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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gamerprinter" data-source="post: 6284980" data-attributes="member: 50895">All the inefficiencies of applications like Campaign Cartographer is the reason I prefer working with a vector drawing/desk top publishing program to do my mapping instead of any mapping specific application. As stated, I use <a href="http://www.xara.com/us/photo-graphic-designer/" target="_blank">Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 9</a> ($89) which allows you to create greeting cards, flyers, brochures, signs, posters (any standard graphics uses), but is also a superior mapping application (although only me, and those I introduce the software ever actually use it for mappping).XP&GD9 allows me to create shapes, apply bevels, shadows, transparency, edge feathering, infinite layers, infinite undo (even files that are saved, you can reopen and undo anything you did before saving the file even from the first step applied.) Because it is vector, I generally use inches to define a map size and never consider the pixel resolution until I finish the map, and am ready to export it to whatever format best fits my needs. Because it is a vector program, anything created can be reduced or enlarged, even the entire map, and can subsequently export to any resolution from 1 ppi to 300 ppi, even export multiple resolutions from the same original file - so I can use it for Roll20 or print in high resolution. Any tool used, the applied result is almost instant (Xara is one of those programs that most efficiently minimizes memory usage - it is not a memory hog.) Exporting a large map design to large format and high resolution is very fast, almost no waiting at all.You can view the maps posted in my <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?257465-Gamerprinter-s-Map-Emporeum" target="_blank">Gamerprinter's Map Emporeum</a> thread (Miscellaneous Geek Talk and Media Lounge forum) - all of them were created in one edition of Xara or another (I've upgraded my software since December). Most of these maps one might not consider to be a vector created map, but they all are.Really, because it is so easy to learn and use, I find no other program better at creating maps than Xara, and I'm including all mapping applications (CC3, Dundjini), image editors (Photoshop, GIMP), vector drawing apps (Illustrator and Inkscape) in that comparison - I've used all those applications.And scheduled for August 2014 release are 4 map tutorials guides I am in the process of writing following a successful Kickstarter to fund their creation. Although I offer primer instructions for using the guide with Photoshop, GIMP, Inkscape, Illustator and Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 9 - all the included maps, the tutorials and the page layout for all the guide books were done in Xara. You can view the KS to learn more about this project <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/615795674/25-quick-and-dirty-map-tutorials-guide-book" target="_blank">here</a>, or visit my <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/109383565847958043404" target="_blank">G+ community</a> dedicated to the same project.Also consider that I am a professional RPG cartographer (I even created the original hand-drawn map of the City of Kasai for the Jade Regent AP by Paizo) and created 189 of the map objects found in the ProFantasy Modern Symbol Set accessory for CC3 and related software.</blockquote>

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