WIP: Shymar Hovel, Pirate City
Calibre
🖼️ 38 images Mapmaker
Hey all!
Currently working on this map which is the swamp city where notorious pirates are headquartered. Using Watabou revised. Had some hassles with scale changing mid layout---completely unsure how I did that. Anyway, thanks to Quenten, all scales are so far correct. Lots still to do!
thanks,
Cal
Comments
Well, heh, the marsh fill needed width scale fixed.
Per Ms. Sue, divide it by 1.7
😁
Cal
Ok, putting it up for critique. There are items I'm not happy with, but I'll hold off on listing them out for now. Anyone has any feedback, know that I appreciate it. In my ART classes, we always had to put our work up before the class and listen to the 'critique' heh heh. Didn't mean we had to do any of it, of course.
Obviously, I don't have a Key for this yet. Pondering it.
I was confused by the rivers at first, but I'm gathering that this is like a river delta (the one exception that I can think of where rivers might split instead of join)? Or are they man-made canals?
It looks great. I really like what you've done with the vegetation.
@Royal Scribe
Yeah, marshy river delta heh. Thanks indeed.
Cal
massive dark green trees are amazing <3
Thanks...but do you mean too much? Should I reduce the amount of trees, you think?
Cal
Hey all!
Latest update. Working on thinking about text and the Key, etc. A great many errors fixed. Some annoying remain! Plodding along heh.
Cal
Hey all,
Well, first pass at TEXT. Getting this 'right' usually takes me longer than drawing the map 😁
Cal
I believe it shouldn't be reduced. That's how I used the word forest, woods, to express myself.
Thanks, Ricko
I've been staring at the trees wondering, wondering...too much? Hmmm.
Update:
Working on the arduous text PASS #2
argh!
Cal
UPDATE:
feedback welcome!
I prefer the text the way you had it in the previous example. By a Long way!
hmmm, thanks Quenten. I will swap it back and forth to see how it works...
Cal
Both have merit. I think you maybe need to examine more why you weren't happy with the first version when deciding to try out the second.
The all caps version looks more authoritative; the "ordinary" text version more colloquial to my eye.
Thanks, Wyvern
I was trained in typography that clarity is more important than 'effect' when it comes to type. So, I start with something that evokes an emotion or reaction then stand back and ask myself simply this: nice effect, but is it clear enough, can it be easily read.
If the type fails that test, then I change it and change it until I find a type or font that conveys information as clearly as I can make it.
Nothing more than that. So, I'm still not settled on what type or font should go on this map. Suggestions are welcome, indeed.
Cal
I also prefer the text in the first map. It seems very easy to read to me, and I like both the color and the font better. I also much prefer the positioning of the "Knotted Jungle" text in the first map to the second; the diagonal positioning in the second map is jarring to me.
The positioning of the "Bleakmoor Harrow" text looks good in both maps, but I do prefer the font and color of the text in the first.
Finally, while the "Breaker's Bay" text in the second map is superbly done in terms of the positioning 'round the circle, to my eye it too closely mirrors the map title (Shymar Hovel) in shape and positioning. I prefer the simpler horizontal positioning in the first map for this reason.
Let's see how this works...
The "Shymar" label's too close to the shaded legend panel now, but everything else looks OK.
Are you happy with it though (given that's what matters!)?
For myself, I think you're right to stick with the capitals for the curved texts, as the first iteration's "Wh" spacing in "Whispering" didn't look right, which is one of the quirks of text along a curve at times (might be better with a monospaced font, if not artistically).
Yeah I noticed those errors. Already fixed in newest version.
Can't do anything about kerning, I've been told. (the Wh space issue) But generally, I like it better, yes. Thanks, Wyvern.
Cal
Well,
This map is not done. The next step would be and will be to select each building of significance by tag number then color each individual building rectangle or trapezoid with significant color. That process is tedious, indeed.
The reason it is so tedious is because you cannot simply select one building and change it's color; because you also then select its black outline. The only way I know to do it is to List>Select>Enter then take note of the tag number of the entity you need to CHANGE PROPERTIES on. If someone, anyone has a better way to do this, please tell me.
So, when I have that done, I'll post the update.
thanks
Cal
You should be able to just select the buildings then exclude the outline by using Not -> Fill Style -> Hollow
Also, aren't the outline on a separate sheet, meaning an alternative approach is just to hide the sheet with the outlines.
Not to my knowledge.. None of that has worked.
But I will try it again. Thanks, Remy
🙂
Cal
I haven't made a map in that style yet myself, but both those options worked with the example maps at least.
I'll fire up the map in a few hours and try it. If you are right (and I suspect you are), then what a time saver!
thank you so much.
Cal
If not, send me your map, and I'll do a quick check on that one what the best option is.
The outlines should be on separate sheets - they are in the Template.
Thanks, Quenten...Foolish me didn't even bother looking.
And thanks Remy for opening my eyes.
Cal
Well, is my face red. I never paid attention to the obvious fact that the buildings in Watabou style are on 2 sheets. Previous maps I've done, I had to do the process I explained above---well, I believed I did. So, to be clear (and I'm doing this as I type) hide the Buildings outline sheet (Literally, SYMBOLS BUILDINGS OUTLINE) to select only the brown buildings. THEN simply select the buildings you want to change color and then do so.
I was happy to do it the laborious way, oh yes. I found my own way LOL. I have one excuse: trying to post on the forums after very little sleep while dealing with a monstrous cold 😓
I just love this program! Once you get yourself into it and realize what you can do, man it just ROCKS heh.
thanks
oh PS: when I have the buildings and new key done, there will be an update.
Cal