HowtoDrawFantasyArtandRPGMaps
Step-By-StepCartographyforGamersandFans
JaredBlando
Cincinnati,Ohiowww.impact-books.com
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Contents
SpecialOffers
Introduction
BasicMaterials
AdvancedMaterials
CHAPTERONE
BuildingYourWorldCoastlinesandBoundariesDefineYourWorld
CHAPTERTWO
Mountains,Forests,RiversandWaterHighPeaks......andRuggedHillsWoodsandForestsRiversandTributariesShoreandWaterLines
CHAPTERTHREE
TownandCityIconsCitiesCastlesandHoldfasts
CHAPTERFOUR
TypographyScriptStyleCulturalTypographyLocationLabelsAreaLabeling
CHAPTERFIVE
LandmarksRoadsandRoutesSpecialLocations
CHAPTERSIX
IconographySimpleCityIconsLocationIconsOceanIcons
CHAPTERSEVEN
HeraldryandShieldsShieldShapesSimpleHeraldrySimpleShieldSymbolsPaintingShieldsShieldEmbellishmentsShieldPlacement
CHAPTEREIGHT
PoliticalBoundariesBoundaryLinesBoundaryColorsBoundaryTypesUsingNaturalBoundaries
CHAPTERNINE
BackgroundsBordersBorderCornersComplexCornersCornerFlourishesAdvancedFlourishesCompassLegendsLegendInformationInformationBoxes
CHAPTERTEN
PaintingTechniquesInkingPenandBrushInkingDetailInkingTypographyPaintingCreatingaDetailedBorderDigitalPainting
CHAPTERELEVEN
PuttingitAllTogetherCreatingaFantasyMap
AbouttheArtist
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Theworldoffantasyisfloodedwiththeimagesofcharacters,castlesandepicbattles,yetcartographyhasaparticularlyintrinsicplaceamongsttheseotherworksofart.Mapshavethemagicalabilitytocreateaworldforaviewerwithouttheneedfortext,visuallyillustratingentiredomains,citiesandkingdomswiththestrokeofabrush.Alongwiththeabilitytolinkpeopletothestoriestheyreadbyplacingthereaderintotheworldofthestoryteller’simagination,mapsaddanextralayerofdepthandplausibilitytotheimaginedworldanditspeoples.Thoughthereareagreatnumberofdifferenttypesofmaps,fromworldandregionaltocitiesorevenspecificbuildings,thisbookisa(modest)attempttogivethereadertheabilitytocreatetheirownworldmapsinaneasyandeffectivemanner.Startingwithtechniquesthatgraduallymovefrombasicintothemoreadvanced,Iwillactasyourguidethroughtheextensive,butrewardingprocessofmapmaking.Fromtallmountainsandrollingplainstothegreatseas,thepowerofcreationisatyourfingertips!
BasicMaterials
DrawingImplementsFormapwork,it’sbesttohavetherighttoolsofthetradewithyou.Havingafewdifferenttypesofpencilsisbest,namelya2H,anHBanda2B,aswellasakneadederaserandapencilsharpener.Ialsouseamechanicalpencilthattakes.05mmleadfordetailwork.
.05mmleadfordetailwork.
ANoteonPencils
Drawingpencilsrangefrom9H(lightestlinecolorandthemostclay)to9B(darkestandrichestcolor,containingmoregraphite).Forouruse,a2Hpencilproducesalightlineandisexcellentforlightsketchinganddelicateshading.TheHBpencilisagreatall-purposetoolandisverymuchinthemiddleofthepencilspectrum,makingitquiteusefulfordrawinginmountainsandhills.A2Bissuitabletodarkenupboundaries,givinglighterpencilsaheavierlineweight.Amechanicalpencilisabitadvanced,butitalsogivesanexcellentrangeoflineweightanddensitywithsomepractice.
DrawingSurfacesAfteryouhavepickedupyourpencils,it’stimetothinkaboutwhatsurfaceyou
Afteryouhavepickedupyourpencils,it’stimetothinkaboutwhatsurfaceyouwillbedrawingon.Thepaperyourmapisonisjustasimportantaswhatyouuseforrendering.Drawingpadscomeinagreatmanysizesandweights,andareuptoaperson’spreference,thoughideallyyouwillwantonewithenoughroomtodrawandnotbecramped.Watercolororparchmentpaperarebothidealformapmakingaswell.IpersonallyuseArcheswatercolorpaperformapmaking,sinceitholdspencilandinknicelyandit’squitedurable.Papersarecategorizedbypoundagelevel(65-lbs[175gsm],90-lbs[190gsm],
etc.),whichessentiallyishowstiffandthicktheyare.Thehigherthepoundage,thestifferthepaperis.Formapmaking,it’sbesttohaveapaperthatisatleast65-lbs(175gsm)asthiswillgiveyouasturdybase.Watercolorpapersalsohavea“press”rating,eitherhotorcold.Hot-pressedpaperissmootherandhaslesstoothtoit,whilecold-pressedpaperisrougherandhasmoretexture.
AgingPaper
Togetthatniceoldparchmentlook,trysoakingyourpaperindarkroastcoffee.Youcaneitherusealargepantolaythepaperin,ordampenthepapersandthenbrushonthecoffeewithafoldedpieceofpapertowel.Itwillyellowyourpaperbeautifully.
AdvancedMaterials
Whenyouarereadytomoveonfrompencilwork,therearesometoolsthatyouwillrequire.Fortraditionalwork,avarietyofbrushesisessentialforpaintinganddetailwork,whileinkingrequiresspecificinksorinkpens.Whenworkingdigitally,youwillneedatablet,stylusandAdobePhotoshoporGIMP.
InksAfteryourpencilwork,inkingwillgivepermanenceandboldnesstoyourmap.Thoughmostpeoplethinkofinksasjustboldthicklines,andindeedthisisone
Thoughmostpeoplethinkofinksasjustboldthicklines,andindeedthisisoneofthetechniquesthatcanbeused,inksalsoworkwellaslightwashesthatcanbebrushedontogivegentletonality.Inkscomeinabafflingvarietyofcolors,thoughit’sbesttostickwithblack,brownandredinkstostart.Youwillneedasmallselectionofbrushesforyourinkwork,includingnos.00,0and1round,ano.2flataswellasalarge1-inch(25mm)flatwatercolorbrush.Calligraphypenswithinterchangeableheadtips,aswellasCopicMultilinerbrownorblackinkpensarealsouseful,andeachcomeinavarietyofsets.Inkinganditsvarioustoolsarecoveredinamoredetailedfashioninchapter10.
TraditionalBrushesBrushescomeinabewilderingvarietyofshapesandsizes,butyouwillneedonlyaselectfewtogetstarted.Themostcommonbrushshapesareroundorflat,andmostarenumberedfrom00(thesmallest)to10(thelargest).Brushesalsofallintothreedifferentgroups:watercolor,acrylicsandoils,andaregroupedbybristlemakeup:synthetic,naturalormixed.Foraddingcolorinmapmaking,it’sbesttousewatercolorbrushesinamixtureofflatsandrounds.Thiswillbediscussedinmoredetailinlaterchapters.
Thiswillbediscussedinmoredetailinlaterchapters.
DigitalToolsWhenworkingdigitally,youwillneedatabletandstylus.Astylusisthepentoolthathasbuilt-inpressuresensitivitytohelpsimulatelightorheavystrokesdependingonhowhardorsoftyoupress.Thereareafewtabletsthatarecheapandeasytogetatyourlocalelectronicsshoporonline,thoughIpersonallyuseaWacomtablet.Withmultipleinterchangeablenibstosimulatedifferentsurfaces,it’sanexcellenttoolforworkingdigitally.Asforsoftware,AdobePhotoshoporGIMP(afreewareprogramverysimilartoPhotoshop)arebothexcellentandfunctionverysimilarly.
CHAPTERONE
BuildingYourWorld
Whetheryouarepartialtodeepdarkforests,tallmountainsorvastplains,thischapterwillteachyouthetechniquestobringyourvisionofafictionalworldtothepageusingyourpencilsandimagination.Wewillcoversomeofthebasicmethodsoflayinginthevariouselementsthatwillmakeupyourfantasticalworld.Mapsoftenconsistofamultitudeofelementsthatconveyinformationtoanonlooker.Rivers,hills,mountains,citiesandsuchareallpartsofasuccessfulandinterestingmap,thoughabalanceoftheseelementsisalwaysagoodthing.Havingastrongideaofthelandsyouwishtodrawisgreat,but
don’tbeafraidtolookatthemanyhistoricalmapsthatexisttogiveyoufurtherinspirationforyourownmap.Mostmapsarebasedonfunctionality,sokeepthisinmindwhenlayingoutyours.Afunctionalfantasymapismorebelievableandthereforemoreexcitingandinspiring.Usingvariouspencilstosketchanddraw,soonyouwillhaveaworldofyourowncomingtolife!
CoastlinesandBoundaries
Thefirstthingweneedtodowhenstartinganewmapistolayinthecoastlines.Coastlinesareessentiallytheboundariesofyourfantasymap,servingtobothdifferentiatebetweenlandandseaandtodefinetheparametersofthetypeofworldyouarecreating.Beforelayinginyourboundaries,trytothinkofthetypeoflandsthatyouwanttoportray,aswellasthepeoplewhowillinhabitthem.Mapsbasedonrealplacesandlocationsareoftensomeofthebestbecausetheyaregroundedinourreality,andarethusmorebelievable.Doyouwantalandlockedmountainousareafulloflakesandrivers,asprawlingarchipelagoofmanyislandsorsomethinginbetween?Howeveryouwantthem,yourcoastlinesareaveryimportantpartofyourfantasymap.
Ocean-HeavyMapSampleAnocean-heavymapwillhaveonly20–30percentofthelandmassshowing,andtherestiswater.Havingalargecentralislandortwosurroundedbysmallerdistantislandsworkswell.Amapsuchasthiswouldhavevastlydifferentcultures(mostwouldbeseafarers)thananormalmap.
BalancedMapSampleBalancedmapsaredivided50/50or60/40,usuallyinfavoroftheland.Thiswouldbemorerepresentativeofourownearth,mostlybecausemapsofthesetypesdon’tincludewholeseasandoceans,justpartsofthem.
Land-HeavyMapSampleCoastlinesandboundariesareoftendepictedasbeingverybroadanddark,withcleardefinitionbetweenoceansandlandmassessothatthereisnoconfusionbetweenthetwo.Coastlineswillmostlikelybetheboldestlinesonyourmap,andwithgoodreason.A2Hpencilisbestforlayingoutyourinitialsketchlines,whilea2Bpencilisbestformakingdark,heavylines
DefineYourWorld
We’llstartwithasinglecontinentfornow,moveontoislandsandthenfinishwithsomecoastlinedetailsandrefinements.Whendrawinginyourcoastlineboundaries,youwillstartwithalightpencilframeworkofallthemajorcontinentsandgeographicalareas,includinganyislandsandmajorlakes.Afterthelightsketchcomesthedarkerpenciltofurtherdefineandsolidifytheboundaries,makingthemniceandclear.Whentheboundarieslookdarkanddefined,thelightpencillinecanbeerased,leavingonlythebroadanddarkfinalcoastlines.Onceyouknowthesebasicsteps,youcanmoveontoaddinginmultiplecontinentstoformalargemap.
STEP1:DrawaSimpleShape
Tobegin,lightlydrawaverysimplecontinentshape,roughinginthebasicoutlinethatyoucandetailfurtherinthenextstep.Begeneralanddon’tpresstoohard;youjustwantalightpencillinethatyoucaneraseormodifyinthenextstep.
STEP2:RefinetheCoastline
Onceyourgeneralshapeisdone,gobackinwithanHBpencilandrefineyouroriginallinesoit’smoredetailed.Don’tbeafraidtobecreativeorstrayradicallyfromyouroriginalline.Trytomakeyourcoastlinesfunandinteresting.Whenyouhavefinishedyourdarkerandmoredetailedline,erasethelightsketch.
BalancingtheMap
Yourlightsketchwillbetheframeworkthatyoubuilduponandisveryimportantforcompositionofthemapasawhole.Itisessentialtotrytostrikeagoodbalancebetweentheamountoflandandwater.Amapwithtoomuchwatermaylooktoosparseoruninteresting,whileamapthatiscompletelylandlockedmaylookjustasstrangewithno,orveryfew,bodiesofwater.
STEP3:AddIslands
Onceyourbasiccontinentisdrawn,lookforareastodrawinanyislandsthatmayfittheframeworkofyourmap.Islandsareoftengroupedtogetherinbunchesofirregularshapes,formingchainsthatstretchbetweencontinentalmasses.Somearesolargethattheymayformtheirownsmalllandmassthatistotallyseparatefromthemainland.Experimentwithshapesandsizes,fromshortandstouttolongandthin.Justrememberthatislandsarealmostalwaysaccompaniedbyothersmallerislandstoformanislandgrouping.
STEP4:AddLakes
Onceyourislandsarelaidin,youshouldstartthinkingaboutlayinginsomelakesonthemainland,orevenonyournewislandsiftheyarebigenough.Lakesareoftenlongandfingerlikesincetheyaredepressionsthatlieinbetweenmountainsandhills.Justaswithislands,don’tbeafraidtotryallshapesandsizesortohavemultiplelakesgroupedneareachother.
sizesortohavemultiplelakesgroupedneareachother.
STEP5:CreateInletsandBays
Inletsandbaysareagoodwayofmakingyourcoastlineveryunique.Createsomebaysbydrawingintotheinteriorofyoursketch,forminghalfbowl-likeshapesalongyourcoastlines.Bayscanalsobequiteirregular,orevencontainsomesmallislandstohelpdefinethem.Don’tbeafraidtomakethemabitmore
somesmallislandstohelpdefinethem.Don’tbeafraidtomakethemabitmoreangularorjagged.Inletsareeasier,andyoucanincludesomebydrawingwedgesorsmallpocketsthatfaceintoyourlandmasses.Besuretoerasetheoriginalsketchlinesasyouformyournewcoastlines.
LakeShapes
Treeleavesareagoodsourceofshapeinspirationformodelingyourlakes,especiallymapleleaves.Lakesoftenlieinbetweenmountainsandhillsbecausewaterislazyandwillalwaysrundownhill.So,remembertodrawsomelakesaroundthemwhenyougetachance.
STEP6:SolidifyYourCoastlines
Onceyouhavecompletelylaidoutyourframeworkinpencil,it’stimetogobackintosolidifyyourcoastlines.Usinga2Bpencil,traceoveryourlines,wigglingthepencilabittogivemoredetailandcharactertotheoriginalline.Don’tbeafraidtostrayfromyouroriginallineortoaddinmorebays,inletsandislands.Afteryouhavedarkenedupyourframework,carefullygobackinand
eraseanypartsoftheoriginalframeworkthatmightbeshowing.Tryandleaveonlyyourdarkenedcoastlinesbehind.
STEP7:FinishedCoastlines
Whenyouhavefinishedcleaningupyouroriginallightframework,yourcoastlinesshouldlookabitlikethis,andyou’llhavecompletedthefirstpartof
coastlinesshouldlookabitlikethis,andyou’llhavecompletedthefirstpartofyourfantasymap.
CHAPTERTWO
Mountains,Forests,RiversandWater
Tallmountainsandruggedfoothillsoftendominatefantasyrealmsofallshapesandsizes.Mountainsseemtoaddasenseofvastnessandawetoafantasyworld’ssettingsandsurroundings.Mountainsnotonlyserveasphysicalboundariesbetweenculturesandraces,theyoftenformpoliticalboundariesaswell,dividingvariousnationsandpeople.Yourfantasymapwillalsoneedforests.Theyareaninstantareaof
mysteryandwonderthatserveasboundaries,obstaclesorrefugesfortheinhabitantsofyourworld.Forestscanrangefromdensegroupingsoftreesforminganuntamedwilderness,tosmallbodiesoftreesthatrepresentquietandpeacefulwoodlands.Geologically,forestsareoftenlocatedinandaroundmountainsduetotheimmensewateryrunoff,thoughanythinggoesinafantasymap!Don’tbeafraidtoincludehauntedwoods,sparseordeadtreesorlarger-than-lifemagicalwoodlands.Bodiesofwaterhaveabigimpactonmapsandhowtheyarelaid
out.Seasareusuallymassivebodiesofwaterthatarelargerthanlakes,butarestillconnectedtothelargerocean.Riversarefreshwaterrunofffrommountainsandexcessiverainfallthatformintopathsthatflowdownintotheseasandoceans.Riversareoneofthemost
flowdownintotheseasandoceans.Riversareoneofthemostimportantlandfeatureswithinamap(andacountry!),thoughtheycanbetrickytoplacecorrectly.Agoodideatokeepinmindforriverplacementisthatwaterisgenerallylazyandwilltakethepathofleastresistancedownhill.Thus,manymajorriversstartasacombinationofsmallertributariesthatcomedownoutofthetallmountainvalleysandhillrangesthatareoverflowingwithmeltingsnowandrainfall.
