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<blockquote data-quote="Rod Staffwand" data-source="post: 6701064" data-attributes="member: 6776279">I use Paint.NET (the getpaint one) for my mapmaking, mainly because it was the first free software I tried out and I have the most experience with it. I can create simple maps (such cavern outlines with textures) in less than 5 minutes. The software requires a few plugins to really shine for mapmaking. Gridmaker is essential for grids (I use a 50 pixel by 50 pixel grid for most 5ft square battlegrids). I use FillFromFile which can add textures to selected areas. The textures you will need to find online. Both of these plugins are from a designer named BoltBait and are easy to install.I have a library of textures, overlays, objects and other resources that I can drop into my maps. Most can be found online or, depending on your skill set, created yourself.Gimp is also a solid program. It comes with stronger tools out of the box, but I find the interface counter-intuitive. Lots of users swear by it and create awesome maps with it, so it's all a matter of taste.If you really want to go big and shiny, I think Adobe might still be offering the old Photoshop CS2 free of charge. It may be an older version of Photoshop, but it will have everything you need to create professional quality maps. If you want to really put the time into mastering it, you can work up some wonderful Mike Schley-level stuff (okay, you might need natural artistic talent too...).For VTT tokens, TokenTool from the MapTool site is the easiest solution I've found. Drag and drop images (even right off the internet) into a pre-selected token frame and save. It literally takes less than a minute...or exactly a minute if you want to get it 'just right'.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Rod Staffwand, post: 6701064, member: 6776279"] I use Paint.NET (the getpaint one) for my mapmaking, mainly because it was the first free software I tried out and I have the most experience with it. I can create simple maps (such cavern outlines with textures) in less than 5 minutes. The software requires a few plugins to really shine for mapmaking. Gridmaker is essential for grids (I use a 50 pixel by 50 pixel grid for most 5ft square battlegrids). I use FillFromFile which can add textures to selected areas. The textures you will need to find online. Both of these plugins are from a designer named BoltBait and are easy to install. I have a library of textures, overlays, objects and other resources that I can drop into my maps. Most can be found online or, depending on your skill set, created yourself. Gimp is also a solid program. It comes with stronger tools out of the box, but I find the interface counter-intuitive. Lots of users swear by it and create awesome maps with it, so it's all a matter of taste. If you really want to go big and shiny, I think Adobe might still be offering the old Photoshop CS2 free of charge. It may be an older version of Photoshop, but it will have everything you need to create professional quality maps. If you want to really put the time into mastering it, you can work up some wonderful Mike Schley-level stuff (okay, you might need natural artistic talent too...). For VTT tokens, TokenTool from the MapTool site is the easiest solution I've found. Drag and drop images (even right off the internet) into a pre-selected token frame and save. It literally takes less than a minute...or exactly a minute if you want to get it 'just right'. [/QUOTE]

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