Progs!

PaperPlunger · Post by **PaperPlunger** » Sun May 07, 2006 8:23 pm

I was just wondering what programs you people use to make your maps. I am currently using Photoshop, but it's difficult, as I don't know how to use it completely yet... hehe. I was just curios to see what perople recommend etc. Thanks!

Jota · Post by **Jota** » Sun May 07, 2006 8:37 pm

I use Photoshop as well. It's very powerful, although it takes a bit of experience to be able to use most of the features effectively. (I'm sure I'm still only using 10-20% of what it can do.)

Marvaddin · Post by **Marvaddin** » Sun May 07, 2006 8:39 pm

I used only 2 programs doing Brazil map and Philippines first release:

1) Paint
2) A small free tile maker, called "Harm Stile". Size under 1 Mb.

As you can see, Im getting "milk from the stone", as we say here in Brazil.

Edit: Because of this I become really angry with some low quality maps send to lack, huh, freakshow? :lol:

Seriously, I work very hard to make my maps decent using almost no tools, its the reason why Im always wanting the better here.

MrConfigT · Post by **MrConfigT** » Sun May 07, 2006 9:46 pm

Fireworks and PS7

fluffybunnykins · Post by **fluffybunnykins** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:05 am

I'm using CorelDraw & PhotoPaint
There's a few little tricks Corel can do that nothing else seems to be able to...

Banana Stomper · Post by **Banana Stomper** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:45 pm

I use photoshop. Its not bad if you know someone who can use it fairly well and if you are a curious person. They can be a really good reference. I suggest just toying around with it though, checking out and getting a feel for what everything does. When i was making my map, i probably started over 3 or 4 times cause i didn't get the layers and everything, but by the end i think i came out with a pretty strong product. Just download the trial version off adobe's website. I'm not sure what the limitations are yet, maybe it will just go away soon. But yea, thats what i did.

Pedronicus · Post by **Pedronicus** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:52 pm

I'm using a 2B pencil and an old cigarette packet.
Them I'm going to scan it.

My sea looks like a very light grey. The main continent is a slightly darker grey. My borders are created by pressing down so hard with the pencil that the lead often breaks.

The good thing about my map is that because its 3" x 5" - you wont have to spend all your time scrolling down on the gameplay page.

If I could find an eraser, I could coreect my spelling mistakes before it goes live

areyouincahoots · Post by **areyouincahoots** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:55 pm

Sounds promising!

SMITH197 · Post by **SMITH197** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:38 pm

i use freehand....

lilwdlnddude · Post by **lilwdlnddude** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:56 pm

Photoshop CS2 all the way

Hoff · Post by **Hoff** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:27 pm

lilwdlnddude wrote:Photoshop CS2 all the way

same, free trial version

rocksolid · Post by **rocksolid** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:32 pm

Gimp. Free, open-source.

Mr. K · Post by **Mr. K** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:43 pm

I use Photoshop. I've been using it for many years so i'm already very familiar with it, but from what others report about the trial version it isn't too hard to figure out if you play around with it.

kevinc · Post by **kevinc** » Wed May 17, 2006 2:42 pm

The bulk of the work was done in Illustrator and I did a small amount of retouching in Photoshop. I'd imagine Firefworks would be pretty useful too.

Really though, I'd reccommend a program that can handle vector shapes. Inkscape is a good open source program, and Zara 3d is pretty cheap. I think you can get a trial version of Microsoft Expression's vector tool too.

Though obviously isn't important to note, at the end of the day software is just a tool, use whichever one helps you get the job done best.