HighPeaks...
Whendrawingmountains,beginwithalightpencillinetosketchthebasicmountainshapesyouwanttodraw.It’sagoodideatohavealightgeneraloutlineofwhereyouwouldliketoplaceyourrangesandsolitarymountains.Afteryoursketchiscomplete,drawinthemountainsonebyone,followingyourlightsketch.Afteryourmountainshavebeendrawn,feelfreetosketchgroupsofhillsthatmayliearoundornearthemountainranges,orformseparateandindependentchainsoftheirown.Drawinghillsismuchthesameasdrawingmountainsthoughtheyaremuchsmallerandmorebowlshaped.Finally,gooveryourlightsketchlineswithadarkerpenciltoadddefinitionanddetail.
STEP1:LayOutaMountainRange
Tostart,takeyour2Hpencilandlightlydrawlineswhereyouwouldlikeyourmountainrangestobe.Theseguidinglinesareusefulforyoutofollow,andallowyouanideaofwhereyourmountainswillbegrouped.Onceyouarehappywiththegeneralplacement,moveontothenextstep.
STEP2:DrawaMountain
TakeyourHBpencilandslowlydrawyourfirstmountainshape,makinganupside-downVorW.Tryanddrawthisfirstmountaininthemiddlepartofyourinitiallightsketchline.
MountainPlacement
Whendrawinginmountains,it’sagoodideatothinkaboutwhereyou’dliketoplacethem,howmountainousyou’dlikeyourworldtobeingeneralandhowyourmountainswillaffecttheworldasawhole.Mountainsserveasexcellentcountryboundaries,sokeepthisinmindbeforeyoustartsketchingthemin.Ofcourse,youcouldjuststartplacingmountainsinrandomspotsandseewhereittakesyouaswell.It’syourworldafterall!
STEP3:CreateaMountainChain
Nowthatyourfirstmountainiscomplete,it’stimetogivehimsomefriendsandmakeawholemountainchain.Continuebyaddingamountaintotherightandleftofyourfirstmountainuntilyourwholechainiscomplete.Mountainsdrawninthemiddleofthechainshouldbethelargest,whilethosetowardtheend
shouldgraduallyreduceinsize.Mountainsarefarfromregularinshapeandsize,sofeelfreetoexperimentwithdifferentlookingmountaintops,fromthemorejaggedtothemorerounded.
STEP4:EraseGuidelines
Takeyourkneadederaserandgentlyeraseyourstartingguidelines.
STEP5:DefineYourMountains
Onceyourbasicmountainchainhasbeencompleted,it’stimetofleshthemoutandgivethemsomedefinition.TakeyourHBpencilanddrawthinlinesthatrundowneachsideofthemountain,witheachmountainhavingfivetotenlineseach.Dothisforeachofyourmountainsandwatchhowtheycometolife!
STEP6:FinishYourMountainRange
Onceyouarehappywithyourfirstmountainrange,repeatsteps2–5everywhereonyourmapthatyouhaveplacedyourlightmountainguidelines.
...andRuggedHills
Hillsarethesmallercousinsofmountains,butarejustasimportanttoamap’sgeography.Hillsalsoserveasphysicalandpoliticalboundaries,aswellasroughterrainforvariousnefariousorevilcreaturestolurkwithin.Hillsareusuallylocatednexttoorverynearmountains,thoughtheywilloftenformtheirowndistinctrangesaswell.
STEP1:AddYourFirstHill
Nexttothebottomofoneofyourmountains,takeyourHBpencilanddrawasmallupside-downU,abouthalforquarterthesizeofamountain.
STEP2:LayInMoreHills
Afterthat,drawafewmoreupside-downUshapesalongthemountain’sloweredges,andcontinuethisallalongthemountainrange.
STEP3:FormHillRanges
Onceyourhillsatthebottomofthemountainsaredrawnin,feelfreetodrawmorehillsextendingoffofyourexistinghills.Thesearehillsthatextendoutfromthemoremountainoushighground,forminghillrangesoftheirown.Notallhillshavetoextendoffofthemountains;feelfreetoaddhillswhereveryouseefit.Havingagroupoffourormorehillsisbest,arrangedintorelativelines.Tryandmakeshapeswithyourhills,formingC’sandS’sforvariety.
STEP4:DefineYourHills
Whenyouhavefinishedlayinginallyourbasichills,gobackinandaddafewsmalllinestoeachhillbottom,justlikeyoudidtodefineyourmountains.Thisaddssomedimensionandweighttotheranges.
STEP5:CompletetheRanges
Afterstep4,yourmountainsandhillsshouldlooksomethinglikethis.
STEP6:AddCharacter
Ifyouarefeelingadventurous,getcreativeandaddtrollholesandotheropeningsandpathsinandaroundyourhillsandmountains.Anydetailsyoucanaddwillbringsomecharactertothemapingeneral.
AlternateMountains
Thereareseveraldifferentwaysofdetailingmountains.Someusemoreshadingthanothers.Onceyouhavemasteredthebasicmountaintechnique,tryandpracticedrawingsomemountainstoresembletheexamplesshown.Amapshouldkeepthesamemountaintechniqueforuniformity’ssake,thoughIurgeyoutoexperimentanddevelopyourownmountaintypesandforms.Certainmountaintechniquesworkbetterthanothersdependingonthetoneofthemap.
WoodsandForests
Drawingforestsisafunandinterestingwayofaddingalotofdimensiontoyourmap.Startingwithageneralareasketch,youwilllayinafewtreeshereandthere,firstdrawingthelargegroupsoftreesthatwillformthemainpartsofyourmajorforests.Afterthat,youcanaddsmallerwoodlandsorstandingbodies,andfinallyendbyaddingsomedefinitiontoyourwoods.Thereareafewseparatetechniquesforthedepictionofforests,withsomedifferentshapesandsizesthatyoucanuse,thougheachiseasytolearn.
STEP1:MarkGeneralForestAreas
Takeyour2Hpencilandlightlydrawthegeneralareaswhereyouwanttoplaceyourmajorforests.Pressverylightlysinceyouwillonlybeusingtheselinesas
yourmajorforests.Pressverylightlysinceyouwillonlybeusingtheselinesasaguide.
STEP2:DrawtheFirstTree
Nowcomesthefunpart!UsingyourHBpencil,drawyourfirsttreebymakingatriangularshapewithaflatterbottom.Yourfirsttreeshouldbeplacedwithintheguidelinesyoudrew.
STEP3:DrawMajorForests
Onceyouhavedrawninyourfirsttree,expandyourforestbydrawingmoretreesusingthesamegeneralshapeasyourfirstone.Keepdrawingtreesonenexttoanotheruntilyoufeelsatisfiedwiththesizeandshapeofthegrouping.Feelfreetovarythesizeofyourtreestomakethemlookmoreorganic,groupingtogethersimilartreeshapestoaddvariety.
STEP4:AddMinorWoodlands
Onceyourmajorforestshavebeendrawn,addinsomerandomgroupingsoftreesinandaroundyourmajorgroupingstoaddmoreflavorandvariety.Tryanddrawyourminorwoodlandsbygroupingthreetofivetrees.Theseminorwoodlandscanbeplacedanywhereonthemap,thoughtheylookreallygoodwhentheyareusedtobreakupreallysparseareas.
STEP5:DefinetheTrees
Onceyourmajorandminorwoodlandsarefinished,it’stimetoaddsomedefinition.TakeyourHBpencilandgentlyshadeinthebottomcornerportionsofeachtreewithafewlines.Tryandsticktoonlyonesideofthetreeshapetoprovideamoreuniformlook,thoughsometreesshouldbemoreshadedthanothers.Aftershading,addtreetrunks.
STEP6:FinishWithShading
Afteryourtreetrunksarelaidin,it’stimetoshadeyourforestsandwoodlands.UseyourHBpenciltodrawlinesaroundthebottomofyourtreetrunksandalongthesidesofyourestablishedforests,aswellasinbetweenthegapsyouhaveleft.Trytoonlyaddshadelinestothebottomofyourtreegroupings,varyingyourlinelength,togiveanappropriateshadinglook.
TypesofTrees
Becreativewiththeshapesofyourtrees.Treescomeinawholevarietyofshapesandsizes,andyoushoulduseseveraldifferenttypesfordifferenttreelooks.Certainshapescanrepresentdifferenttreespecies,andtheylookbestwhengroupedtogether.However,mixingandmatchingmakesforaninterestingandcomplex-lookingforestthatissuretoadddimensiontoyourworld.
RiversandTributaries
Thedrawingandplacementofriverscanbeatrickybutreallyrewardingexperiencewhenmakingyourmap.Thevisionofmountainstreamscascadingdownthemountainsidesandrushingintomightyriversisapowerfulone.Riversareoneofthebestnaturalboundariesavailabletoamapmakerandhaveservedasexcellentdefensivebordersforkingdomsandvyingpowerssincetimeimmemorial.Allriversactuallybeginquitesmall,astinystreamsofmountainwatersthattrickledownhilltomergetogether,forminglargerstreamscalledtributaries.Tributariescontinuetoflowdownhill,pickingtheeasiestpaththroughtheland,eventuallyrunningintoothertributariesandformingintoalargerriverthatflowsouttothesea.Sincewaterflowsaroundobstaclesinsteadofrightoverthem,riversandtributariesoftenhavedistinctsnakelikeproperties,andturnandtwistacrosstheland.
STEP1:DecideGeneralRiverPlacement
Takingyour2Hpencil,lightlydrawyourfirstguidelineforwhereyouthinkariverwouldstartandend.Rememberthatriverswilloftenbegininthemiddleoftwomountainorhillranges,soyoushouldplaceyourriversomewhereneararangeandhaveitendinthesea.Riverssometimesoriginatefromlakestoo,thoughmostlakesneverspawnmorethanasinglemajorriver,andsomeriverswillflowthroughalakeandondowntothecoast.
STEP2:DeveloptheFirstRiverLine
Whenyouarehappywiththeinitialplacementofyourriver,it’stimetodrawitindarker.TakeyourHBpencilandfollowthegeneraldirectionofyourguidingline.Startatthebaseofthemountainsandslowlydrawawavylineoutwardtowardthesea.Thelinemaycurveandsnake,sodon’tbeafraidtogiveitsomemovementandcurvature.
STEP3:CompletingYourFirstRiver
Startingabouthalfwaydownyourfirstline,drawanotherlineparalleltoyourfirstandcontinueitallthewaytothecoast.Riversoftenwidenastheyapproachthecoast,andthisgivesyouagoodrepresentationofthat.
RiverShapes
Riversoftenlooklikegianttwistyearthwormsfromtheskyastheyfollowthenaturalcurvatureoftheearth.Youdon’tneedtoemulatethateffectcompletely,butsomemovementandsnakingisalwaysagoodthingtohintatandwillmakeyourriverslookmoreexciting.TakealookatthemightyMississippiRiverinNorthAmerica,ortheNileinnorthernAfricaforsomeinspiration.
STEP4:OpentheRiverMouth
Whenbothriverlinestouchtheoceanboundaryonthecoastandtheriverwatermeetstheocean,it’scalledtheriver’smouth.Takeyourkneadederaserand
gentlyerasebetweenthetwolinestoformanopenrivermouth.Oncecomplete,youshouldhaveanice-lookingrivermouth.
STEP5:DevelopaRiverDelta
Toattemptsomethingabitmorecomplicated,youcouldtryyourhandatariverdelta,whichisessentiallywhenariverfragmentsbackintosmallertributariesbeforeitreachestheocean,formingcoastallowlandsripeforlushcrops.Todrawariverdelta,justaddafewsmalllinestotherivermouth,makingitspreadoutlikethebranchesofatree.
LinePressure
Presslightlywithyourpencilwhenyouarenearthemountainsandhills,andthenharderforadarkerandricherlinewhenconnectingyourrivertothecoast.Thisgivestheimpressionthatariverstartssmallbutgainsstrengthandspeedasitconnectstotheocean.
andspeedasitconnectstotheocean.
STEP6:DrawingtheTributaries
Onceyouhavefinishedtheriver,addthetributariesthatflowdownfromthemountainsandhills.Tributariesoftenlooklikebranchesstemmingfrommountainsandhills.Tosimulatethesesmallerstreams,takeyourHBpencilanddrawathinwavylinefromtheclosestmountainterraintothetopofthenearestriver,snakingabitalongtheway.Continuedrawingthosetributaries,connectingthemtothetopmostpartofthe
river(whereitbegins).Agoodruleofthumbistohavethreetofivetributariesperriver,withmostcomingfromsurroundinghillsandmountains.
STEP7:RedrawtheRiverTop
Afteryourtributariesarefinished,erasethetopofyourriver,andredrawitlikeatributary.
STEP8:FinishedRiver
Yourfinishedriversandtributariesshouldlooksomethinglikethis.
ShoreandWaterLines
Nowthatyouhavedefinedyourlandmassesandrivers,it’stimetoputsomeflairintothecontinentboundaries.Emphasizingtheshoreswithabitofdecorationcangoalongwaytowardmakingiteasytoquicklyrecognizelandmasses.Wecandothiswithatechniquethat’seasytodo,thoughitmighttakeabitofpracticetoperfect.
STEP1:DrawShorelines
Takeyour2Hpencilandstartdrawingalightlinearoundyouroriginalcoastlines.Thelineshouldmaintainabout ⁄ "(3mm)distanceawayfromyouroriginalboundary,andshouldbelighterinweightandrichness.Thislineshouldnotcompletelymimicyourcontinentaloutline,andshouldsmoothpastanymajordetailsofyourcoastline,onlygivingageneralimpression.
STEP2:Don’tForgetLakeShorelines
Ifyouhaveanylakesonyourmap,makesuretoincludeashorelinewithineachtoo.
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STEP3:ContinueAddingShorelines
Onceyourfirstlineiscompleted,traceanotherlineontheoutsideofyourfirstshoreline,againtryingtomaintain ⁄ "(3mm)betweenthetwolinesasbestyoucan.Youmayincludeadditionalshorelinesonyourmap,thoughtwotofourworksbest.
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STEP4:MakeOceanLines
Youcangoastepfurtheranddrawsomedefininglinestobetterdenotethebeginningoftheocean.TakingyourHBpencil,drawsmalllinesthatmimicsmallwavesextending
horizontallyfromtheshorelines.Theselinescanbeanywherefrom ⁄ "(13mm)to1"(25mm)longbutshouldvaryonlyasmallamountfromoneanother.
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STEP5:FinishedOceanLines
Eachlineshouldbeveryclosetothenextandbeequidistantfromoneanother.Continuedrawingthesewavelinesuntiltheentirecoasthasbeendecorated(largelakesmaybefilledinthisway,too).Onceyouhavefinishedyouroceanlines,itshouldlooksomethinglikethis.
ShorelineShapes
Visually,thistechniqueworksbestwithasingleshoreline,withoceanlinessproutingoffofthat,thoughtwoshorelinescouldworkjustaswell.Feelfreetoexperimentwithdefiningyourcoastlinesandshorelinestomakethemoriginalandunique.
CHAPTERTHREE
TownandCityIcons
Mostmapsexisttomarkwhereimportantplacesareinrelationtootherplaces,andiconsaretheelementsthatdojustthat.Inthischapter,varioustechniquesonhowtoillustratethebasiciconswillbediscussedindetail,withanumberofstep-by-stepdemonstrationslaidoutforthebeginneraswellastheexperiencedmapmaker.Iconillustrationhasagreatimpactonthelookofamapanditstone,withiconsvaryingfromtinyillustrationsofcastlesandhutstotheuseofsymbologyforsimplicity’ssake.Whethertheimportantplacesarecities,towns,fortressesorbridges,theyallformkeycomponentsthatgiveinformationaboutacountryanditspeople.Forfantasymaps,iconsaredoublycritical,providinginsightintothevariousfantasticalpeoplesandplaceswithintheboundariesofyourworld,aswellasallowingyoutoflexyourcreativemuscle.Soonyouwillhavedozensoftowns,citiesandhillfortspopulatingyourworld.
