Map-Making Q&A

[gimil]

Can someone tell me how to actually download gimp?

http://www.gimp.org/downloads/

[misterman10]

Can someone tell me how to actually download gimp?

http://www.gimp.org/downloads/

which link from that page do I actually use though?

[DiM]

Can someone tell me how to actually download gimp?

try here: http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

you need to download The GIMP for Windows (version 2.2.17) and also GTK+ 2 Runtime Environment (version 2.10.13, for Windows 2000 and newer)

[misterman10]

When opening the program GIMP i got the following message:

All image and undo data which doesn’t fit into the tile cache will be written to a swap file. This file should be located on a local filesystem with enough free space (several hundred MB). On a Unix system, you may want to use the system-wide-temp-dir (“/tmp” or “/var/tmp”).

I then got a chance to choose what folder to do this to, what folder should I choose as I have tried opening this program several times and it always freezes

[DiM]

do you have several partitions on your HDD?? then make a folder named Gimp Swap on a partition with plenty of free space. when gimp asks you what folder to use point it to the folder you just created. i never used gimp but i think that's how you should do it.

telvannia uses gimp. give him a pm to be sure.

[misterman10]

thanks for all your help DiM, anyways, I cant get GIMP to work so I decided to use inkscape

[KEYOGI]

I've promoted this thread to Sticky status to try and encourage people to use the thread properly. There's been an increase in off-topic discussion in map development threads lately, discussion that is perhaps more appropriate for this thread.

So please, if you have questions on how best to make a river, some mountains, a forest or anything else for that matter, ask for some advice here. Any other threads or posts of this nature will start to be merged here from now on.

Should this thread grow in popularity and prove to be a useful tool, we may add a new sub-forum for such discussion in the future.

[cairnswk]

Keyogi...can I say...not before time. This will become a valuable asset.

[gimil]

can anyone help with a tutorial on bump mapping in photoshop.

thanxs

[Telvannia]

can anyone help with a tutorial on bump mapping in photoshop.

thanxs

you cant bumpmap with photoshop according to DiM.

He had to get me to bumpmap, with gimp, this might be a gimp only feature.

[DiM]

yep i did not find any bumpmap in photoshop cs3. maybe in other versions but i doubt it. perhaps it requires a custom plug-in or filter.

[misterman10]

i was wondering, how do you crop an image on inkscape

[Bad Speler]

I was wondering, how do you crop an image on inkscape

I have worked on Inkscape for my maps and have yet to find a way to easily crop an image on Inkscape. What I did was crop the image manually in paint (photoshop would be better, but I did not have it at the time), and imported (Ctrl+I) it back into Inkscape as a raster graphic.

QUESTION: I have switched to Adobe Illustrator. It's much better then Inkscape, but there were a few features in Inkscape that I assume is also in Illustrator but I cannot find them. Once I create, for example a rectangle, and i want to adjust its size to the exact pixel, how would i do that? Also, if i want to specify, again to the exact pixel, where the rectangle should be positioned, how would i do that?

[KEYOGI]

I'm not sure what version of Illustrator you're using Bad Speler, but in the CS3 trial I have you can adjust both those things in the boxes that show up in the top toolbar when the rectangle is selected.

[Bad Speler]

thanks, I'm not sure how I missed that. Anyways, one more question. How can i apply my own textures to my artwork in Illustrator?

(edit) One more question, this time about XML. I want to have a certain territory in an upcoming map to receive a negative 1 territory bonus. What would happen if the amount of armies were down to 1? Also, what would happen if there was a neutral army on that territory?

[magneticgoop]

is it possible to have a map that has natural disasters? like -5 armies every third turn due to hurricane on certain territories? or +2 every other turn due to good farming.

[Bad Speler]

Not currently. With current xml, armies can only be added and subtracted each and every turn or not at all.

[WidowMakers]

Here is a PSD file that shows one way to make mountains. It is basically a layered approach. Each layer is made by applying and layering small amounts of color to a layer (pick a textured brush with 25%-40% opacity and flow) then the layer has a bevel and texture applied to it via Blending options.

You can open the PSD file and turn off the layer styles. That will show you what each layer looks like and how to better make the mountains.

Have fun

http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/6/15/ ... ntains.psd

[lt_oddball]

ok..so i want to try making a map.
And I am sorry to say that many of the programs are not straight forward.

I tried something with Adobe Photoshop...and got lost when at a painted field I get the next error "could not use xx(pencil or stamp or so) because the content of the layer is not directly editable" on a new second layer.
But the brush and lasso worked. I click on the eye and the lock of the layers on the righthandside. But after many clicks on/off also that got blocked.
And no help from the help file. What the f?:evil:

Then spent many hours on Inkscape (layers work fine) but there I miss the possibility to give a free airbrush stroke on areas (How do I get irregular sea or field effects on otherwise egalitarean coloured sea/landmasses ?).
And how do I import a different textfont than what is standard available(and where are they freely available ) ?

And then GIMP. Downloaded the stuff. But it won't install on WinXP (or is it a Linux program?).

(edit: that was from a TU Twente mirror with different GIMP versions and per version different pieces to be assembled.. I now found a single installation file somewhere else).

[WidowMakers]

--

[Koronna]

Hey, I've made draft of a periodic Table Map using MS paint. I was wondering if anyoen could suggest a free graphic program that I could possiblely use to make my map? Some program you can download off the internet and is user friendly? thanks a lot guys i'm new to map making and I need your help to make this map come true. Again, any program that you suggest?

[DiM]

Hey, I've made draft of a periodic Table Map using MS paint. I was wondering if anyoen could suggest a free graphic program that I could possiblely use to make my map? Some program you can download off the internet and is user friendly? thanks a lot guys i'm new to map making and I need your help to make this map come true. Again, any program that you suggest?

gimp and inkscape are free

fireworks and photoshop each have 30 day trial periods.

i personally recommend fireworks 8 or photoshop cs3.

[lt_oddball]

Past days were busy..but now I have more free time at hand , and I want to give another shot into mapmaking.

I need your advice on tackling the following problems:

1) I want to create a new Pattern (grassfield landscape from a photo but coulered a bit) which I must import in a drawing program so that after I have drawn the boundary of an area , I am able to fill it up (you know the tilted paint can) with this self created pattern.

I'd prefer to work with Inkscape (so easy & straightforward) ... but I can't seem to change the standard fill colours...and there are no patterns (like in photoshop).
EDIT: FOUND THE TOOL IN INKSCAPE ITSELF: SOLVED


2) I want to take/select an object from a photo (a bridge). Isolate it and be able to edit it (add colour or lines, turn , twist, stretch it). and then be able to place it in a map (in Inkscape).
The magic Wand of photoshop is erratic as it never gets the precise bridge (with all the pilons).
EDIT: ALSO FOUND OUT ABOUT IT

3) I want to use different Fonts than standard. I have found a website with lovely fonts. How do I import a *.ttf file in Inkscape ?


Ok.. so much for now.

PS I have the ancient photoshop 7...

[DiM]

3) I want to use different Fonts than standard. I have found a website with lovely fonts. How do I import a *.ttf file in Inkscape ?

just copy the ttf file in c:/windows/fonts

[lt_oddball]

3) I want to use different Fonts than standard. I have found a website with lovely fonts. How do I import a *.ttf file in Inkscape ?

just copy the ttf file in c:/windows/fonts

that's what I thought, but I get this strange windows error message like "font already in use..cannot paste here".
And I have closed the Word application..so I have no idea what is troubling it.
Will try again at new PC start up.