Hi Nic Cho :)

I created that particular legend by hand - typing everything in a succession of text objects aligned on the snap grid. Then I added the fractal shape behind it on a new sheet with either a Transparency or Blend Mode sheet effect on it so the map could still be seen through it.

If you want to have a look at the FCW for this map it's linked to this blog article:

https://rpgmaps.profantasy.com/orde-on-the-rock-map-analysis/#more-5755

Good effort so far :)

Symbol size is always a tricky one. If I was aiming for something about the size of A4 I would do larger symbols than if I was making a map I intended to print as a really huge A0 poster. The consideration I make boils down to "Is this going to be identifiable as a mountain/tree/settlement at the size I intend it to be viewed". Even distance plays a part. If I wanted an A0 poster, but one that was pleasing to look at from a sofa that is 15 feet away from the wall I might make the symbols a bit larger than for an A0 poster to go on the wall behind my desk at a viewing range of only about 2.5-3 feet away.

It's very much a personal choice as well, so there are no hard and fast rules except to pick a symbol scale and try to stick with that scale throughout - unless you are making more of a landscape image or want a gigantic world tree somewhere.

Interesting. Mine shuts straight away, but I do have the same pdf opening issue as you, Wyvern.

I use Acrobat Reader, which at first sight appeared to fail to open. But when I tried to open Acrobat with an unrelated pdf it failed to open again. I checked the Task Manager and discovered the relevant number of Acrobat processes were actually running. There just weren't any Acrobat windows showing and no indication in the Start bar that it was open.

(to open Task Manager press CTRL+ALT+DEL and pick Task Manager from the list)

I ended the Acrobat tasks by right clicking each one and picking End Task, then Acrobat opened normally, though of course not from the installer since that had already closed at the end of it's process.

Opening Task Manager and ending all the Acrobat tasks will sort it out.

If you find it tricky trying to hit them because they are jumping up and down the list, hit the Name label at the top of the list to order them by name rather than anything else. They will stay still then.

Hi everyone! :D

Tomorrow, Ralf will be taking a look at the latest Cartographer's Annual issue: The Monkey Frog Overland style.

Come join us on YouTube for the live chat here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRFdjZcJU3w

Or see it right here on the forum if you prefer.

We would love to see you there :)

Remy wrote a blog about this and other things here:

Yes, that's very true.

@HelenAA - Joe's recommendation will also prevent the 'fly away' artefacts you can sometimes get when smooth nodes are more or less on top of one another, for example when converting a more extreme fractal line or polygon.

Hi alloowishus :)

CC3 is a vector-based app and and can't edit bitmaps, even though it produces them as an output end result.

There are a few mappers and artists here who also use bitmap editors like PS and Affinity or Krita, but if you are looking for somewhere with an abundance of artists who work with bitmap apps and who are also quite conveniently for you looking for work you might like to try asking the same question at the Cartographer's Guild.

This is the "Mapmaking Requests" subforum.

That's a good idea too.

Most CC3 dungeon styles are top view orthographic, so you would only ever see the wall and not any part of the face of it, so it's quite rare to get such symbols.

I think the hills would probably benefit from having less shadow.