Towns
Townsarebyfarthemostnumerousofsettlementsbothinourworldandmostfantasyworlds.Renderingtownsisarelativelysimpleaffair,withmuchroomforexperimentationandcreativity.Beforeyoustartscribblingaway,youshouldthinkaboutthetypeofsettingyouarebuildinginyourworld,andhowtownsmightlookandbedepicted.Certaincultureshaveverydistinctivearchitecture,andit’salwaysgoodtointroduceapinchofrealismintoyourfantasysetting.Howmanytownsdottheland?Aretheremanyoronlyafew?Thedensityorsparsenessoftownscansaymuchabouttheregion,withmanyindicatingaflourishingsociety,andotherseitheradiminishingpeopleorunexploitedterritory.
STEP1:DecideTownPlacement
Withyour2Hpencil,drawlightdotswhereyouwouldlikeyourtownstogo.Don’tpresstoohardsinceyouwillbedrawingrightoverthesesoon.
STEP2:StartWithaRoof
PickoneofyourinitialtownplacementspotsandselectyourHBpencil.Beginbydrawingasmallrectangle,thiswillserveasoneofthetownbuilding’sroofs.
Location
Manytownsoftenlaynearrivers,coastsornaturalresourcessuchaspastureforcattleandfarmlands.Tryandplaceyourcitiesinareasthatyouthinkpeoplewouldsettle.Acityinthemiddleoftheforestusuallydoesn’tmaketoomuchsense,unlessofcourse,thosepeopleareElves!Asmatteringoftownsinrandomplacesworksjustaswellinaprolificsociety.Tradeandgoodsflowalongroads,keepingthetownsallalive.
STEP3:ExpandingtheBuildings
Drawanothersmallerrectanglenexttothefirst,addingasmanyasyouwouldlikeaccordingtohowlargeyouthinkthetownshouldbe.Irecommendtwotothreeroofsatfirst.
STEP4:FillIntheBuildings
Whentheroofsaredrawnin,addsomerectanglesdirectlybelowthem.Thesearethehousebasesforyourroofstositon.Eachroofshouldhaveaboxunderneathittofilloutthehouses.It’sOKtovarytheseabitinsize.
STEP5:FillIntheDetails
Nowthatyourbasicshapesarethere,addafewsmalldoors,somecrossbeams,andafewchimneysandrooflines.Congrats!Youhavemadeyourfirstbasictown!
STEP6:EmbellishWithExtras
Ifyouarefeelingcreative,addasmallguardtower,templedomeorsomeothersmalldetailtoyourtown.Thesedetailswillmaketowniconscomealive,andaddatouchofuniquenesstoeach.
TownExamples
Cities
Citiesarethelargestandmostprosperousofcivilizedcenters,andeachisoftenmuchlargerandmorepowerfulthantheirsmallercounterparts.Citiesofferagreateramountofvarietythantownsingeneral,manybeingsurroundedbyprotectivewallsorguardedwithtalltowers,allofwhicharefuntodraw.Citiescanbetwotothreetimesthesizeoftowns,thoughyouwillfollowverysimilarstepswhendrawingthem.Havefun!
STEP1:DecideCityPlacement
Justlikeyoudidwithyourtowns,takeyour2Hpencilanddrawlightdotswhereyouwouldlikeyourcitiestogo.
youwouldlikeyourcitiestogo.
CityPlacement
Becarefulwhenyouareplacingyourcities,asmostarefoundedonmajortraderoutes,riversorasmainports.Mostcitiesneedaccesstolotsofwater,soplacingthemoncoastsorlargeriversisideal.However,thatshouldnotstopyoufromplacingtheminfoothills,atopmountains,inthefrozennorthorevenunderthesea.Infantasy,magicisusuallyaliveandwell,soanythinggoes!
STEP2:BuildaCityWall
FirsttakeyourHBpencilanddrawanelongatedrectangle.
STEP3:AddtheWallTop
Drawthetopofthewallwithanalternatingsquarepatternformingcrenellations.
STEP4:CreateTowers
Toaddtowerstoyourbasiccitywall,drawverticalelongatedboxesconnectedtoyourcitywall.Makethemtallerthantheyarewide,andaddwalltops.
STEP5:ExpandtheWallsandTowers
Onceyouhaveyourfirstbasicwallandtowersdrawn,youcanrepeatsteps2–4toexpandyourcity,addingmultipletowersandwalls.Addasmanyasyoulike!Towerscanvaryinsizeandshape,thoughsometimesit’sbesttokeepsomeuniformityinthem.
STEP6:AddBuildingRoofs
Whenyourtowersandwallsarefinished,youshouldaddsomeroofstothecity.Youcanusethetownstepsfromearlierinthechaptertohelpyouout.Addingafewroofs,oneontopoftheother,isgoodandcanrepresenthowclutteredacitycanget.
STEP7:IncludeSpecialtyBuildings
Toaddevenmoredetailanduniquenesstoyourcity,youcanaddalargetempledome,orbiggerbuildingstocomplementthesmallerhouses.Ifyourcityisneartheocean,addadock.Ifit’snearariver,addabridgeextendingfromthecity
theocean,addadock.Ifit’snearariver,addabridgeextendingfromthecityovertheriver.Holycitiesmayhavecathedralsandtemples.
CityExamples
Smallcity
Rivercity
Coastalcity
CastlesandHoldfasts
Placingcastlesandholdfastsisoneofthemostenjoyablethingsyoucandrawonamap.Theyareeasytodrawandaddplentyofcharacterandclouttoafantasymap.Traditionally,castlesareusedfordefendinglargestretchesofterritory,andareusuallylocatedonhillsdominatingthesurroundinglandscape.Fromitsfortifications,defenderscouldobserveanenemyarmyfromthesafetyofitswalls,andwhentheenemypassedthembytoattacksomewhereelse,theycouldrushoutandattacktheenemyfromtherear.Castlesandlargefortressesarebuilttohouseentirearmiesoftroops,whileholdfastsaresmallerkeepsthatarethehomesofminorlordsandknights.Countrysidesareusuallycoveredinholdfasts,whilecitadelsandfortressesarereservedfortheprotectionofimportanttradecities,majorrivers(andbridgecrossings),richcoastalroutesoralongpoliticalboundariestodefendagainstafoe.
STEP1:DecidePlacement
Justlikeyoudidwithyourtownsandcities,takeyour2Hpencilanddrawlightdotswhereyouwouldlikeyourcastlesandholdfaststogo.
HistoricalInspiration
Ifyouwouldlikesomeinspirationorideasforsomeofyourcastlesandfortresses,justtakealookatsomehistorybooksonthemedievaltimes,orthecrusades.Historically,theNormanswerefantasticandveryprolificcastle
thecrusades.Historically,theNormanswerefantasticandveryprolificcastlebuilders—manyofwhicharestillstandingtoday.
STEP2:StartWithaTower
Startwiththecastle’sfirsttower.Beginbydrawinganelongatedrectanglethatistallerthanitiswide.
STEP3:DrawtheWallTopandWindow
Finishyourfirsttowerbyaddingcrenellations(fortifications)tothetop.Addawindowortwo.
STEP4:FinishedKeep
Atthispoint,ifyouwanttofinishtheiconasakeep,addasmalldoorandaflagtothetopandyourfirstkeepiscomplete.Youcanalsoaddasmallhouseortwostandingnexttoittogiveitsomemorepersonality,thoughlonekeepsworkgreattoo.
KeepExamples
Smallkeep
Mediumkeep
Largekeepwithsmallcurtainwalls
STEP5:ExpandtheKeepIntoaCastle
Ifyouwantsomethinglarger,expandyourkeepbyaddinganothertowerortwo,andanotherwallsection.Castlesworkbestwiththreetowersandafewwallsections,butyoushouldn’t
beconstrainedtothat.Experimentwithdifferentwalllengthsandtowerheights,mixingandmatchingasmuchasyoulike.
STEP6:AddaLargeCastleTower
Onceyourhaveexpandedthecastle,addalargesingularkeeptothemiddleofthecastle.Itshouldbewiderthanthestandardtowersandhaveafewwindows.
STEP7:CastleDetails
Oncethekeep,towersandwallshavebeendrawn,youcanfinishyourcastlebyaddingdetailtothelargecastledoor,afewmorewindowsandsomeflagsonthetowers.Addanyspecialtybuildingsyou’dlikeaswell.
CastleExamples
CHAPTERFOUR
Typography
Typographycanbeoneofthemostimportantelementsincartography,anditcancontributegreatlytothesuccessorfailureofamap.Typographyisessentiallytheartofwriting.Formapmakers,thatmeanslayingintexttolabellocationsandgeographicalareassoareaderknowswhatiswhat.Therearemanypartsofamapthatneedtypography,fromthetitlebarofyourmaptothevarioustownsandgeographicalfeatures,andallshouldbeclearlymarked.Notonlyistypographyusedformarkingplacesandareasonamap,itcanalsobeusedasaneffectivedecorativeelementaswell,addingalayerofsophisticationtoyourfantasymap.Inthischapterwe’lladdressscriptstyle,whichdealswiththelookoftheactualtextyourareusing,andlabeling,whichhastodowithwhereandhowthetextisplaced.
ScriptStyle
Beforeyoustartmarkingdownlocationsonyourmap,thereareafewdifferentwritingstylesyoumaywanttotryoutforaddedemphasisandflair.Inthissectionofthechapter,Iwillgooverafewdifferenttypesofscriptstylesthatcanbeusefulforlabeling.Ihavedividedscriptstylesintostandardscriptsanddecorativescripts.Forthemostpart,themostcommonstyleoflabelisinourveryownstandardscriptanditsvariousoffshoots.Themoreadvancedmaytrytheirhandatthemoreelegantandcursive-esquedecorativestyles.Mostformsrequireabitofpracticetolayincorrectlyandevenly,andsomearemorecomplexthanothers.Ihaveincludedanumberofscriptideasforyoutodrawinspirationfrom,andifyou’rereallycreative,toexpandupontocreateauniquenewstyle!
HistoricalLanguages
Writingisapowerfulgraphicandcommunicativetool,andthefantasygenrehasplentyofexamplesofuniquelanguagesandinspirationstodrawupon.AncientNordicrunesandEgyptianhieroglyphicsareexcellentresources.
CulturalTypography
Beforeyoustartputtinglabelsonyourmap,itpaystothinkaboutthecultureortimeperiodthatyouarestrivingtoportray.Maybethemapisofastrongempire,soyourscriptshouldbestrongandboldaswell.Incontrast,themapofanOrcterritorymighthaveamorejaggedanddisjointedlooktoconveythebarbarousnatureofgreenskins.Scriptstylesplayamassiveroleinthetoneofyourmap.Standardscriptwithlittleornodifferencefromourownmightservewellforamapofmostlyhumanlands,butwhatifyouwereportrayingtherealmsofgreatElvenlords?
STANDARDSCRIPTEXAMPLES
ImperialScriptImperialscriptisoneofmyfavoritestyles,andisastrongscriptresemblinganauthoritativehighmedievalrealm.Ioftenusethissortofscriptformapsofculturedhumanlands.
GothicGothicscriptisabitlessrefinedthantheImperialscriptandrepresentsmoreofadark-ageVikingfeel.
DECORATIVESCRIPTEXAMPLES
ElvenElvenscriptshouldlooklikeamorerefinedandfluidcursivestylecombinedwithrunes,representingstrengthbutalsograceanddignity.
DraconianDraconianscriptismyideaofaveryoldandmostlyforgottenlanguage,rememberedonlybytheloremasters.Itislong,flowinganddifficulttoread,butquitebeautiful.
LocationLabels
Thefirstandmostcommonelementoftypographyislabelingyourlocationicons.Towns,cities,castles,keepsandotheractuallocationsrepresentedbyaniconshouldbelabeledinastraightline,withnocurvetothelabel.Withyourlabelstraightanduniform,itiseasyforaviewertoinstantlydecipherwhatisalocationandwhatisanarea.Alongwithbeingstraight,labelsshouldtrynottooverlapotherelementsofthemapssuchashills,forestsandothericons.It’sbestifyoucankeepauniformityforallofyourlocationicons,thoughit’snotcompletelynecessaryaslongasthelabeliscloseenoughnottobeconfusedwithanythingelse.
STEP1:MarktheBottomScriptLine
Tostart,pickoneofyourtowns,andwithyourkneadederasereraseanyterrainelementsthatmaygetinthewayofyourlabel.Then,usingyour2Hpencilandaruler,drawastraightlinelightlynexttoyourtowniconasshownhere.Thisisyourbottomscriptguideline.
STEP2:MarktheTopScriptLine
Onceyourbottomguidelineisdown,useyourruleragaintodrawanotherlightlineaboveyourfirst.Thedistancebetweenthesetwolineswilldecidehowlargeyourtypewillbe.
STEP3:MarktheMiddleScriptLine
Whenyouhavebothyourtopandbottomlinesdown,addamiddleline.Thisisausefultoolforwhenyouhavetodoupper-andlowercaseletters.
STEP4:StartYourText
Nowyoucanwriteyourtown’sname.Usingthelightguidelines,carefullybegintopencilinthenameofyourtown,startingwithanuppercaseletter.
STEP5:ContinueYourText
Trynottogoovertheguidelinesasyoucarefullywriteyourtextusingwhateverstyleyouhavechosen.
STEP6:FinishYourText
Finishupyourtext,anduseyourkneadederasertoeraseyourguidelines.Withasteadyhandandpatience,yourfirsttown’slabelshouldcomeoutgreat!
EmphasizingCapitalsandCitadels
Somelocationsaremuchmoreimportantthanothersandshouldbeemphasizedaccordingly.Mostoftenthesewillbecitadelsandcapitalsofgreatnations.Whenlabelingthese,youcanusealluppercasetogivethemalookofpreeminentimportance.Youcouldalsosimplyusealargertextsize.
AreaLabeling
Labelingareasisabittrickierthanlabelingyourtownsandcities.Oftentimesyouwillneedtofindawaytofityourlabelinovertopofyourmapelements.Labelingriversisrelativelyeasy,whileit’sabittrickierwithotherareas.Sometimesarealabelingrequireserasingsomeoftheelementthatyouhavealreadydrawnsothatyoucanfitinyourlabel.Itsoundstricky,butwithsomepatienceandpractice,youwillbeaproinnotime!
LABELINGRIVERS
STEP1:SettheRiverScriptGuidelines
Tolabelariver,firstselecttheriveryouwishtoplaceyourtextalong.Then,witha2Hpencil,lightlypencilinyourtopguidelineusingtheactualriveras
yourbottomline.
STEP2:PencilIntheFirstLetter
Onceyourguidelinesaredown,carefullypencilinyourfirstletterwithyourHBpencil.
STEP3:SpaceYourLetters
Afteryourfirstletter,pencilinyoursecond,andthenthird,eachonefollowingthecurvatureoftheriver.Leavesomespaceinbetweeneachlettersothatyourscriptspansthelengthoftheriveroratleastmostoftheriverifit’slong.
STEP4:FinishtheRiverScript
Whenyouhavefinishedpencilinginalloftheletters,gobackinanderasetheguidelineswithakneadederaser.
LABELINGMOUNTAINS
STEP1:DecidetheMountainScriptArea
Whenlabelingamountainrange,approximatehowmuchspaceyouwillneedtolayinyourtext.Youwillbewritingyourtextabove,beloworinthemiddleofthemountainrange,whereveryoufeelitwilllookbest.Usea2Hpenciltolightlymarktheareaedges.
STEP2:PencilInGuidelines
Usingyour2Hpencil,lightlydrawlinesthatfollowthecontoursofthemountains.Donotbeafraidtoskipoverotherelements,asyourmountaintextcanhopoverthemandcontinueontheotherside.
STEP3:AddtheFirstLetter
Withyourkneadederaser,erasebetweentheguidelinesandtheedgelineswhereyourtextwillgo.ThenuseyourHBpencilandcarefullypencilinthefirstletter.
STEP4:ContinueAddingLetters
Continuedrawinginyourlettersusingyourguidelines,spacingeachletterequidistantfromoneanother,followingthegeneralcontourofthemountains.
equidistantfromoneanother,followingthegeneralcontourofthemountains.Mountainlettersshouldallbeofthesamesize,withuppercaselettersbeingoptional.
