Looking for a mapping tool

[Avatar_V]

Does anyone know where I could find a good map making tool? I want to convert some hand drawn stuff I have into nicer looking maps. The maps I want to do would be very large scale (countries). Any suggestions where I could find such a utility? (That doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I'm a poor college student. ) Also, my main concern is how nice the maps look. I don't need complicated icons for a billion different things, just the basics, trees & mountains. I just want them to look as professional as possible considering my low budget. Thanks in advance!:

 

[Hand of Evil]

www.profantasy.com - I know, it is a arm, a leg, and another body part but it is the best mapper out there even if it takes a lot of time to master.

www.nbos.com - not a bad mapper and the cost is within a price range. Try the demo.

Autorealms - its free. A great dungeon mapper, but not so good with other things.

Photoshop or another paint program - well if you scan your image in and work at it you can make some great looking maps.

 

[Avatar_V]

Yea, this is cool

Well, I'd heard about the profantasy sight before. That's actually why I posted this; I saw the program and it got me all excited, then I realized I could never afford it. That nbos one, the fractal mapper looks pretty cool, though; and it's much more in my price range. I'll try out the demo. Thanks for the tip

 

[javapadawan]

I saw AutoRealm mentioned above, but as there was no link I'll add one:
http://www.gryc.ws/autorealm.htm.

It's free, and it's an excellent program which I think produces some really nice maps. The learning curve on it is also a bit less than on Campaign Cartographer.

~Chris

 

[castlewalls]

Coreldraw can do just about anything & makes much better maps than the usual fare from CC2, but I also favor Andy Gryc's Autorealm. Check out www.swordsandshields.com or www.warflail.com for info/updates to CC2's Harnmaster (by www.columbiagames.com) artwork.

 

[castlewalls]

coreldraw

BTW, I just posted some CD made maps on the artgallery forum....