and feel. I often use Illustrator in combination with Photoshop. I use Photoshop mainly, as do many professional cartographers.