STEP5:FinishtheMountainScript
Onceyouhavepenciledinallofyourletters,gobackinanderaseyourguidelines.
LABELINGFORESTS
STEP1:DecidetheForestScriptArea
Selectyourforestarea,andthenapproximatehowmuchspaceyouwillneedtolayinyourtext.Useyour2Hpenciltolightlymarktheareaedgeswhereyouthinkyouwillneedtoerase.Thencarefullygoinanderasetheforestthatyouthinkwillbeintheway.
STEP2:PlaceGuidelines
Oncetheforestscriptareahasbeencleared,useyour2Hpencilandcarefullymarkyourscriptguidelines,followingthegeneralcontouroftheforestshapeforthebestresult.
STEP3:PencilIntheFirstLetter
UsingyourHBpencil,gentlydrawinthefirstletteroftheforestscript,takingcaretostaywithinyourguidelines.Forestsshoulduseallcapitalletters,unlikemountains.
STEP4:ContinuetheScript
Continuepencilingintheforestscript.Forestsdonotneedtohavetheirlettersspacedoutlikeriversandmountains,thoughyoucanifyou’dliketodependingonhowlargetheforestis.
STEP5:FillintheTrees
Whenyouhavefinishedyourtext,gobackinanderaseyourguidelines,thencarefullydrawinanytreesthatmayhavebeenpartiallyerasedinstep1,fillingthemoutandmakingthemlooklikepartofthewood.Oncethetreesarein,youhaveanicelylabeledforest.
LABELINGCOUNTRIESANDREGIONS
STEP1:ApproximatetheRegionScriptArea
Selecttheareathatwillreceiveacountryorregionlabelandapproximatehowmuchareayouwillneedforthetext.Useyour2Hpencilandlightlymarkthebeginningandendofthearea.
STEP2:PlaceScriptGuidelines
Useyour2Hpencilandgentlydrawbothyourtopandbottomscriptguidelines.Regiontextisusuallytwiceaslargeasstandardcitytext,whilecountrytextcanbeuptothreetofourtimeslarger.Eachlabelshouldbeslightlycurved,followingthecontourofthemaporregion.
STEP3:PencilIntheFirstLetter
Pencilinyourfirstletter.Trytostaywithinyourguidelines.Youmayuseallupper-orlowercaseletters,thoughallshouldbeofthesameapproximatesize.Mapoutyourletterswithsmallboxeswithinyourguidelinestofurtherhelpyouspaceyourletters.
STEP4:ContinueLettering
Pencilinthenextletter,thenyourthirdandfourth,leavingabitofspaceinbetweeneachletter.
STEP5:ErasetheGuidelines
Onceyouhavefinishedpencilinginyourtext,gobackanderaseyourguidelines.
STEP6:FadetheScript
Ifyouareadventurous,takeyourkneadederaserandgentlydabyourtext,fadingitbyabout50percent.Thispushesyourregionscriptbacksolocationlabelswilltakeprecedenceandappearbolder.
OceanandSeaLabelingOceansshouldbelabeledmuchlikeareaandregionlabels,archingthroughthespaceandcoveringagoodamountofthemaparea.Spacingshouldbebroadaswell.However,seasandlakeslookgoodwhenlabeledmuchlikelocationicons,albeitabitlarger.Ofcourseyoucanusearealabelingforseasandlakestoo,justkeepalltypesoflabelingconsistentwitheachother.
CHAPTERFIVE
Landmarks
Soyou’vegottenthroughthebasicmapstuffandwanttoknowmore?Awesome!Thissecondpartofthebookwillteachyouhowtoreallymakeyourmapshinewiththeapplicationofalittleelbowgreaseandsomecreativejuices.It’stimetostartthinkingaboutwhatfeaturesyouwanttoincludetomakeyourmapspecial.Doyouwanttomaptheprosperousregionsofamightykingdom?Maybetheterritoryofanancientsorcererkingnowhauntedanddesolate?Howabouttheislandarchipelagofiefdomofapiratequeen?Fromancientroadsandmustytombs,totheheraldryofimaginarynationsandkingdoms,newworldsareatyourfingertips!We’llstarttheadvancedtechniqueswithlandmarks.Landmarksare
areasofyourmapthataredifferentthanyourstandardtownsandcitiesandareincludedtoillustratemorespecificareasofsignificancetoaviewer.Themostcommonformsoflandmarksareroads,highwaysandsearoutes.Othermorecreativeorimportantplacessuchasoldmines,destroyedorhauntedruinsandancientportalsareallfunexamplesofhowimaginativeyoucangetwithlandmarksonyourmap.
RoadsandRoutes
Citiesandtownsaregreat,butnowyouneedtoconnectthemalltogetherwithpassagesforthewagonsofmerchantsandfortroopstomarchon.Thoughcitiesdonotalwaysneedtobeconnectedfromalldirections,youshoulddecideonhowsettledandwelltraveledyourkingdomis.Morepopulatedareaswillhavemanyroadsbetweentownsandcities,whilewilderpartswillhavefewandfarbetween.Routescomesinafewdifferentforms.Onland,therearepaths,roadsandhighways,whilethewaterhassearoutes.
HIGHWAYSHighwaysarethelifebloodofakingdom,andarethelargestandmosttraveledofthelandroutes.Frequentlytraveledbymerchantsandtradecaravans,highwaysshouldconnectyourlargestcitiestooneanother,bypassingsmallertownsandhamlets.Highwaysareveryeasytodraw.
STEP1:StarttheHighway
Afteryoudecidetomakeahighway,drawadoublelinebetweentwocities.Tryandmakethelinesasevenaspossible.
STEP2:ExtendtheHighway
Afteryouhaveconnectedyourfirsttwocities,continueyourhighwaybyconnectingotherlargercitiestoit.
ROADS
STEP1:StarttheRoad
Afteryoudecidetomakearoad,startbydrawingadottedlinebetweentwotownsorcities.Tryandkeepthedottedsegmentsevenlyspacedforacleanlook.
STEP2:ExtendtheRoad
Continuethedottedlineuntilitalmosttouchesthesecondcity.Useyourerasertocleanupthelinesandmakethemeven.Afteryouhavefinishedyourfirstroad,goonandconnectafewmoreofyourcitiestogether.
PATHSPathsarethedirtfoottracksorancientdecayingroadsthatareseldomtraveled.Pathsarecommonwhenconnectingsmallvillagestoeachother,orforusewhentravelingthroughmarshesormountains.Drawafewdottedlinesbetweensomeofyourtowns,windingthemabittogivethemawaywardlook.
STEP1:StartthePath
Tomakeapath,drawalightdottedlinestartingatonehamletandconnectittoanother.Thedotsshouldberelativelyclose,buttryandkeepthemevenandclean.
STEP2:ExtendthePath
Afteryourfirstpathisfinished,continuedrawingpathstooutlyingtownsandhamletsandthroughhillsandwoodslikeshown.
SEAROUTESCitiesandtownsnearwateroftentradeoverthesea,followingwell-traveledmerchantroutes.Drawinginsearoutescanbefun,sincecitiesfromacrosstheworldcanbeconnectedviatheirships.Becreativewithyourroutes;theywilloftenbelongbutwithmanybranchesthatgotodifferentdestinations.
STEP1:StarttheSeaRoute
Whenmakingasearoute,drawthickdottedlinesbetweentwocities,eitheracrossfromeachotheroveraseaorlake,oronthesamecoastline.Becarefultokeepthedotssimilartooneanother.
STEP2:ExtendtheSeaRoute
Onceyourfirsttraderouteiscompleted,goonandconnectmultiplecitiestogether.
SpecialLocations
WhenthedeepwoodsneedahiddenElvenstronghold,thetallmountainshaveamightydragonnestinginthem,oranevilwizardneedsalargeandimpenetrabletowerwherehishordesofminionscanissueforthfromtoterrorizethefreefolk,youneedtodrawinsomecreativelocations.Includingafewofthesespecialinterestareasaddsdepthandstoryelementstoamap,andtheycanbealotoffuntodraw.Hereareaselectionoflocationstodraw,thoughIencourageyoutocomeupwithsomeofyourown!
DRAGON’SLAIR
STEP1:DrawtheDoor
Drawalargedoorinthemountains.Addwindows,areinforceddoorwayandsomeruins.
STEP2:AddDetail
Refinethewindowanddoordetails.Fillinthelargehole,addingtwoeyes.Drawawispofsmokeforthedragon.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Shadethedetailsandaddcolortofinishthelair.
ANCIENTPORTAL
STEP1:DrawthePortal
Startbydrawingthreelargestones,makingathree-sidedpictureframe.
STEP2:AddDetail
Atthebottom,drawintheportal’sbase,addingafewbrokenrocksandfallenstones.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Shadetherocksanddetails.Finishtheportalbyaddingcolor.
WIZARD’STOWER
STEP1:DrawtheTower
Startbydrawingasingletalltowerwithalongandpointytop.
STEP2:AddDetails
Addsomewindows,asetofdoorsatthebaseandtowerreinforcementlines.Drawinasmallpathandsomeroofshingles.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Tofinish,shadethetoweranditsroofwithanominousdarkgrayorpurple.Ifyouarefeelingadventurous,paintthedoorsaniceyellowtostandout.
RUINS
STEP1:DrawtheRuins
Drawinthebasesofafewbuildings,carefultocutoffthetopssotheylookdisheveledandbroken.
STEP2:AddDetails
Addahalfbrokentower,andafewmorestonestosurroundit.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Shadetheruinedhouseswithdarkcolors,whiledabbinginsomedarkspotstoresemblesomeburnmarks.Addsomehighlightsonthetopwithlightercolorsandyourruinsarecomplete!
STONEHENGE
STEP1:DrawtheHenge
Drawafewsmalluprightstonesandtopthemwithanotherlargerectangularstone.
STEP2:AddDetails
Addinafewmoresmallscatteredstonesontheground,aswellassomelineshadingfordefinition.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Addinsomedetailworkonthestonesandsomebackgroundlinestogivethestonessomeweight.Thenaddcolortofinish.
TROLLCAIRNS
STEP1:DrawtheCairns
Startwithagroupoflargebumpsintheground,aboutthreetofivewilldo.Thenaddsmallholesineachbump.Thesebasicshapesarewhereyourtrollswilllive.
STEP2:AddDetails
Nextaddsomedefinitiontotheholes,usinglineworktogivethemform.Fillinthetrollholestomakethemlookdeepandforbidding.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Shadetheholesdarkly,paintingmainlyindarkgreensandbrowns,buthighlightinginlightgreensandyellowishwhites.Nowyourtrollsarereadytoterrorizethelocaltown.
SEAMONSTER
STEP1:DrawtheSeaMonster
Pickaspotintheopenoceanforyourseamonster.Startbydrawingthewavesasabase,andthenafewsemicirclesandabarbedfishtailpokingout.
STEP2:AddDetails
Addsomesegmentlinestothemonster’sbackandribbingtoitsunderside.Adddetaillinestothefinsanddrawafewmorewavestofinishthebase.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Shadethemonsterwithlightgreensandreds,makingsuretodabinsomewhitehighlightssoitlookslikereflectionsonthescales.
TREEOFLIFE
STEP1:DrawtheTree
Todrawatreeoflife,pickagoodspotinthemiddleofaforest,anderasewhatyoucurrentlyhave.Thendrawinthetrunkofalargetreewithmanybranches.Useanoakorpinetreeforreference.
STEP2:AddDetails
Continuethetreebyaddingsomedetails.Drawinsomesmallertreesaroundthemaintree,aswellasafewcircularglyphs.Finishbydrawingtheroots,diggingthemintheground.Oncethetreeiscomplete,drawinsomeoftheincompletetreesthatyouhaderased.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Shadethetree’strunkwithabrownorblack,andtheboughsofthetreewithanicegreen.Youcanalsohaveanautumntreethathasawhitetrunkandorangeandredboughs.
TreeDesign
Tryandmodelyourtreeoflifeonrealtreesfromdifferentplaces.MaybeitwouldlookinterestingasalargeAfricansavannahtree,orperhapsabonsai.
STATUEOFVICTORY
STEP1:DrawtheStatue
Startbydrawingthestatue’sbase.Arectangleorsquareworkswell.Thendrawahuman-likefigureinrobesorarmorontop,withitsarmsout.
STEP2:AddDetails
Finishoffthepencilworkbyaddinginsomesmalldetaillinesfortheclothingandarmor.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Shadethestatuewithblues,graysorpurples,addingwhitehighlightsonthehead,outstretchedarmsandthetopofthebase.
MonumentDesign
Astatueofawarriorisafittingmonumenttoagreatcity,thoughitmightbefuntomakeagreatstatuearuin,liketheancientColossusofRhodes.Statuesdon’thavetobehumanoideither;theycanbeofanimalsandmonsters.
CHAPTERSIX
Iconography
Iconshavebeenusedinmapmakingsincemapscameintoexistence,andareagreatwayofshowinginformationinsimplifiedforms.Inthischapter,youwilllearnhowtomakeandusesimplifiedcityicons,aswellasthemosticonicimageofallthingsonamap;thecompassroseitself.Youwillfindsomeexercisestohelpyoucreateyourownusingsimplegeometricshapes.
SimpleCityIcons
Simplecityiconsareagreatwayofdepictingyourtownsandcitieswithoutgoingintotoomuchdetail.Theyareexcellentforuseonalargemap,oramapwithagreatmanylocations.Bykeepingthemboldandsimple,andbyusingstandardgeometricshapesasabase,youwillsoonbemakingyourowncreativedesigns!
CAPITALICONS
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Tostartacapital,drawathickcircle,andthenaddanothersmallercircleinsideit.Capitalsshouldbelargerthanothercityicons.
STEP2:AddDetails
Next,addfoursmallercirclesinsidethecenter.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Addacrowntoyourcapitalforextraemphasis.Akingneedsaseatforhiskingdom!
CITYICONS
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Justlikeacapital,acityshouldalsostartasacircle,thoughnotaslarge.Drawinasmallercircleandfillitin.
STEP2:AddDetails
Addfoursmallercirclestothecenter.Done!Notallofyourcitiesneedtolookalike;tryandusedifferentshapesandsizesonthebaseorinside.
TOWNICONS
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Foratownicon,startwithabasicsquare.
STEP2:AddDetails
Addanevensmallersquareinside.Next,addfoursmallcirclesinthecenter.Atownisborn!
IconSize
Townsshouldbesmallerthancitiesandcapitals.Thoughsquaretownsaregreatforquickrecognition,youcanjustaseasilydepicttownsassmaller,moresimplifiedcircles.
VILLAGEICONS
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShape
Villagesshouldbethesmallestofyoursimplecityicons.Startwithasmallcircle,abouthalfthesizeofthetownsquare.
STEP2:AddDetail
Tofinish,simplydrawanothersmall,filledcircleinsidetheother,leavingasmallborder.
VillageExamplesVillagescanvaryinshapesthoughshouldn’tvarymuchfromeachotherinsize.Hereareafewdifferentexamplesofvillageiconsthatwouldbefittingforsimplehamlets.
CITADELICONS
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Acitadelisabastionofpowerandmajestywithinakingdom,andshouldbeaslargeasacapitalicon.Startwithtworectanglesconnectedbyasmallbridge.
STEP2:AddDetails
Topthetwotowerswithcrenellations,threeoneachtop.Becarefultoleaveagapbetweenthetowertopandthetoweritself.Drawinafewlinestomakeforthedoor.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Finishoffthecitadelbyfillinginthetowerareas,leavingasmallspaceforwindowsineachtower.Addafewtowersandyourcitadeliscomplete!
Consistency
Ifyouhavemultiplekingdomsonamap,it’sanicetouchwheneachfaction’scitiesmatchoneanother,atleastinshapeorcolor.Keepthemsimilarandtheeffectwillbenoticeable.
HOLDFASTICONS
HOLDFASTICONS
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShape
Holdfastsarecastlesandamoresimplifiedversionofthecitadel.Startwitharectangulartowerandaddawindow.
STEP2:AddDetails
Completeyourholdfastbyaddingacrenellatedtowertopandfinishingthebase.
CustomizeYourBuildings
Bothcitadelsandholdfastscanbeillustratedinagreatmanyways.Tryyourhandatbothbyaddingafewmoretowersorsmallconnectedhouses.Justmakesureallthecitadelsandholdfastsmatchoneanothersothereisnoconfusion.
confusion.
