Mercurius
Legend
I'm working on some maps for my campaign world and as I was browsing through the Cartographer's Guild, I was struck by how few hand-drawn maps there were. It got me thinking: do gamers, by and large, use computer programs--whether Photoshop, GIMP, Campaign Cartograther, etc? Are the days of sloppy, pencil drawings over hex paper over?
I have always drawn my maps by hand. Some years ago I tried my hand at CC and didn't like it. On the other hand, I've seen some truly beautiful computer-created maps; the danger being that they can end up looking rather lifeless. There is just something...soulful about a hand-drawn map that doesn't come through in a software-created piece. However, I would think the main benefit for software is that even if you have little to no artistic talent you can still generate nice looking maps. I don't know if software makes map-making less time consuming--maybe someone can clarify that for me?
So what about you? What do you use for map-making? If computer, which program do you use? (And which is easiest to learn?) If by hand, what medium--do you use pencils, pens, colored pencils, paints, etc?
I'm going to add a poll because I'm curious about what percentage of those that respond use software vs. hand--with the obvious caveat that it is a very small, very specific sample size.
I have always drawn my maps by hand. Some years ago I tried my hand at CC and didn't like it. On the other hand, I've seen some truly beautiful computer-created maps; the danger being that they can end up looking rather lifeless. There is just something...soulful about a hand-drawn map that doesn't come through in a software-created piece. However, I would think the main benefit for software is that even if you have little to no artistic talent you can still generate nice looking maps. I don't know if software makes map-making less time consuming--maybe someone can clarify that for me?
So what about you? What do you use for map-making? If computer, which program do you use? (And which is easiest to learn?) If by hand, what medium--do you use pencils, pens, colored pencils, paints, etc?
I'm going to add a poll because I'm curious about what percentage of those that respond use software vs. hand--with the obvious caveat that it is a very small, very specific sample size.
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