Mapping programs, Do you use them?

[jaerdaph]

I like CC2. The current version, CC2 Pro, makes it *much much* easier to create maps than past versions did. It's built on an AutoCAD engine.

 

[Omegaz]

CC2 is a great application, but, if I'm going for a fantasy map type look, I generally do it by hand and in photoshop. I think that gives the map a little more character. I've also used the Fractal Mapper demo to produce initial coastlines.

My preference however, is for a more realistic look. I particularly like the relief shading technique. It takes a bit more work, but the results look pretty spectacular. Best of all, you can download plenty of mapping geometries from USGS and NASA. Here's a couple of sites that cover the technique.

http://www.reliefshading.com/

http://www.shadedrelief.com/ - a site by Tom Patterson who does many of the US National Park services maps.

Most of the work can be done in Photoshop (Paintshop would work fine too). Bryce, or a similar terrain tool, is also a useful.

Sean

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

All by hand, on a blank sheet of paper for world maps, and graph paper for dungeon maps.

Lately, I have begun scanning my world maps to add geographical names with Corel Draw.

No mapping software for me, though.

AR

 

[NCSUCodeMonkey]

My problem is that I really, really enjoy drawing maps. Since I'm not that great of an artist, if I sit down and sketch out a dungeon, I can get it to a workable state in a reasonable amount of time. When I start using mapping software, I'm always looking for just the right tree, barrel, desk, etc. to make the room even cooler.

So, I don't use software because otherwise I'd spend 3/4 of my prep time making decorating decisions on the BBEG's bedroom

NCSUCodeMonkey

 

[Christoph the Magus]

I really like Dunjinni. Not a huge learning curve and their are plenty of fan-made, freebie art packs out there to supplement what comes with the package. I'm not all that great with it yet, but I can make a map 10X better than what I could draw or create with any other program (a limit of my skills, not of the other programs out there) in about 30 minutes.

 

[Eternal Knot Games]

I really like Dunjinni. Not a huge learning curve and their are plenty of fan-made, freebie art packs out there to supplement what comes with the package. I'm not all that great with it yet, but I can make a map 10X better than what I could draw or create with any other program (a limit of my skills, not of the other programs out there) in about 30 minutes.

I find Dunjinni quite limiting in the short while I used it for, Fractal Mapper has some great fractal tools but lacks the umph I would like. Shortly I'll be going back to CC2 Pro, used it a while back made some niceish maps and with some learning I hope to create some better maps (just as soon as I've got time sit down to learn it).

Oh, yes, does anyone know of programs for Macs to draw maps in?

 

[Ebonyr]

I like autorealm for the following reasons
1) its free
2) its quite easy to use
3) Good assortment of icons.

 

[Jackelope King]

It begins and ends with Adobe Photoshop. I might use Dungeon Crafter for a quick-and-dirty dungeon crawl map, but for almost everything else, I load up Photoshop and get to work.

 

[mirivor]

For sheer power, Campaign Cartographer Pro, along with City Designer and Dungeon Designer expansions, cannot be bested. They can hurt ye alde wallet, but they are among the best. I only use CC2 Pro.... don't really care too much for the other two.

Later!

 

[The Lost Muse]

For those who want the power of Photoshop but lack the funds, there's always The Gimp! It has many of the same features, but it is free and open source. I use it to make maps, and while they do not look stellar, I imagine I could get very good results from hand drawing them, and then scanning the maps in to do colour/detail work.

I have also used AutoRealm, but find it annoying to use.