LocationIcons
Locationiconsareafunandsimplewayofaddinginsomemoreexoticpointsofinteresttoyourmap.Theseareasdonotfollowthesamegeometricshapesasthecityicons,buteachisasmallillustrativeglyphthattellsadifferentstory.Fromdustytemplestowanderingdragons,youwillquicklybemakingupyourownicons.
MINES
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Minesshouldbelocatedinfoothillsormountains.Tostart,drawasmalldoor,andaddasmallminingcart.
STEP2:AddDetails
Finishofftheminebyaddingasmallminingpickandapileofcoalorgems.Dependingonthetypeofmine,youcouldaddinafewbarsforagoldmine,
oralargediamondtodenoteagemmine.
TEMPLES
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Tostart,drawthebaseofthetemple,awedgeroofandstartaddingpillarstoit.
STEP2:AddDetails
Finishoffthetemplebyaddingmoredetailtotheroofandcompletingthepillars.
CulturalDesignThoughaGreektempleisinstantlyidentifiable,youshouldfeelfreetoalterthetempletypedependingonyourmap’sculturalinfluence.AJapaneseShintotemplewouldlookmuchmoreappropriateinaneasternthemedmapthanawesternGreektemple.Tryyourhandatafewdifferenttemplesbasedondifferentcultures.
BRIDGES
STEP1:DrawBasicLines
Bridgesmarkimportantlocations,butareverysimpletoillustrate.Startbyerasingthepartoftheriverthatthebridgeiscrossing,thendrawtwoparallellinesacrossit.
STEP2:FurtherEmphasizetheLines
Atthetipofeachline,drawanotherlineangledoutoneachside.Toemphasize
animportantbridge,drawanothersetoflinesoutsidetheoriginallines.
RUINS
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Drawaflatlineforthefoundation.Thendrawsomebumpsaboveitfortheruin’sedges.
STEP2:AddDetails
Putinsomehalf-brokentowersandafewbrokenrocks.Fillinthetowerandrubble,andaddafewlinesunderneaththebase.
RuinsRuinscanlooklikealmostanything,andcanbelargerorsmallerdependingontheruinsyouaretryingtodepict.Themorebrokenthetowersandrocks,themoreimportanttheformerlocationwas.
BATTLEFIELDS
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Battlefieldsareimportanticons,butquiteeasytodepict.Pickalocation,andthendrawaswordataforty-fivedegreeangle.
STEP2:AddAnotherSword
Drawinasecondswordcrossingthefirst.Ifyouwanttogiveyourbattlefieldsaslightlydifferentlook,useacurvedswordorevenapairofaxes.
MARSHLANDS
STEP1:DrawtheBasicLines
Whendrawinginmarshlands,startbydrawingafewgrasstufts,thenunderlinethem.Addafewmoretuftstomakeagrouping.
STEP2:AddDetails
Addafewlighterlinesandsomesporadicdots.Makethemarshlandsaslargeorassmallasyouwant.
DRAGON
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
StartwithasingleSlineasabase.Thenaddthecrestontheheadandthetail.
STEP2:AddDetails
Finishoffthedragonwithafewclawsandfurtherdefinethetailandtheheadcrest.Filloutthedragon’sbody,butdon’tmakehimtoofat.Playaroundwithyourdragonshapes;youcanalwayscomeupwithsomenewdesigns.
PORTALSTONE
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Startyourportalstonebydrawingthethreebasicstoneparts:twotallonesandonesmalleronelinkingthemtogetheratthebase.
STEP2:AddDetails
Addacrossstoneonthetop,andaddsomeshadingintothestones.Drawinaspirallinefortheportal.Youcaneasilyleaveoutthespiraltodenoteaninertstoneoronethatisbroken.
TROLLCAIRNS
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShape
Drawatriangle.Thiswillbethebasicshapeofthebannerrepresentingagroupoftrolls.
STEP2:AddDetails
Drawinthehaftofthespear,andthenthespeartop.Tryusingdifferentshapesforthebannertop.Horns,helmetsandhalfmoonsworkgreat.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Fillinyourbannerwithsomeofyourowndesignsandaddthecrossspearpoints.Experimentwithdifferentdesignstomakeyourbannerssuitablysavage.
FinishedIconsBelowisamapwithmanyoftheselocationiconsincludedtogether.Seehowtheyarespacedandplayoffoneanother?Whenputtingthemonyourownmap,befreewiththem,butdon’tclutteryourmap.
OceanIcons
Fantasymapoceansareusuallyfilledwithallmannerofraidingwarships,seamonstersandmerchantvesselstryingtoplytheirwaresacrossthedangerousseas.Thissectionincludestutorialsonhowtodrawsomebasiciconstoincludeinyourfantasywaters.Whethertheybeshipsormonstersofthedeep,soonyouwillhaveplentyofcreaturesinhabitingthehighseas.
LONGSHIPSLongshipsaretraditionallythevesselsoftheVikings,notoriousbrigandsoftheoldworld.Theirprimarymodeoftransportation,thelongship,wasasleekocean-goingvesselwithashallowdraft.Abletocarrybothwarriorsandpillagedplunder,thesightofalongship’ssinglesailonthehorizoninspiredfearandterrorinamplemeasure.Foryourpurposes,theyarealsoafantasticwayofdepictingbarbarianraidersonyourownmap.
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Selectaspotintheocean,preferablynearthecoast.Drawinthedistinctlinesoftheship’shull,whichshouldcurveupatbothends.Thendrawinalargetautsailandamast.
STEP2:AddDetails
Drawafewroundshieldsonthesideofthehull,carefullyerasingthepartsofthehullthatbecomecovered.Thenaddaflagtothetop,aswellasrigginglinesandsomehullplanks.Fillintherestofthesailsoitpopsout.Youcandrawasymbolorapatternonthesailorflag.Battleaxesorotherweaponsaregreatsymbolsforbarbarians!
TRADECOGSTradecogsareawonderfulwayofemphasizingparticularlylucrativetraderoutes,orneattohavejustforshow.Historically,tradeshipsandcogswerelargeandmulti-mastedvessels,capableofcarryingsizableamountsofcargooverlongdistances.Havingmultiplemastsallowstheserelativelyheavyandclumsyvesselstomakebestuseofthewind.Thedesignofthetraditionaltradingvesseldidnotchangemuchformanyyears,andusuallyconsistedofhighfore-andafter-“castles,”whichwereusefulwhenoverlookingtheseaandcrestinghighoceanwaves.Foralltheirsize,tradecogsandshipswerevulnerabletoattackersifcaughtbysleekerandfasterpredators.Cogswouldtryandoutrunopponentswheneverpossible.
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Selectaspotintheocean,preferablyalongasearoute.Drawinthelinesoftheship’shull,whichshouldbeshortandfat.Oneachtopcorner,drawacastletoponboththefrontandback.The“castlestern”shouldalwaysbetaller.Addinthewavesatthebaseoftheship.
STEP2:AddDetails
Continuethetradeshipbydrawingafrontmast.Youcanalsoincludeforeandaftsails.Addthelinesforthewoodplanksoftheshipandadddetailtothemainsail.
SEAMONSTERSTheseasareadangerousplace,withplentyofmonstershuntingfortheunwaryship.Withbeak,claw,tentacleandfin,thesemonstersofthedeeparealwaysathreat.Historicallysailorsbelievedcertainareastocontainanumberoffantasticcreaturesthatwereadangertopassingships.Theseareasweremarkedonnauticalmapsasplacesbestavoidedifatallpossible.Whales,sharksandsquidwereallconsideredtobelargeandthreatening,andtheirsizeandimpactonthemaritimecommunitywereoftenexaggeratedtoagreatdegree.However,inafantasyworld,suchcreaturesdoexist,crushingshipsanddevouringsailors!
anddevouringsailors!
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Pickaspotinaregionoftheoceanthatisoffthebeatentrack,maybeinacornersomewhere.Foralargeseaserpent,drawalargehorizontalSinthewater.Erasehalfofit,anddrawintheoceanwavesasabase.
STEP2:AddDetails
Drawalargefinonthetailandanothertowardthefrontofthemonster’sbody.Youcanalsoaddafewsegmentedscalesifyouwant.Addafewmorewavelinestofinish.Seamonstersneednotallbeserpents,butcanalsotaketheformofmassive
octopi,hugesharks,killerwhalesandsoforth.Letyourimaginationrunwild
octopi,hugesharks,killerwhalesandsoforth.Letyourimaginationrunwildandseewhatyoucancomeupwith.
CHAPTERSEVEN
HeraldryandShields
Heraldryandshielddesignarethesymbolsofdifferentfactions,citiesandnobility.Onamap,shieldsareanexcellentwayofdepictingculturalandpoliticalboundarieswithoutactuallydrawinglinesonamap.Thoughnoteverytownandhamletshouldhaveitsownshielddesign,citiesandcapitalswouldoftenbethehomeofveryspecificnoblefamilies.Eachwouldhaveitsownheraldryandinfluence.Shieldsarealsogoodformarkinggeneralregions,denotingareasofculturalinfluencethatafactionmayhaveonit.
ShieldShapes
Notallshieldsshouldbeofthesameshape.Manyfactorsaffectshieldshape,includingwherethecityorregionisfrom,aswellasculturalinfluenceofthatarea.Awesternmedievalcityisusuallydefendedwitha“heater”typeshield(anupside-downiron),whileeasterncitiestendtowardmoreroundedshields.However,afantasymapneednotobeyanystandard,soplayaroundwithshapestocomeupwithoneyoulike.
BasicShapesBasicshieldshapesareverysimple,consistingofcircles,rectangles,heatersandovals.Hereisaselectionofbasicones.Tryanddrawsomeofthesefreehand,orcomeupwithyourownuniqueshapes.
ShieldsforBattleShieldsinthewesttendedtobeheaterorteardropshapedbecauseofthedominanceofheavycavalryonthebattlefield.Heaterandteardropshieldswereeasiertouseandlesscumbersomethanlargeroundshields.Sinceheavycavalrywereusuallymadeupofthenobility,heatershieldstendedtodominatetheheraldryandshielddesignofthetime.Mostcitieswithinthesameculturewouldsharethesameshieldshape,evenif
theydifferedincolorormarkings.
SimpleHeraldry
Heraldryistheuseofspecificgraphicsymbolsandiconstoformauniquepattern.Heraldryisbestknownfordecoratingtheshieldsofmedievalknights,thoughitisstillinusetoday,oftenforthetownsandcitiesofEurope,aswellasoldorrenownedfamilies.Heraldryisaveryoldartwhichutilizesspecificiconographyandrules.Theofficialuseofheraldrystartedsometimewithinthemid-eleventhcenturywhenknightsfirststartedtousesymbolstodefinethemselvesandtheirfamilyhousesfromtheirpeers.TheartevolvedandwasfinallystandardizedbetweentheEuropeannationsaround1500AD.Thereareabewilderingvarietyofheraldicdevices,thoughallarequitefascinating.Inthischapteryouwilllearnhowtomakesomesimpleheraldicsymbolsforyourownkingdoms.Havefunandbecreative!
QuarteringPartsWhenyouhavesettledonanappropriateshieldshape,it’stimetolayinsomebasicheraldryovertopofit.Heraldryatitsmostbasicconsistsofashieldbeing“quartered.”Thismeansthatitcanhavestraightbars,zigzags,quarteredsquares,halfbars,orstarsanddots.Ihaveincludedanumberofbasicheraldicdevicesforyoutochoosefromandemulate.Feelfreetomixandmatchthemtocomeupwithyourowndesign.
HistoricShieldExamplesHerearesomehistoricexamplesfromEurope.Heraldrywasoftenquartered.Thiswasawayofdifferentiatingbetweenclosenoblehousesbyaddingslightdifferencestoeachheraldicdevice.Eachpieceofthequarteringprocessmeantsomethingdifferent.Thisusuallyservedtotiethemanydifferenthousesandbloodlinestogether,tellingfriendandfoewhotheirfamilyandallieswere,makingforeasyrecognition.
SimpleShieldSymbols
Notonlywouldshieldshavedifferentshapesandquarteringtodifferentiatethem,theywouldalsohavehousesymbols,andfactiondevices.Thesewouldcomeinabewilderingvarietyofforms,fromwildanimalstoships,weaponsandflowers.Theadditionofasigil(orsymbol)canalsobeusedtotiefactionsandhousestogether,thoughitwascommonformultiplerivalstohavesimilar,oreventhesamesigil.InthissectionIhaveafewmorebasicsymbolsforyoutouseordrawinspirationfrom.
ApplyingSymbolsSelectasigil,andoverlayitontoyourshield.Ifit’sdarkondark,erasethedark
quarteredpartsothatthesigilshinesthrough,creatinganiceboldshape.Afteryouhavecombinedashieldshape,aquarteringshapeandasimplesymbol,yourshieldwillbefinished!
ShieldExamplesTherearealmostendlesscombinationsforyoutomixandmatch.Tryandremembernottomakeshieldstooelaborate,orchoosetoomanysymbolsforoneshield.Oneisusuallyplenty.Kingdomssharethesamebasicshieldshapes,thoughtheymayallhavedifferentquarteringandsymbols.UsethesecombinationsIcameupwithasinspirationforyourowndesigns.
PaintingShields
STEP1:ShieldColors
Whenchoosingcolorsforyourshield,it’sbesttostickwiththeprimaryandsecondarycolors,usingcomplementarycolorswherepossible.Thisgivestheshieldamorehomogenouslook.Usuallyyouwillchooseaprimarycolorthatservesasthemaincolor,andasecondarycolorthatwillbeusedonthequarteredpart.
STEP2:PainttheBasicShield
Onceyouhavechosenyourprimaryandsecondarycolors,painttheshieldshapeinyourprimarycolor.Becarefulnottogooutsideyourshield’sedges.Selectatypeofquartering,andcarefullypaintthatontopinyoursecondarycolor.Finally,paintthesymbolontopoftheshield,centeringitasbestyoucan.Thesymbolshouldstandout,eitherasadarkerorlightercolor,dependingonthebackground.
STEP3:AddWeatheringandHighlighting
Onceyouhavepaintedyourcolors,it’stimetogivetheshieldabitofoomph.Tostart,shadearoundtheshieldjustabittogiveitsomepop.Ifyouwant,addafewdentsandscuffstotheshieldaswell.Afterthat,addshadingtothebottomoftheshieldandtothedentsandscuffs,paintinginslightlydarkertonesthanyouroriginalcolors.Finally,uselighterversionsofyourcolorstohighlightyourshield,startingatthebottompoint.Useaslightlybrightercoloratthetopcentertogiveitsomedimension.
ShieldEmbellishments
Sometimesashieldshouldbeemphasizedevenmore,whetheritbeforthekingdom’scapitalcity,orforspiritualormercantileimportance.Additionalsymbolscanbeaddedtothetoporsidesofashieldtofurtherdistinguishit.Symbolssuchasacrown,orevenillustrativescrollworkaretypicalexamples.
King’sCrownBeginbydrawingintheroughshapeofaking’scrown.Thismaybeaselaborateasyou’dlike,thoughkeepingitrelativelysimpleisusuallybest.Next,paintinyourprimarycolor,usuallyagoldoryellow,carefullykeepingwithin
yourlines.Last,addsomehighlights,andthenoutlinetheentirecrowninadarkbrownorblacktomakeitpop.Now,yourkingdomhasaseatofpower.
ScrollworkCarefullydrawinabasicscrollshape,makingsureitwrapsbehinditself,andgoesbehindyourshield.Paintitalightcolor,usuallyochreorcream,thoughitcanbeanycoloryouchoose.Finally,shadethefoldedpartsdarker,andhighlighttheedges.Addafewrunes.Outlinethescroll,butnotsomuchthatittakesawayfromtheshield.Playwithdifferentcolors;redandwhiteworkwelltoo.
GraphicFloralDesignsStartbycarefullydrawingyourdesignabovethebasicshield.Ihavechosenasimpleflowerlikedesign.Next,paintityourshield’ssecondaryorcomplementarycolor.Thenaddshadingandhighlightstogivetheshapemoredimension.
ShieldPlacement
CityShieldsAcityshieldshouldbeplaceddirectlyoverthecityartwork,thoughyoushouldleaveasmallspacesoasnottocrowdtheactualcityiconorart.Youmaywindupcoveringpartofthemap’stopographyifyoudothis,andifso,that’sOK.Ifyoudon’twanttodothis,youcanmovetheshieldunderneaththecityartworkaswell,thoughaboveisusuallypreferable.
