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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gamerprinter" data-source="post: 5811228" data-attributes="member: 50895">Lwaxy provides the link to your best source for maps, map objects, information of mapping software, tutorials, etc, and that is the <a href="http://www.cartographersguild.com/forum.php" target="_blank">Cartographers' Guild</a>. Regarding your points: Intuitive Interface - what is intuitive for one person may not be intuitive to another, it's really a personal thing as to what is specifically intuitive or not. Many of the mappers at the CG mentioned above use Photoshop or GIMP for most of their mapping - and to me, neither are very intuitive, nor even user friendly. But that doesn't stop most cartographers from using those programs to create most fantasy maps. Xara Xtreme Pro 4 (which the current version of this software is Xara Designer 6), but I find to be very intuitive, except it is not a mapping program per se, rather a vector drawing application with powerful raster image capability. I think it's more intuitive than PS or GIMP, and more intuitive than CC3 or Dunjini as well. (Xara is my graphics application of choice). Details - now your specifically talking about map objects. Three things regarding this. One: having a set of map objects built into software specifically applies to mapping software like Campaign Cartographer (CC3), which is a kind of CAD program (and in my opinion, the furthest software from being intuitive and easy to use.) Two: map objects can be found in all kinds of places - Cartographers Guild, Dunjini forum, MapTool forum, and host of other mapping related sites. Many are free, some you have to pay for.  Three: most graphic applications can import images such as map objects, and transparent PNG files are probably best for this. As mentioned in my first paragraph, most fantasy cartographers use Photoshop or GIMP (or in my case Xara) to create our maps. But these are NOT mapping applications, rather full blown graphics applications that can be used for any kind of graphic creation. Most pros use this kind of software and import varying map objects needed for their maps. Me, I create all my map objects from scratch using Xara, then import what I need to the map file I am working on. Also Photoshop uses custom brushes, many map objects can be converted to brushes, and placed on maps that way. Exporting: virtually all mapping applications and graphics applications used to create maps can export to a normal graphics format like: BMP, PDF, PSD, JPG, TIF. CC3 is limited to exporting in BMP format which can be problematic, but really all such software can export to formats you can use forever. Squares and Hexes: now your back to talking specifically mapping applications like Campaign Cartographer or Fractal Mapper, and many others. You can always choose hex or square grid to place onto your maps. For the rest of us that use standard graphics applications to create our maps - there is no built in square or hex grid, rather you create your own grid and place it on the map, on top of everything else, or for mappers like me, I place the grid just above the floor, but below the walls and other objects on the map. I'm a professional fantasy cartographer, that is, I create maps for many publishers (and for my own publications). In fact, in the upcoming part 6 of Paizo's Jade Regent adventure path, the capital city of Minkai (Pathfinder's Japanland) is based on my design, although their own cartographer redid the map to be consistent with other maps already created. The map I created has over 8500 buildings in it, all drawn by hand. (Which is something I didn't say above, but most of my maps are hand-drawn, scanned and imported to Xara, then finished: colors, bevels, drop shadows, feathering, map object placement, grid, labels using software.) So I know what I'm talking about... Here's a link to maps I've created using Xara Xtreme Pro 4 and are posted in a thread in the Media Lounge at ENWorld - <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/media-lounge-miscellaneous-geek-stuff/257465-gamerprinters-map-emporeum.html" target="_blank">Gamerprinter's Map Emporeum</a>... so you can see what I create.</blockquote>

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