Cartographer I: Basic Map

[Jones King]

Cartorapher: 1

This is the first tutorial in the Cartographer series.

This first tutorial will teach you to create your own world map in Photoshop CS3. The same functions are available in CS2 and other versions Im sure. Gimp users will have to ask Gimp experts to 'translate' the functions as I dont use it nor will I.

All the files are located in the project archieve.


Step I
Open Photoshop and open the file cart1.jpg. Choose image/adjustments/hue-saturation

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Step II
Duplicate the background-layer. Double-click the text 'Background copy' one the new layer. This will allow you to change the layer name. Rename it Layer 1


Step III
Choose Linear Burn from Blending Options (right above the layer window).


Step IV
Double-click the top layer (Layer 1).

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Step V
Select the Burn Tool on the left.

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Make sure the Burn Brush is set to 130. Then while holding down the left mouse botton move it around the egdes of the top layer (Layer 1) not the background-layer. Then set the brush to 74 and do some burning around the entire layer until youre satisfied. You should have something like this

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(not actual size! This is a scaled preview)

Step VI
Duplicate the background-layer and make sure that its now on top of the two other layers. Rename it to Landmass. Select the Eraser Tool and make sure its set to Brush. Now select a brush size for the Eraser Tool that fits your liking. Create a landmass by deleting parts and bits of the Landmass layer. Heres what I got

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(not actual size! This is a scaled preview)

Experiment with different Eraser Tool brushes for maximum effect. I suggest using 50 to erase the large areas and then 25 for the general outlines. And last size 8 for islands, bays, coastlines and so on.


Step VII
Double-click the layer to bring up the Layer Style options. Click the Drop Shadow

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Make sure to apply Noise to the shadow. Not too much just a little bit.

Then apply Stroke

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(color of your own choosing. I would suggest a dark color).

Step VIII
Now select the Burn Tool and set the Burn Tool brush to around 30. Now burn the edges of the landmass you created. Make sure you have the Landmass layer selected. Play around with it until you are satisfied. You can also add text layers to make it more 'map' like. I used standard fonts.

Heres what I got

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(not actual size! This is a scaled preview)

Stay tuned for the Cartographer II

[sud commander]

fantastic tutorial! +rep

[Giovi]

awesome job ty

[Maяcel]

fantastic indeed, ill add it to the index

[Pukin]

The images are down

[Wildrek]

I cant see the images either...

[Conqistador]

The images are down [2]

[Killerbee]

Alright, there is one more way to say it ! Who knows ?

[y2day]

Where did the images go?


Will PM JK and see if he still has them and maybe he can host them somewhere else.

y

[Jones King]

Images are up. Sorry for the trouble.

[Killerbee]

Wow, the tutorial is indeed fantastic !

Good work mate

[Asexual Incubus]

Hoping I could find this tutorial fixed but i'm having a hard time, hoping this bump (If forum allows) will let people know that it's broken!