RegionalShieldsRegionalshieldsdifferinplacementfromcityshields,butnotbymuch.Youstillwanttotryandmaintainequidistantspacefrommapelements,especiallycities.Improperplacementcanleadtounbalancingamap’saesthetics.Trynottocovermapelements,andplacetheseshieldsinopenareassotheydon’tclashwithotheritemsofimportance.Allowthemtostandontheirown.Regionalshieldsshouldbelargerthancityshields,andinsomecasesyouwillonlyneedoneforyourpurposes.
CHAPTEREIGHT
PoliticalBoundaries
Theuseofboundariescanformacrucialpartofamapandtellaviewermuchabouttheland’shistoryanditspeople.Attheirheart,boundariesaredividinglinesbetweenacountry’sinhabitants,eitheronapolitical,geographicalormilitarybasis.Thesedividinglinescanaccentuateamapordominateit,thoughhistorically,mapswithpoliticalorcountryboundarieswouldn’thavemuchotherdetail.Whenlayinginboundaries,thereareafewthingsyoushouldthinkabout.
HowmanyfactionsdoIwantportrayedonmymap?DoIwanttoportrayregionalboundariesaswellasnationalborders?HowdoIwanttopaintinmyboundaries?
Soonyouwillhaveplentyofrivalfactions,kingdomsandprincipalitiespopulatingyourfantasymap!
BoundaryLines
Thefirstwaytodifferentiateregionsandcountiesisbyusinglinework.Asopposedtotheuseofcoloralone,linesareamuchboldertypeofboundary,butifnotusedcorrectlytheycanclutteramapwithtoomuchinformation.Lineboundariescanbemadeupofseveraldifferenttypesofline,varyingfromrepeatingdotsandcrossestosquares.Whenusingcoloredlines,it’sbesttouseredsanddarkbrownssincetheygiveauniform,subtletouch.
LineTypesHerearesomelineboundarytypesthatyoucanuseonyourmapthatwillservewelltodivideyourregionsandnations.Youcanmixandmatchthemonthe
samemap,thoughit’sbesttosticktooneortwotypestoavoidconfusingaviewer.Usetheseasinspirationforyourownboundaryideas.
STEP1:SelectLineType
Selecttheboundarylinetypethatyouwishtouse,andthenlightlydrawinyourinitialsketchlinewhereyourboundaryshouldgo.
STEP2:StartMarkingLines
Markinyourfirstboundarylinemark.Becarefultotryandfollowrivers,mountainsandhillsasyoucontinue.
STEP3:ContinuetheLines
Continuetheboundarylines,makingsurenottocoveranyiconorlabel.Aboundarylineshouldalwaystakeabackseattoallotherelementsinamapandblendin.
STEP4:FinalDetails
Continuewiththerestofyourboundarylines,followingsteps1–3.Finally,finishupyourboundarylines,takingcaretocleanupyourlinesasbestyoucan.
BoundaryColors
Usingcolorsfornationstotellthemapartisanothertechnique.Theuseofcolorasboundarieshasbeenthemostcommontechniqueincartography,andunlikelineboundaries,isanimmediateandboldwayofpresentingaviewerwithinstantanddefinitiveinformation.Generally,colorboundariesarebestusedonmonochromaticorsimpleparchmentmaps,wherethecolorwillstandout.Historically,colorboundariesemergedwiththebirthofthefirstnationstates,becomingcommonplaceinmapsfromaroundthe1600sandon.
STEP1:SelecttheColor
Tobegin,selectthecolorthatbestservesyourpurpose,andpaintinyourfirstlinebyhuggingtheshoreboundariesandrivers(ifany),beingcarefultonotcovertheactualdarkboundarylines.
covertheactualdarkboundarylines.
STEP2:ContinueAddingColor
Trynottocoveranytownsorcitiesdirectly,goingunderneaththemwhenpossible.Completeyourboundarylinebycomingfullcircle.
SubtleColorsHereisaselectionofcolorsthatworkwellwhenpaintinginboundaries.Boundarycolorsshouldalwaysbesubtleandsomewhattransparentsoasnottocoveranydetailsortheterrain.Ifusingapaintbrush,thindownyourpaintbymixingitwithwatersoyoucanbrushinyourcolorsslowlyandcarefully.Ifusingacomputer,reducetheopacityofthecolortoatleast50percent.
STEP3:KeepColorSeparate
Whencolorboundariesbordereachother,whichwillhappenoften,theyshouldrunparalleltoeachother,carefulnottotouch.
BoundaryTypes
Therearetwodifferenttypesofboundaries,nationalandregional.Nationalboundariesaretheboldestandthickest,andareusedmostoftentodenotenationalborders.Regionalboundariesaremuchmoresubtlewithsmallermarkingsbutarethemostcommonandversatile,oftenusedtodepictcountyandpoliticalborderswithinakingdom.
NationalBoundariesNationalboundariesshouldbethickandverypronounced,usuallysolidandbrightaswell.Nationalboundariesshouldbequiteboldandinstantlyrecognizable.
RegionalBoundaries
RegionalBoundariesWhendepictingcountiesorprovinces,regionalboundarylinesarebest.Theselinesareoftendotted,orbroken,andaremuchthinnerthannationallines.Thisisusuallyduetothefactthatcountiesandprovinceswouldblendintoamap,notstickoutlikeasorethumb.
UsingNaturalBoundaries
Whenlayinginboundaries,youshouldalwaystrytofollowthenaturalcontoursofmountains,hillsandriverswhenyoucan.Naturalboundariesareoftentheplacewherestateboundariesreside.Waterboundariesneednotbehighlightedbyregionalboundaries,thoughnationalonescanoverlapandcoverthem.Youshouldalwaysthinkofyourmapanditsfactions,andhowtheywouldshareorfightoverland.Properlyestablishedboundariescanbeaninterestingcomponentofagoodmap,spurringaviewertothinkmoreaboutthepeopleandplaceswithinit.
RiverBoundariesWhendrawingriverboundaries,tryandhugtheriverascloseaspossible.
CHAPTERNINE
Backgrounds
Backgroundscanbemadeupofagreatmanythings,fromthebordersandcorners,toinformativemotifboxesthatprovidedesignandcompositionalelementstoamap.Amapbordershouldoftenbethoughtofasaframeofsorts.Justlikeapictureframe,abordercanbeverysimpleorveryelaborate,dependingonthetypeofmapyouaremaking.Aproperbordernotonlylookssuitableandcontainsdesignflourishestoenhanceamap,butalsoincludessubtleinformationforaviewer.Themostinterestingbordersarethosethatareintegrateddirectlyintoamap’scomposition,givingyouaseamlesspiece.Backgroundsalsobroadlyincludeoneofthemostimportantpiecesofmapinformation,thelegend,whichisakeystonetoanymap.
Borders
Borderscanbeportrayedinavarietyofways,fromsimplelinearttomorecomplexpaintedframingdesigns.Oneofthemostimportantelementsofamap’sborderisthe“neatline”thatactsasatrueframebygivingthemapadefinitiveborder,whichnoartworkshouldexistoutsideof.Manymapsalsoincludeascaleruler(orborder)withintheneatline,givingamapthatdistinctivecheckeredborderlook.Inthissectionwewillbefocusingonbasictechniques.
STEP1:MarktheCorner
Takeyourrulerandlightlymarkapointineachcornerofyourmapabout ⁄ – ⁄ "(6–13mm)infromeachedge.
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STEP2:CreateaBasicFrame
Thenusingyourrulerasastraightedge,connectyourdots,formingabasicframe.Youmaymakethelinethickerorthinnerdependingonyourpreference.
STEP3:AddAnotherFrameLine
Nowdrawanotherframewithinthelinesyoujustdrew,about ⁄ "(3mm)insidethefirstline.
STEP4:CreateaScaleRuler
Eachsegmentshouldbeequaltogiveauniformlook.Measurethelengthofyourneatlineanddivideitbyasmanyscalesegmentsasyouwant.Useyourrulertodotintheroughplacements.Filleveryothersegment,likeacheckerboard.
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STEP5:FinalDetails
Afteryourscaleiscompleted,takeyourruleranddrawanotherframeabout ⁄ "(6mm)outsideyourneatline.Yourscaleiscomplete.Justaddcolortofinishthepiece.
ColorVariation
Youdon’thavetosticktoblackandwhitewhenconstructingaborderruler.Avarietyofcolorslookgoodasbothaneatlineandaborderruler.Reds,bluesandbrownsallareperfectforoldmaps.
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BorderCorners
Thecornersofyourborderareagreatwaytoaddsomecharactertoyourmap.Cornerscancomeinalargevarietyofforms.Cornersareessentiallytheirownsmallillustrationsthatintegratewithyouroriginalneatlineandscaleborderelements.Properlydone,cornerscandomuchtomakeamapshine.Thissectionwillfocusonbothsimpleandmoreadvancedtechniquesfortacklingcornerillustrations.Simplelinecornersaddaniceaccenttoyourmap,andarequickandeasytodo,whilecomplexcornersmakeuseofadditionalelementsthatrequirepatienceandpracticetomaster.
STEP1:PreparetheCorner
Selectthefirstcorneryou’dliketoillustrate.Let’susethesamecornerwewerejustworkingon.Takeyoureraserandcarefullycleartheworkarea.
justworkingon.Takeyoureraserandcarefullycleartheworkarea.
STEP2:AddtheBasicDesign
Let’sstartwithasimplegeometricdesign.Don’tbeafraidtotrydifferentshapes!
STEP3:AddMoreDetails
Continuebyaddingafewmoredetaillinesandmarks,tryingtokeepthemaseventooneanotheraspossible.Drawasmallcirclecenteredinthecorner.
STEP4:FinalDetails
Finishyourcornerbydrawinginthepartsoftheborderandscalethatyouhadinitiallyerased.Thiswillintegratethecornerseamlessly.
SimpleCornersSquaresandrectanglesarewonderfulforcorners,butyoushouldexperimentwithothershapestoo.Youmightbepleasantlysurprisedwithwhatyoucancomeupwith!
ComplexCorners
Whilesimplecornersarefittingforsimplermaps,sometimesyouwillwanttoincludemorecomplexillustrativeelements.Complexcornersareessentiallysmallillustrationsthatareabitlikebookcorners,addingsophisticationandcharactertoanin-depthmap.Inthissectionyouwilllearnhowtoconstructcomplexcornersbystartingwithgeometricshapes,andprogressingwithmoreorganicelementstoformyourowndistinctdesigns.
STEP1:PreparetheCorner
Selectacorneranderasetheneatlineandborders.
STEP2:AddtheBasicDesign
Drawacircleascenteredaspossibleinthecorner.Tryandmakeitasroundandevenaspossible.Complexcornerscanvaryinsizebutshouldneverbelargerthan1"(25mm)indiameter.
STEP3:AddDetails
Drawanothercircle,givingtheoriginalcircleaborder,andthennotchtheedgessotheylookbraided.Drawafewmoresmallercircleswithinyourbraidedcircle,andconnecteachwithsomesmalldetaillines.Thinkofaknotandhoweachstrandbraidsaroundoneanother.
STEP4:ConnecttheCorner
Finishyourcornerbyreconnectingyourneatlineandtherulerbordersothatitisseamlesslyintegrated.Tryyourhandatsomecircleortriangledesigns.
STEP5:FinalDetails
Addshadingandcolortofinishit.
CornerFlourishes
Tospiceupyourcornerborders,youcanincludeafewdesignelementsthataddfurthersophisticationtothelookandfeelofyourmap.Flourishesaregraphicelementsthatservetobetterintegratethecornerswiththeneatline,butcansometimesstretchintothemapitself.Theycanvaryfromsimplelinedesigns,tocomplexillustrativeelements.Unlikethecornerart,theymayextendout,formingapartoftheneatline’sborder.Flourishescanberoughlycharacterizedasbothbasicandadvanced.
STEP1:PreparetheCorner
Startbyerasingtheinnerneatlinefromyourcorner.
STEP2:AddtheBasicShape
Startingfromthecornercircle,drawapetalpointingintothemap.Thisisyourmainpetal.
STEP3:AddDetails
Thenoutlinethepetalwithanotherlineandaddacircleoneachside.
STEP4:IntegratetheFlourish
Fillinafewsmallcurledtwigsoneachsideandconnectthembacktothemainpetal.Redrawanypartofthecornerthatwaserasedandintegratetheflourishintoyourcorner.
STEP5:FinalDetails
Finishitupbyaddingshadingandcolor.
BasicFlourishes
BasicFlourishesBasicflourishesaresmallembellishmentsthatarequickandeasytodo.Theyarebasedonsimpleflowerandplantleavesthataredrawninaboldandgraphicway.
AdvancedFlourishes
Advancedflourishesarelargerandmoredifficulttodo.Theyusuallyconsistoflongerbrancharmsandmorefloralelements.Theycanalsobemadeupofothersmallerillustrationsofweaponsandfigures,andhavealessgraphicandmoreillustrativelook.Forthisexamplecompleximage,let’stryavinelikedesignwithsomeberries.
STEP1:PreparetheCorner
Beginyouradvanceddesignbyerasingyourinnerneatline,andpreppingitforyourlinework.
STEP2:AddtheBasicShapes
Drawintwovinesextendingoutfromthebordercorner.Trytomaketheseasevenandsymmetricalaspossible.
STEP3:AddDetails
Continuethedesignbyaddingafewmorevinesinthesamefashionasthefirstandsecond,eachabouthalfthesize,aswellasaclusterofberriesinthecenter.Addmoresmalloffshootvinestoeachmajorvine,curvingtheminwards.
STEP4:IntegratetheFlourish
Completeyourdesignbyaddinginanothersmallergroupofvines,andafewclustersofberries.Cleanupyourdrawingandintegrateitwithyourneatline.Ifyourdesignoverlapsyourneatline,that’sOKtoo!
STEP5:FinalDetails
Finishitupbyaddingshadingandcolor.
AdvancedFlourishesMixingheavystraightshapeswithleaves,berriesandflowerscanformsomeverynicedesignelementsforyourcorners.Takealookatsomeoldmedieval
verynicedesignelementsforyourcorners.Takealookatsomeoldmedievalmaps.Medievalartistswereverygoodatcombininghardandsoftelements.
Compass
Thecompassroseisperhapsoneofthemost,ifnotthemost,indicativeimagesofcartography.Notonlyisitabeautifulpieceofartthatcantieamaptogether,itisalsofunctional,providinginformationanddirectiontoaviewer.Compassescomeinmanysizes,shapesandstyles,thoughallsharesomesimilarqualities,suchasgivingdirection.Usuallythenorthpointisthemostemphasized,thougheachpointisrepresentedasadifferentdirection.Compassestraditionallylooklikeastarwithanumberofpointsthatcanvaryfromfour,eightandsixteentoeventhirty-twopoints!Thesepointsalsodepictnauticaldegreesandhelpseafarersplotcoursesandmakeuseofthewinds.Sincecertainareasoftheoceanwouldprovidebetterwindsthanothers,therewouldbesmallercompasseslocatedonsomemapsforthepurposeoftriangulation,orgettingbearingsonaspecificpoint.Thisisveryusefulinthewideopensea.Notallcompasseswouldfocusonmagneticnorthasweareusedto,andsomewouldfocusonthestarsastheprincipalguide.However,today,youwillbelearninghowtoconstructabasiccompassforyourmap.
STEP1:DrawtheCenterShape
Whenconstructingacompass,firstdrawacircleaboutthesizeofaquarter(about1"[25mm])andthenanotherinsideit.
STEP2:AddthePoints
Startingwiththenorthpoint,drawtwolongtrianglesonthetopandbottomof
Startingwiththenorthpoint,drawtwolongtrianglesonthetopandbottomofthecircle,andtwoshorteronesonthesides.
STEP3:DividethePoints
Divideeachofthetrianglesinhalf.
STEP4:AddDesign
Gobackintothemiddleofthecentercircleanddrawaknight’sshield.Thenfill
Gobackintothemiddleofthecentercircleanddrawaknight’sshield.Thenfilltherestofthecirclewithfloraldesignsforembellishment.
STEP5:FinalDetails
Markthesouth,eastandwestpointswiththefirstletteroftherespectivedirection.Fornorth,putinalargerNtogiveitmoreemphasis.
