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Symbols vs. dots/squares for cities & castles?

mattfs5mattfs5
in Mapping with ProFantasy's Software
Hi all,

As I've started using the software, I've found that maps definitely have a different "feel" when using symbols vs. dots for settlements and such (for example, a symbol picture of a town vs. a small black circle)... mostly related to scale... the regions/distances seem smaller and more tightly packed (regardless of the listed scale in miles/km) when using symbols, due to the perspective they visually imply.

My question is, what's the recommended way for using dots/squares for cities and keeps? Is it more a product of the style set being employed, or do style sets generally each offer both options? Or, to do dots/squares, is it just expected that you'll use shape tools to DIY them?

Thanks!
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Comments

  • MonsenMonsen Administrator 🖼️ 81 images Cartographer
    Well, the correct answer is that it is your map, and it is up to you what you will use to make it look right for your needs.

    Generally, styles comes with one or the other, dependent on style, but never let that hamper you. Since most styles are usable for everything from local maps to continent-scale maps, it goes without saying that all the "defaults" aren't really always appropriate.
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  • JimPJimP 🖼️ 280 images Cartographer
    For my maps, I typically use squares for large scale maps for major castles and cities. When I get down to country, or smaller, scale, I use symbols.
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  • mattfs5mattfs5
    OK, so this is mostly a style-level thing, where certain styles will include symbols that are small circles/squares, vs. other styles that include symbols? Can't imagine it's difficult to DIY the shapes for styles that only come with symbols, but still will want to explore styles that provide the shapes inherently for larger-scale maps.
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  • JimPJimP 🖼️ 280 images Cartographer
    Some symbol sets are the square, triangle, etc. used for various map scales. I feel that symbols that look like cities wouldn't work for continent size maps. So I use the generic type symbols for continent size maps.

    I could use squares, etc. for country size maps, but I chose to make it more of a scale thing for which type of symbols to use.

    The 'main' Symbols come in sets like Symbol Set 1. Many of the Annual issues come with symbols for a particular mapping style.
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