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How to make maps
- Thread starter der_kluge
- Start date
Land Outcast
Explorer
der_cludge said:
I'll have to second that
der_kluge
Adventurer
Well, I downloaded GIMP, and while I think it's powerful, I should point out that the GIMP website itself says that GIMP "is not a paint program" rather it is "photo editing" software.
So, I don't think GIMP is exactly cut out to do what one might expect it to do. Cut out red eye from a photograph? Absolutely. Draw a dungeon full of square rooms? Not so easy.
In fact, GIMP lacks a tool to even draw a square. There are ways to do it, apparently, but it would take me some time to figure out how to do that.
The learning curve is fairly steep, I think, as well.
So, I don't think GIMP is exactly cut out to do what one might expect it to do. Cut out red eye from a photograph? Absolutely. Draw a dungeon full of square rooms? Not so easy.
In fact, GIMP lacks a tool to even draw a square. There are ways to do it, apparently, but it would take me some time to figure out how to do that.
The learning curve is fairly steep, I think, as well.
Yes Gimp is great. But its lack of vector-based drawing tools keeps it from being ideal. I often use the two of them (Gimp and Paint) in concert, drawing the geometric base in Paint, then moving it into Gimp for doing layers, coloring, background, etc.
Keep in mind that I am not good at it, but I do have fun.
Keep in mind that I am not good at it, but I do have fun.
frankthedm
First Post
Paint is on the computer already and i won't be downloading anything named 'gimp" to the Work PC!
Here is a map I made in paint for the unmapped Temple of Zargon from B4:The Lost City.
Here is a map I made in paint for the unmapped Temple of Zargon from B4:The Lost City.
theRogueRooster
First Post
The stuff you guys are doing looks great, especially considering you're using nothing more than MS Paint!
Not to pimp my own work, but before too many people start disparaging Gimp I wanted to show that it is a great tool for making maps. Technically, you can draw shapes with it using the Gfig function, but I prefer another method. I use another wonderful and free program called Inkscape to draw any shapes I need and then Gimp for the rest of it. In the attached image, Inkscape was used to draw the basic hut shapes while I used Gimp to create the campfires, jungle and hut shadows, stone fire rings, and the jungle and grass textures -- basically, everything else.
I created this map for use in my online campaign. It doesn't have a grid because Fantasy Grounds (our online client) does that for me.
The Gimp works wonderfully for me. I will concede that there is a learning curve to overcome, but like anything else, once you figure it out it can be a powerful tool.
-tRR
Not to pimp my own work, but before too many people start disparaging Gimp I wanted to show that it is a great tool for making maps. Technically, you can draw shapes with it using the Gfig function, but I prefer another method. I use another wonderful and free program called Inkscape to draw any shapes I need and then Gimp for the rest of it. In the attached image, Inkscape was used to draw the basic hut shapes while I used Gimp to create the campfires, jungle and hut shadows, stone fire rings, and the jungle and grass textures -- basically, everything else.
I created this map for use in my online campaign. It doesn't have a grid because Fantasy Grounds (our online client) does that for me.
The Gimp works wonderfully for me. I will concede that there is a learning curve to overcome, but like anything else, once you figure it out it can be a powerful tool.
-tRR
Attachments
theRogueRooster
First Post
All of you entrenched MS Paint users might want to consider looking at Paint .NET. Think of it as MS Paint with layers. I guarantee you'll love it or your money back!
-tRR
-tRR