Legends
Thelegendistheheartofamapinsomerespectsandcanformawonderfulcenterpiece.Itiswherethetitle,iconsandscaleelementsareexplainedanddefined.Alegendcanbeabeautifuldesignelementwhenintegratedwithyourcornerandboundaryart.Thebasicconstructionandinformationareexplainedindetailinthissection.
STEP1:PreparetheCorner
Decidewhereyouwouldliketoplaceyourlegend.Agoodplaceisusuallyinoneofthefourcorners,orthecenterbottomofthemap.Drawinyourroughlinesasaguide.
STEP2:AddtheBasicFrame
Takingyourstraightedge(ordesigntemplate),carefullydrawinyourbasicdesignframe.
STEP3:AddDetails
Oncethebasicsarein,addsomedetailstothecornersandedgelinestotheframe.
STEP4:IntegratetheFrame
Ifyourlegendisclosetoyourborderartorboundaries,integrateyourlegendframeintotheborder.Youcandothisbyaddingsomeadditionallineworkor
frameintotheborder.Youcandothisbyaddingsomeadditionallineworkorfloraldesigns.
STEP5:FinalDetails
Finishitupbyaddingshadingandcolor.
LegendInformation
Theinformationthatyouincludewithinyourlegendisuptoyou,thoughtherearesomeelementsthatshouldbeincludedforittobeeffective.Thebasicthings,likethemap’stitle,needtobeincluded.Otherdetailssuchasiconandboundarydefinitionsaredependentonwhattypeofmapyouhavemade.
STEP1:SketchthePlacement
Lightlypencilinmarkersforwhereyouwanttowriteinthetitleofyourmapfirst.Then,dependingontheinformationyou’dliketodepict,spaceoutyourothertypography.Trynottocrowdyourinformationtogether.Spaceoutwhereyouwouldliketolayinyourmap’sscale.
STEP2:AddtheTypography
Layinyourtypography,titlefirst.Thendrawinanyiconsyou’dliketoinclude,makingsuretheyarelinedupandthespacingiseven.Drawinyourscale,usingastraightline.Itshouldbethesamelengthasyourrulerboundary.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Finishyourlegendbyaddinginsomemoredetails,shadingandcolor.Shadingthebordersgivesthelegendsomedepth.
InformationBoxes
Informationboxesaredesignelementsthatareusefulfordepictingeitherimportanttextinformationincertainareas,orgivingyourmapsomenicefantasticalclutter.They’reverysimilartolegends,butaremuchsmaller,andshouldhavelessemphasis.Theyareagoodwayofcomplementingyourlegendorthecornersofyourmaps.
STEP1:DrawtheBasicShapes
Whenyouhavedecidedwheretoplaceyourinformationbox,carefullydrawinyourfirstcircleorrectangletoserveasyourinitialframeandfillitoutwithanotherline.
STEP2:AddDetails
Thendrawanotherboxwithinyourcircleandaddsomesimplefloraldesignelements.
STEP3:FinalDetails
Finally,addinyourtypographyandyourinformationboxiscomplete.
CHAPTERTEN
PaintingTechniques
Therearetwotypesofpainting:traditionalwithbrush,paintandpaper,anddigitalwithatabletandacomputer.Thoughthetwosharesimilaraspects,andthefinalproductcancometoresembleoneanotherclosely,theydorequiresomedifferenttechniques.Inthischapter,Iwillgiveyouacursoryglanceintoboth.Itmayhelpyoutoproduceandexplorebyyourownmeans.Beforeyoustart,thereareafewquestionstoaskyourself.
WhattypeofmapdoIwanttomake,digitalortraditional?WhatdoIneedtogetstarted?WherecanIgetthematerials?
Soonyouwillbepaintinginthelandsanddetailsofyourveryownkingdom!
Inking
Inkisanextremelyversatilemedium.Whetherinkisbeingappliedwithabrush,apenoraninknib,itcanbeusedtolayinsubtlelayersaswellasforillustratingprecisedetails.Thoughinksareusuallythoughtofasblackorblue,bottledinkscomeinawholevarietyofdifferentcolorstoworkwith,allofwhichcanbemixedandmatched,orwatereddowntoproducesurprisingresults.IpersonallyuseNoodler’sinks,whicharebothacid-freeandwaterproof,givingyouaveryclean,deepandlastingfinish.Thereareagreatmanytechniquestoworkwith,thoughIwillintroduceyoutoafewbasictoolsandmethodsyoucanusetoexploreonyourown.
InkingTools
CopicMultilinerSPPens
BlackInks
0.5mm
0.2mm
0.05mm
BrownInks
0.5mm
0.1mm
0.05mm
BSpen
Brushes
Loew-Cornell ⁄ "(19mm)flatwash
Siennano.1round
Siennano.4round
Siennano.10roundSpeedballMappingPen
PenNibs
Nos.100P,102P,103P,104P,107P,108PNoodler’sWaterproofInks
Black
FoxRed
GoldenBrown
3 4
WashTypesAhardwashisamixof50/50inkandwater,usefulforstrongdefinitionofmountains,oceans(dependingonthemap),andforsomestrongshading.Asoftwashismixofthreepartswater,onepartink.Softwashesareexcellentforbuildinguptonality,andcanbelayeredtobuildupdefinition.
BoundaryWashesTodefineyourlandboundaries,firstdampentheareasofthepaperthatyouwillbeapplyingyourinkwashto(usuallytheseasandlakes),makingsureyoudon’toverlapintoyourlandboundaries.Yourboundarywashshouldbesoft,andshouldbeappliedcarefullywithyourlargeflatorroundbrush.Tofurtherdilutethewash,usemorewaterandbrushoutward,awayfromyourlandboundaries.
DefiningTerrainHardwashesareidealfordefiningyourmountains,hillsandtowns.Usingaroundbrush,firstapplyasoftwashoveryourmountainsandhillsasaninitialbaseshade.Oncedry,applyanotherlayeratthebaseofthehillsandmountains
baseshade.Oncedry,applyanotherlayeratthebaseofthehillsandmountainswithyoursmalldetailbrush,carefulnottocoverthewholearea.Oncethoseareasaredry,carefullyapplyanotherwashatthebase,andkeepgoinguntilthemountainsandhillsarewelldefined.Alightshadeshouldbeappliedunderneathyourcitiesandtown,andaroundyourborderboundariesandlegendboxtoshadethemandgivedefinition.
PenandBrushInking
Basicinkingshouldbedonewitheitherpensorthinbrushesfordefinition.Apenwillgiveyouanevenlinethatismoremechanical,whileabrushorcalligraphypenwillgiveamoreorganiclookthatislesseven,butcanvaryinthicknessbyapplyingmoreorlesspressure.BeginnersshouldstartoutusingPigmaMicronandCopicpensfirst,sincetheydonottakeintoaccountpressuresensitivity,andareeasyandcleantouse.Whenyouarereadyandfeelmoreconfident,practicesomelineworkwithyoursmalldetailbrush,aswellasyourcalligraphypenanditsvariousnibs.Landboundariesshouldbeillustratedfirstwithathicklinesothereisacleardefinitionbetweenwaterandlands.Next,thebasicmountains,hills,bordersandcompassshouldallbedrawninwithmediumlines.
MediumLinesMediumlinesshouldbethinnerthantheheavylandboundarylines,andareusefulfordefiningmountains,hills,rivers,boundarycorners,basiccityshapes,
forestsandbordercorners.
ThickLinesLineweightwillbeimportantinaninkmap,andthicklinesshouldbeusedforclearlandboundaries,thelegendboxandoutliningthecompass.
DetailInking
Afteryourbasicinking,it’stimetodetailthemostintricatepartsofyourmap.Usingyourthinnestnibsandpentips,goinandcarefullydefineyourmountains,cities,bordersandallotherpartsofyourmap.
ThinLineToolsThinlinesareexcellentfordefinitionanddetailwork.Mostlinesonamapshouldbethin,oratleastthinnerthantheheavylandboundarylines.Thethinnestlinesserveforthemostintricatedefinition,suchasdetailingyourcities,heraldry,mountainsandhills.
Typography
Oncetheillustrativeelementshavebeeninkedin,it’stimetolayinallthetextandtype.“Tags”arelabelsforthevariouselementswithinyourmap,andeachshouldbeportrayedalittledifferently.Generally,inkandcalligraphypensareexcellentforinkingintags,especiallyforclearandbolddefinition,thoughyoumaywanttouseabrushforregionalandoceantagstomakethemappearlesshardandbold,especiallyifyouelecttousewashes.
Capitals,Cities,TownsandVillagesCapitalsandcitiesshouldbeinkedinalluppercase,whiletownsshouldstartwithacapitalizedletterfollowedbylowercase.Villagesshouldbedoneinalllowercasesotheyarepushedbackanddon’tinterferewiththeothertags.Citytypeshouldalwaysbestraightfromlefttoright.
RiversRiversareoftenlabeledinlowercasetype,andshouldfollowthecontoursoftheriverbeinglabeled.
MountainsMountainsshouldalsofollowthecontoursofthemountainrange,stretchingasbestitcantocovertheentirerange.Mountainscanbelabelledineitherupper-orlowercasefashion,dependingonthemap.
Ocean,SeaandBayLabelsOceanandsealabelsareusuallyalluppercase,andfollowthecontouroftheareabeinglabeledinaslightlycurvedfashion,whilebayareasshouldbesmallerandstraightacross.Baylabelsshouldbecapitalized,butnotuppercaselettersforthewholelabel.
Painting
Usingpaintandbrushforcartographyisalittlebitdifferentthanusinginksandwashes,thoughbothtechniquescanbecombinedforanexcellentresult.Whileinkservestodefineboldlyandgivesagraphicelementtoamap,paintingisgoodforgivingamoreorganicandcolorfullook.Paintingalsooverlapsdirectlyintothedigitalrealm,andbothtraditionalanddigitalsharemostofthebasic(andsomeadvanced)paintingtechniques.Thereareseveraldifferenttypesoftraditionalpaintingmediumsthatcanbeused,eachwithdifferenttechniquesandlooks.Mostcommonly,watercolors,gouacheandacrylicsareusedincartographyfortheirlayeringcapability.
PaintingTools
Brushes
Loew-Cornellno.1detailroundSiennanos.1,4,10and14roundSiennano.4flatLoew-Cornell ⁄ "(19mm)flatwashLoew-Cornell1"(25mm)flatwash
Winsor&NewtonandMoGrahamPaints
Gouache
BurntSiennaIvoryBlackPermanentYellowDeepPrussianBlueQuinacridoneRedRawUmber
SpectrumRedYellowOchreZincWhite
Watercolor
AzoGreen
3 4
OliveGreenMasterson’sSta-WetPalette
CreatingaDetailedBorder
Whenyouhaveyourbasiccolorsonyourpalette,it’stimetolayinyourbasetones.Basetonesarethemediumtoneofacolorthatyouareusing,andcanbeshadedwithdarksorhighlightedwithwhites.Basetonesshouldbethefirstcolorspaintedontoamap,formingthefoundationcolors.Foranexample,let’sworkonadetailedborder.Afterthebasetonesarelaidin,it’stimetoaddsomedefinition.
Thisistherealmeatandpotatoesofpainting,anditisabitlikesculpting.Darksarelaidintogroundanimageandgiveitdepth,whilehighlightsmakeitpop,addingcontrast.Contrastiswhatdrawstheeye,andthisisincreasedthecloserthedarkestdarksaretothelightestlights.Youwantshadowsandhighlightstocomplementyourbasetonesinamap,notoverpowerthem.
STEP1:SketchtheBorder
Startwithabasicpencilsketch.
STEP2:AddBaseColor
Usingyourflatbrush,layinyourbasecolors.Tryandstaywithinyourpencilsketchboundaries,layingincolorasevenlyaspossible.
STEP3:FinishtheBaseColor
Finishupyourbasetones,eveningoutanyinconsistenciesasbestyoucan.Havingyourpencilsketchshowthroughcanbehelpful,butbepreparedtopaintoveryourbasetonesforthenextstep.
STEP4:ApplyDeeperDarks
Usingyourshadetones,layinyourdarksfirstbeforethehighlights.Blacksshouldneverbeusedwithoutbeingmixed,aspureblacksareunnaturalandaremuchtoodark.Forsmallareas,useyoursmallestroundbrush,thoughforstraightedgesuseaflatbrush.
STEP5:ApplyHighlights
Onceyourdarkshavebeenpainted,it’stimetomixsomehighlights.Highlightswillprovidetheborderwithdefinition,givingitamoresophisticatedlook.Highlightsshouldbepaintedontopofyourbasetone,butnotoveryourdarks.Often,it’sbesttoapplyhighlightswithyourdetailbrush,soyoucanbettercontroltheareabeinghighlighted.
STEP6:AddtheLightestLights
Onceyourbasichighlightslightenthearea,youcanfinishthemoffwithafewwellplacedlightestlights.IuseZincWhitewithasmallamountofthemixedcolortopopouttheimage.Lightanddarkcolorsdirectlynexttoeachotherwillcreatecontrastanddrawtheeye.Thelightestlightsshouldbeappliedsparinglyandinsmallspots.
STEP7:InktheDetails
Wheninkingontopofbasetones,useyourmediumbrushorpenforoutlining,andyourthinnibfordetailwork.Browninksaremuchmoreforgivingthanblack,thoughblacksarebolder.Inkfirst,applyfinaldetailsandcleanup.
STEP8:FinalShading
Usingyoursmallflatbrush,addsomewatertoRawUmber,andgentlyapplyshadingtoyourpiece.Thiswillgivethepiecedepthwithintheimageitself,andallowittomeldinandnotcontrastjarringly.
DigitalPainting
Digitalpaintinghasreallycomeintoitsowninthelastfewyears,andwiththeadvanceintechnology,ithastheabilitytocombinethelookoftraditionalpaintingwithoutthesetupandmess.Digitalpaintingisquicker,andinsomerespectseasiertouse,turninghoursoftraditionaldecisionsintomereseconds.Mistakesareinstantaneouslyerased,whilegrantinganartistthequickabilitytoexploreandcompleteartalongmanydifferentavenues.Whilethereareproponentsofboth,Ithinkofdigitalpaintingasbothanartformandatool.Knowledgeoftraditionaltechniquesisveryhelpful,butnotnecessarilyneeded,thoughcolortheoryinanymediumisessential.
DigitalTools
DigitalBrushes
Roughroundbristle
Airbrush75round
Hardround3pixelbrush
Airbrush45round
Hardpasteloncanvas
StylusandTablet
AdobePhotoshoporGIMPsoftware
AdobePhotoshoporGIMPsoftware
DigitalToolsTopaintusingacomputer,it’sbesttohaveatabletofsomesort.Atabletactsasyourcanvas,andastylusasyourbrush,andisexcellenttosimulatepaintingbytranslatingyourbrushstrokesontothescreen.Tabletshaveapressuresensitivityaswell,sotheharderyoupressasyoupaint,thedarkerorwiderthestroke.ProgramssuchasCorelPainterandAdobePhotoshopusevirtualbrushes,andthesebrushesareeachusedtododifferentthings.Youcanmakeyourownbrushes,orusethepresetswithintherespectiveprograms.Fornow,wewillusesomepresets.
OpacityOpacityisatoolformakingcolorsandmarksmoreorlesstranslucent.Thelowertheopacity,theweakerthetoneofthecoloris,andthemoreitcanbe
lowertheopacity,theweakerthetoneofthecoloris,andthemoreitcanbelayeredontopofothercolors.Acolororlayercanvaryinopacityfrom0–100percent.Forlayeringcolorandmixingcolors,opacityisimportant.Layerscanbereducedandfadedbyloweringtheopacityoftheentirelayer.Tryfadingandstrengtheningyourlineworklayersbyincreasinganddecreasingthelayer’sopacity.
LayersLayersareauniqueelementofdigitalpainting.Layerscanbeoverlaidoveroneanother,likepanesofglass,witheachlayer’selementsshowingthroughtothenext.Youmayuseasmanylayersasyou’dlike,andit’sbesttousemultiple
next.Youmayuseasmanylayersasyou’dlike,andit’sbesttousemultiplelayersforthedifferentelementsofyourpiece.Byusingmultiplelayers,youmayoverlaytextures,combiningthemalltomakeanimage.Tomakenewlayers,gotoLayers>MakeNewLayer.Typeinanappropriatename,andthenewlayerwillappearabovethecurrentlayer.Layersareorganizedintoahierarchy,withanylayerontopofanothercoveringanythingbelowit.
