Unfortunately Julian, I think you're right. To my eye, ALL these shadowed areas look like they're floating. In addition, the cliff-lines that aren't shadowed, especially those by the lower and right-hand edges look like they're multiple images superimposed on one another, as if out of focus, and that's very distracting too.

For the shadows, I'd suggest reducing their intensity, so they're not as dark, and simplifying them so there's only one shadow per cliff-group. It may be worth changing their length too, though that would need experimentation to be sure.

It might help to add a small, dark Outer Glow at the base of ALL the cliffs, with a smaller Outer Glow at the edge of the stacked cliff-lines that are on top of one another. Sometimes this helps trick the eye into fastening objects down onto the surface more. Again though, this would need some trial and error to see if it helps. Sometimes just a tiny change can make all the difference - it's finding what that is that takes the time though.

With my usual delay, I've just caught up with this week's video now.

Didn't really know what to expect from the title, but it proved quite fascinating, and thought-provoking. Having spent a lifetime making and painting models, I'm inclined to agree with Remy's "stress-inducing" comments in the YouTube chat, as getting models to looks right needs a lot of concentrated effort, especially when you're doing something new for the first time!

However, what occurred to me while watching this is that you don't actually need to make your own models. There are many, often small, companies that specialise in manufacturing scale models of all kinds, including scenery for model railways, wargames and RPGs, some of whom prepare pre-painted and finished items. So picking up some of those would be another option for those who don't trust their own modelling skills, or who haven't the time or interest to follow the DIY route. Image those, and away you go. And yes, there are even companies that make finished model mountains!

I mentioned recently when presenting my in-progress mapping for Wyvern Citadel elsewhere on the Forum that the basis for that castle was a full 3D model castle constructed from modular pieces produced by Dwarven Forge. Now Dwarven Forge also produces modular model dungeons and caves, all finished, painted and ready to use out of the box. And yes, they're not cheap, just like that castle (if not quite so fearsomely-priced overall)! Other companies do some stuff like this, often unpainted, so there are alternatives, and DF do sell unpainted versions as well. However, the DF items cover probably the widest range of possible options in a consistent format. What struck me watching Ralf's video was that with enough pieces like these, it would be possible to generate your own Perspectives-style set of dungeon or cave symbols, by imaging your own models. So this idea needn't be restricted to just overland mapping.

The Cartographer's Annual star charts graticule started life as described in this Forum topic from 2018. There are several links to find similar graticules from that topic if you don't want to draw your own. CA34 from 2009 October has one, for instance, and long-time Forum correspondent @JimP has done work on the subject too, culminating in Bill Roach producing some templates available for free download from Jim's Crest of a Star website - zip file is on this page.

@Monsen makes an interesting point regarding your printer dialogue boxes. A quick check online suggests the HP4650 series printers seem to have had repeated issues printing in colour, sometimes where another printer is also installed on a given computer, and others where the problem seems to have been solved only by reinstalling fresh printer drivers downloaded from the HP website. I don't know if this is what's happening here, but it may be worth checking some of the online HP information sources just in case.

I've occasionally had problems printing directly from CC3+ before, often where fills don't come out looking right (texture becomes patchy, but still the right colour), for instance. So now I just do what Sue already suggested, prepare a .jpg, and then print that.

Something odd and glowing in the centre, perhaps - something apparently out of place, say? Or maybe an odd animal that doesn't scare off as the players approach? Or perhaps some kind of offering - old flowers, oddly tied rags, something unusual made of sticks, a symbol of some kind? Important places often attract small tokens being left in profusion (someone starts and everyone else copies) in the real-world, so maybe something similar here might work - try looking up "clootie well" online, for more ideas.