Maps shouldn't be pretty. When you're worldbuilding, you need to break things, regularly. Here's how to use a series of map sketches to build your world
I’ve realised I have a particular workflow for drawing coastlines in my maps. Here’s a quick walkthrough. Each step is done on a new layer in photoshop, and I use a 5px hard round brush in each case with size set to pressure. However, all of these steps can be done in Gimp – or … Continue reading "How to Draw Coastlines on a Fantasy Map"
If you want the coastlines to look like they’re popping off the page, then adding some cliffs is a great way to do it. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to do and it will instantly make your map look much more professional. In this Map Tip, you will learn some simple techniques to help your maps stand o
Canyons are a striking feature of any landscape and can really be a focal point in the story you're telling. In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw canyons that bring a sense of depth to the landscape and make your fantasy map really stand out.
Mountains are an important feature of a map as they impact weather patterns, where rivers flow, and ultimately where cities and nations arise. In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw mountains for your fantasy maps using the ridge-line method. If you love fantasy style mountains but want to pus
Maps shouldn't be pretty. When you're worldbuilding, you need to break things, regularly. Here's how to use a series of map sketches to build your world
Attention Time-Strapped Fantasy Writers Start Worldbuilding Your Fantasy Novel With These Free Checklists
Photoshop brushes are serious time-savers. The correct brush can instantly enhance a plain-looking photo. The right brush can highlight a specific area in an image without putting too many touch-ups. The great thing about Photoshop brushes is that they are…
Marshes have such an iconic look with their pools and streams weaving between tall grasses over a vast landscape. In this tutorial, I will break down the process I use so you can add some marshy wetlands to your fantasy maps.
The methods for drawing forests on your fantasy map are seemingly endless, ranging from the simple to the complex. In this tutorial, I will walk you through some easy steps to create an iconic forest, even if you don’t have much confidence in your drawing abilities. It all comes down to some simple
Some questions to ask yourself as you're creating a fictional World. We're talking countries, cities and towns.
Cartography Courses: Most Cartographers earn a degree in cartography or earth science, geography, geology, engineering, natural science...
Rivers have to be the most common thing for new map makers to get wrong; and even seasoned cartographers may have some of these mistakes sneak up on them if they’re not careful. But, having an awareness of some of the most common issues that come up when it comes to river placement will go a long wa
Have you ever wondered if you’re placing forests in the right spot on your fantasy maps? How does a forest even form, and why do trees grow in one area and not another? In this Map Tip I will walk you through how a forest grows to fill a landscape so you can have confidence when placing them on your
City maps can be a lot of fun to draw, but they come with their own unique set of challenges. It’s one thing to draw individual buildings that are completely isolated from one another; it’s another to draw a city block where everything is more mashed together.
Did you know that the shapes you use when drawing features on your fantasy maps can actually cause certain emotional triggers in the viewer? In this guest tutorial, Gerralt (DimensionDoor_Maps) will walk you through how you can use the power of shape language to give your maps more character!
Maps shouldn't be pretty. When you're worldbuilding, you need to break things, regularly. Here's how to use a series of map sketches to build your world
How many of us have hiked for miles just to see a waterfall? Even if you haven’t, it’s not difficult to recognize the beauty and power that so many find compelling. In this tutorial, you will learn some simple steps to walk you through how to draw a waterfall on your map for your next rpg or book.
The graphic is intended as a mind map or a checklist for kick-starting world-building exercises. At its heart, it reminds us that things are connected.
A few weeks ago, I broke down some of the major trends in fantasy that might affect what elements of world-building a writer might want to focus on to ensure they had the details they needed to cre…
One way to make your fantasy map more believable is to vary the size of the mountain ranges. Not all mountains in our world are the same height, and they shouldn’t be in your story either. If you are using the Ridgeline Mountain Method, then how you draw the initial ridgeline will play a large role
There is something mysterious about a swirling vortex of water that seems to be draining into the depths of the ocean. This is why a whirlpool or maelstrom is a compelling feature to include on your fantasy maps as it opens up so many storytelling possibilities. In this tutorial I’ll walk you throug
Did you know that the shapes you use when drawing features on your fantasy maps can actually cause certain emotional triggers in the viewer? In this guest tutorial, Gerralt (DimensionDoor_Maps) will walk you through how you can use the power of shape language to give your maps more character!
Rivers have to be the most common thing for new map makers to get wrong; and even seasoned cartographers may have some of these mistakes sneak up on them if they’re not careful. But, having an awareness of some of the most common issues that come up when it comes to river placement will go a long wa
One mistake people often make when drawing maps is they make their borders look like a geometric grid. In reality, this reflects a relatively modern way of thinking. If you were on the ground and the best you could do was climb a mountain to get a read on the land, then how would you divide up borde