DrawingDigitaldrawingisabitdifferentfromtraditionaldrawing,butbothobeysomeofthesameprecepts.Withastylusanditspressuresensitivity,youmaymakelinesthickerorthinner,anderasequicklyandefficiently.Beforedrawingmakeanewlayer,andnameit“Linework.”Thisiswhereallofyourdrawingshouldbedone.Whendrawing,it’sbesttousebrushes4–8pixelsinsizeforbasicterrainlinework,andbrushes1–3pixelswidefordetailwork.
PaintingPaintinginthecomputerresemblestraditionalpaintinginsomeways,butdiffersinmanyothers.Youcanstartbymakinganewlayerunderyourlineworklayer.Thenlayinyourbasetonelayerusingyourbroadbrush.Aftermakinganotherlayer,paintinyourdarks.Addanotherlayerandlayinyourhighlights.Afinallayeroverthetopshouldbefordetailwork.
TypographyLayingintypographydigitallyisverydifferentfromtraditionalmeans.ToapplytypetoyourmapselecttheTypetool,andselectanareaofthemaptomakeatextlayerforinsertingtype.Youmayalsoclickanddragtomakeatextbox,whichwillcontainalltexttypedintothatbox.Onceatextlayerismade,youcantypeinyourtag,andthenalteritssizeandfonttypewithafewclicks.Whenusingtypeinamap,it’sbesttosticktoonefonttype,andnotvarythesizetoomuch.Keepsimilarelementsthesamesizetoemphasizeuniformity.Atexttagmaybemovedaroundatwill,andeachtexttagwillformitsownseparatelayer.Onceyouaresatisfiedwithyourtypographyplacement,youcangroupallofthesetagstogetherandmergethemforoneeasy-to-managelayer.
DigitalFinishHereisafinisheddigitalmapIhavedoneformyownworld,Hyranden.Thoughthismapusessomeothermorespecializedtechniques,manyofthetopicsIhavediscussedinthischapterareputtogoodusehere.Traditionalanddigitalarthavemuchmoreincommonthanpeoplethink,thoughtheirexecutioncanvary.
CHAPTERELEVEN
PuttingitAllTogether
Creatingafantasymapfromscratchisalotofwork,andismuchlikeweavingacomplextapestryfrommuchsimplerthreads.Don’tbeoverwhelmed!Nowthatyouhavelearnedthebasictechniques,aswellasthemoreadvancedmethods,it’stimetoputalloftheseelementstogether.Inthischapter,Iwillconstructamapfromthegroundupgoingstepbystepinorderofexecution,slowlypiecingittogethertoformacohesivewhole.Beforestarting,collectallofyourmaterials,andthenaskyourselfafewquestions.
HowlargeofamapdoIwantmyworldtobe?Isthemapgoingtobeinfullcolorormonochromatic?WhattypeofmapdoIwanttomake—county,regional,countryorworld?DoIhaveanymapstouseforinspiration?
CreatingaFantasyMap
IwillbecreatingaworldmapofthefantasylandsofAldriin.Thismapwillusealloftheelementsincludedinthebasicandadvancedtechniquessectionstoshowyouhowtheyshouldbeapproached,andinwhatorderelementsshouldbetackled.Whetheryouareapproachingthemapfromatraditionaloradigitalperspective,thisbasicrundownwillshowyouhowamapismade.
STEP1:GeneralSketch
Thefirststepistotakealightpencilandgentlydrawyourgeneralsketch.Startwiththelargelandmassesfirst,thenislandboundaries.Fromthat,lightlydrawinthebasicmountainareasaswellasmarkingthegeneralareasofcities,rivers,bordersandcorners.Yoursketchshouldbelightandverygeneral,servingasaplaceholderforthenextstep.
placeholderforthenextstep.
STEP2:Coastlines
Whenyourgeneralsketchiscomplete,it’stimetogoinanddetailyourcoastlineswithaheavierline.Thislineworkshouldbemuchdarkerandmoresophisticatedthanthelightsketch.Hereiswhereyouaddinlets,baysandsmallerislandformationsaswellasinteriorlakes.Besuretoleavesmallopeningswhereriversrunintothesea.
STEP3:HillsandMountains
Alwayslayinyourmountainsfirst.Startwiththegeneraloutlineshapes,thengobackintodetaileachmountainwithsmallerdetaillines,givingthemeachdefinition.Whenyourmountainsarefinished,moveontoyourhills,smallergeneralshapesfirst,andthenafewdefininglines.Thedetailinglinesshouldbethin,anddrawnatthebaseofeachhill.
STEP4:TownsandCities
Drawinyourcapitalsandcities,thenyourtownsandvillages,andfinallyyourfortressesandholdfasts.Keepthemasgeneralaspossible.Ifthereareanyshieldsorheraldry,drawthegeneralshapesintoserveasplaceholders.
STEP5:Rivers
Afteryourtownshavebeendrawnin,it’stimetolayinallofyourrivers.Startwiththelargestones,thenmoveontothesmallerones.Riversemptyingintotheseashouldbeintegratedwiththecoastalborders.Drawintherivertributarieslast,taperingfromthemountainstotheriverstheyjoin.
STEP6:ShoreandWaterLines
Nowthatyourriversandcoastlinesarecomplete,layinyourshorelines.Thefirstlineshouldrunabout ⁄ – ⁄ "(6mm–13mm)outfromtheland,andhugthecoastclosely.Thenextlineshouldbeanother ⁄ "(6mm)out,huggingthefirstline,andsoon.Anywherefrom3–6linesaregood.Theselinesshouldneveroverlapthelegendorbordersketches,stoppingwhentouchingtheiredges.Lakelinesshouldonlyhaveoneortwooftheselinesatmosttodifferentiatethemfromthesea.Forwavelines,groupthemtogetherandlaytheminrandomgroupsofthree.
Becarefulnottoplacetoomany.
1 4 1 2
1 4
STEP7:BackgroundBorder
Thebordershouldbeoutlinedfirst,tracingoveryourlightsketchline,usingastraightedgeifneeded.Drawinbordercorners,outliningeach,thendrawtheinterioranddetailwork.Theoutlinesshouldbeboldlinework,whiletheinteriorofthebordersshouldbethinnerandmoredelicate.Theselinesarestillrelativelytemporary,andwillbecomepermanentonlyintheinkingstagelateron.
STEP8:LegendandInformationBoxes
Whenyourborderandcornersarelaidin,drawyourlegend,anddetailit.Theoutlineofthelegendshouldbestrong,andtheinteriorthinnerandlighter.Layoutandarrangeyourlegend,plottingoutthetitleandthecontentsasbestyoucan.It’snotcompletelynecessarytolayinyourtitleyet,butanycityiconsandscalesshouldbedetailedoratleastoutlinedandpreparedforlaterinking.Ifyouhaveanyinformationboxes,laytheminaswellanddetailthem.
STEP9:Compasses
Afteryourlegend,drawinyourcompassrose,usinganytemplateorstraightedgeyouneed.Startwiththecentralportion,thenpencilinthepoints,startingwithnorth.Thenmoveontotheminorcompasses.Drawinyourcompasslines,makingsurenottointersecttheoceanlines.
STEP10:Forests
Nowtackleyourforests,layingthemingroupbygroup.Forestsshouldflowaroundrivers,andbeplacedatthebaseofmountains.Leavegapsintheforestforyourforest’slabels.Youmaywanttopencilthelabelsinnowsoyouknowwhattoinkinlater.
STEP11:RoadsandBoundaries
Nowthatyourforestsaredrawn,layinyourhighways,roadsandpaths,aswellasanyboundariesthatyou’dliketoincludetodifferentiatekingdomsandregions.
STEP12:MinorDetails
Nowthatmostofyourmajorelementsarein,it’stimetoaddtheminordetails.Cities,townsandterrainelementsshouldbefullypenciledinnow,aswellasanyshadingforthoseelements.Iconsshouldbeplacedandpenciledinaswell.
STEP13:Iconography
Addiconographytothemapandstartshadingtheterrainwithlinework.
STEP14:Typography
Withthemapalmostcomplete,it’stimetolayinyourtypography,erasingtheterrainelementstomakeroom.First,layincapital,citadelandcitytags;thentown,villageandholdfasttags.Oncethesearedone,thelake,river,oceanandbaytagsshouldbedrawnin.
STEP15:Inking
Bynow,yourentiremapshouldbefinishedinpencil,andinkingitisonewayofcompletingit.Usingyourthickpens,inkinyourcoastallandboundaries,aswellasyourlegendandborderoutlines.Moveontoinkingtheterrainelements,andthenthecities,heraldryandborderinteriorelementswithasmalldetailpen.Inkingisthelaststepinaninkedpiece,butcanbeskippedifyouaremovingontopaintingyourpieceinatraditionalmanner.
DigitalInks
Ifworkingdigitally,allofyourlineworkshouldbeonseparatelayers,andthepieceshouldessentiallyalreadybe“inked.”Yourcolorscanbepaintedinbehindyourlineworkonaseparatecolorlayer.Digitalworkisveryflexibleinthisrespect.
STEP16:HeraldryandOtherDetails
Don’tforgettoaddtheheraldrydesignstoeachofyourshieldsaswellasfillingintheinformationboxesandothersmalldetailsthroughoutthemap.
STEP17:FinishedInks
Onceyouhavelaidinallofyourvariousdetailsthatmakeupamap,youcanthengoinanddothefinalinks.Inkingthemapwillgiveitafinisheddynamicthatisquitebold.Finishedinkedmapsarequitepretty,andstandverywellontheirown.Withafewlightwashesforsomeaddeddepth,thismapwouldbeconsideredcomplete.However,forourpurposes,wearen’tgoingtostophere.Buckleup,becausewearegoingtomakethispieceintoacoloredmap!
STEP18:WaterElements
Thefirstcolorsintroducedintoamapshouldbethewaterelements,usuallyadeepblueorbluishgreen.Seasandoceansneednotbedark,however;itjustdependsonthemapitselfandhowyou’dlikeittolook.Paintintheocean,startingatthelandboundaryandworkingyourwayout,paintingaroundyourcompasses,legendandborders.Ifpaintingdigitally,makeaseparatelayercalled“water”tokeepitseparatefromthelinework.
STEP19:Shading
Tobringoutsomeofyourelements,applydarkershadingaroundthem.First,mixadarkshadetoapplytothelandboundaryinteriors,usingwashestobuilduptone.Addshadingtothemountainsandhillstogivethemmoredimension.Leavesomehighlightsatthetoptolooklikesnowonthehighestpeaks.
Leavesomehighlightsatthetoptolooklikesnowonthehighestpeaks.Forests,cities,iconsandheraldryshieldsshouldbeshadedbyapplyingtones
underneaththeelement.Riverlinesshouldalsobeshaded,sincethenextstepwillinvolvepaintingthemin.Finally,shadetheborders,cornersandlegend,makingthempopfromtherest
ofthemap.
STEP20:Rivers
Startwithadarkblue,andfollowingyoursketchlines,paintinyourriverlines.Then,withasmallerbrush,paintinamuchlighterbluetomakethempopfromthedarkblue.Usingabitofwhite,highlighttherivermouththatspillsintothesea.
STEP21:TownsandCities
Paintinyourtownsandcities,layinginoff-whiteundertonesfirst,thenaddingcoloredroofsanddetailsusingathinnerbrush.Defineeachcitywithdarktones,andthenapplyhighlightstoeach.Iconsshouldbepaintedinaswell,withsolidtonesovertoptheiconshading.Cityiconsshouldbepaintedinwithadeepred,highlightedwithalightenedredandfinishedoffwithawhiteforcontrast.
STEP22:Trees
Treesshouldbepaintedinadarkgreen,overtopthedrawingandshading.Applyafewlightcoatsandbuildupthetonalityasneeded.Applydarksorlightstoshadeorhighlighttheforest.Don’tmakethemtoolightortoodark.Ifpaintingdigitally,makeaseparatelayerandmultiplyit,paintingingreens,ormakeyourownpaintbrushtopaintinthetrees.
STEP23:BackgroundBorders
Bordersshouldbepaintedbylayinginyourbasetonefirst,beingcarefultokeepyourpaintstrokeswithinthelinework.Startwithyourborderfirst,andthenworktothecorners.Whenallofyourbasetonesarein,layinyourdarktoneswithathinbrush.Onceyourdarktonesarein,layinyourhighlights.Afterbothdarkandlightsarein,inkyourpiecewithadetailnib,andfinallyapplyyourlasthighlightsandlightestlights.
STEP24:HeraldryandShields
Whenpaintinginshieldsandheraldry,layinyourbasetonesfirst,carefulnottogetpaintoutsideofyourlinework.Next,addsomeshadowsandhighlightstoyourbasetones,andoutlinetheshieldinathindarkbrownlinetogiveitsomeemphasis.Paintinthesymbolnext,anddetailit.Finally,addafewhighlightsofwhiteanddarktofinishit.
STEP25:CompassRose
Whenpaintingyourcompass,it’sbesttousedarkbrownsandreds.Layinyourbasetonesfirst,thenmoveontothepoints,addingdarksfirst,andthenlights.Highlightsshouldbepaintedinlast,afterthedetailshaveeitherbeeninkedorpaintedin.Thecompassshouldbeoutlinedindarkbluesordarkbrowns.
STEP26:Typography
Thoughmosttypographyshouldbeinkedinwitheitherbrownsorblacks,someothertypesshouldbepaintedin,suchaslargeregional,country,seaorbaytags.Sometypesshouldbecapitalizedwithlargerpaintedlettersforemphasis,suchascapitalsandcitadels.Carefullypaintoveryourlinework,usingeitheraflatbrushorasmallround.Oceanandseatagsshouldbewhiteorlightblue,whilecountryandregionaltagsshouldbedoneinreds.Textmayalsobeoutlinedwithwhitetomakeitpopwhenthetagisinahardtoreadarea.
STEP27:Terrain
Farmlands,marshlands,deserts,plainsandotherterrainshouldbepaintedinwithaflatbrush.Applyingmultiplelayersandbuildingthemupisbestsoyoudon’toverwhelmthemap.Startwithabasetone,thendarksandthenlights.Ifyouwish,addinsomeinksforalittleextradefinitionortidyingup.
STEP28:Detailing
Thefinalstepinyourmapshouldbedetailing.Addinanyfinalelementsyoumayhave,suchasscufforfoldmarksandadditionalcolors.Touchupshadingandhighlights.Youshouldalsopaintinthetypographyorfinalcolorsforthelegend,aswellasanyinformationordesignsthatyouwanttoincludeinyourinformationboxes.Theseshouldfollowthesamepaintingprocess:basetones,darks,lightsandthenhighlightsanddetailing.Lastofall,paintinanysearoutesyoumayhave.
AbouttheArtist
JaredBlandoisaprofessionalfreelancecartographerandconceptualartistwhoworksintheRPG,bookandgamingindustry.ThoughheisbestknownforhisRPGfantasymaps,heisalsoprominentintheboardgameandpublishingindustry,producingartworkforbothlargeandsmallpublishers.Hehasapenchantforhistoricalworksandminiaturegaming,aswellascatsandgluten-freepizza.Youcanseemoreofhisworkonthewebatwww.theredepic.com.Youmaydrophimanemailanytime,thoughhealsoacceptsmessagesviacarrierpigeon.
Acknowledgments
Thisbookhasbeenanincredibleamountofwork!However,therewerecertainpeoplethatcamethroughinspadestohelpmeoutofthequagmire,namelymylovelyChelseaandmyparents,JohnandIris,andafewclosefriendsandfamily.Withouttheirsupportandappreciation,thisbookwouldhavebeenthatmuchhardertoputout,leavingmeindebttoagreatmanypeople.Mythankstoyouall!
Copyright
HowtoDrawFantasyArtandRPGMaps.Copyright©2015byJaredBlando.Allrightsreserved.NopartofthiseBookmaybereproducedinanyformorbyanyelectronicormechanicalmeansincludinginformationstorageandretrievalsystemswithoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher,exceptbyareviewerwhomayquotebriefpassagesinareview.PublishedbyIMPACTBooks,animprintofF+W,aContent+eCommerceCompany,10151CarverRoad,Suite200,BlueAsh,OH45242.(800)289-0963.
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eISBN:9781440340321
Thise-bookedition:July2015(v.1.0).