Ryandor.com

I recommend doing the following in sections rather than trying to do an entire map's worth at once. First, you'll make more detailed maps. Second, it takes a long time (at least on my processor; 900mhz) for Photoshop to perform step 2 on a massive scale. It's much easier to make a continent/island on a smaller canvas, and then cut and paste it into your map.

Anyway:

1. Set foreground and background to black and white (doesn't matter which is which).

2. Filters > Render > Clouds

3. Image > Adjust > Brightness/Contrast:
(a) Set contrast up to 100%.
(b) Adjust brightness to taste. You'll end up with lots of interesting shapes with crude/random edges.

4. Use the magic wand to select a shape you want to use.

5. Create new layer, then in the new layer go to Edit > Fill to fill in your selection.

6. Deselect everything. Make the layer with clouds invisible.

7. Position your shape where you want it. Voila.

Combine shapes for larger landmasses. Use them for rivers. Whatever.

Does this make sense? If not, I'll try to upload some screenshots later. Cheers!

Very good technique.

However, a couple of pointers:

You'll need to put the bmp into RGB mode to use the filters. As long as you remember to put it back into Indexed color when finished this is a good way to get started.

Second, before filling the selection, I would use the smooth selection tool to eliminate the choppiness of the selection. This can save a ton of work having to go around and check the coastlines for single pixels later.

Thank you Katfish. This is a great time saver technique!

-Ryandor

Anyone know how to render clouds in 6.0? I cant find the option :/

*edit*
NM guess that filter isnt on the trial version

What's the render clouds bit for? Is this to save one from having to draw the island shape by hand?

The render clouds filter can create more "natural" type islands and give a bit more randomness. This is usefull when you're not set on a particular idea for the islands, etc.

-Ryandor

Better late than never I guess...
Here is a link to an Excellent! Tutorial site for Photoshop.

http://www.depiction.net/?id=photoshoptutorials

Dev

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"So...if crazy people don't know their crazy...does that mean your only sane if your know your crazy?"

Gee I wish I could afford Photoshop. I just made a map using MS paint. Can't wait to see how it turns out, but the coastlines were all predrawn from a map I was using. That should looke natural enough don't you think?

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~ Challenged.....~

look for photoshop 5, or so on ebay. shouldn't cost too much and the changes to 7 and 8 are not that big.

Photoshops price is an outrage, but it's awesome. I can encourage everybody to afford it. (however you do it )

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I am who I am and I do what I can

lol maybe in a few months I can, but I doubt it. My hubby bought me Corel a couple years ago and I am STILL learning how to use it. Needless to say once I get the hang of it I am gonna be building kick ass maps.

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~ Challenged.....~

I may possibly put up Photoshop and paintshop to download again once I get my new webserver sorted.

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Forget what you know, know what you forget.