GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
Moderator: Cartographers
Forum rules
Please read the Community Guidelines before posting.
Please read the Community Guidelines before posting.
- VicFontaine
- Posts: 372
- Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 7:34 pm
- Location: The Dominion
Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
Several times you say something like, "A window like X will open." I never had that window open. For instance, "Colors-->Hue." Never can get it to open.
"It is a good day to die."
- natty dread
- Posts: 12877
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:58 pm
- Location: just plain fucked
Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
If you select Hue/Saturation from the Colour menu, a dialog window will open. You need to have a layer selected for the tool to work.

- VicFontaine
- Posts: 372
- Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 7:34 pm
- Location: The Dominion
Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
Either GIMP is beyond me, or I have a different GIMP, or there's some other subtle user error. I'm giving this up. 8 hours and I can't get past the first tutorial lol. Not worth it; I guess I'll just have to enjoy the maps someone else makes. My hand-drawn maps look better than my GIMP attempts! 
"It is a good day to die."
- natty dread
- Posts: 12877
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:58 pm
- Location: just plain fucked
- WILLIAMS5232
- Posts: 2193
- Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2009 4:22 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Biloxi, Ms
Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
is there a way to key in coordinates instead of trying to click right on them. like can i key in coordinates for a box, then use the stroke selection key to connect the dots?
for example; i want a box that is 40 pixels high and 500 pixels wide. can i just key in the corners and somehow connect them with line instead of tediously trying to click right on the exact points. ( which i find very exasperating )
does this make sense.
for example; i want a box that is 40 pixels high and 500 pixels wide. can i just key in the corners and somehow connect them with line instead of tediously trying to click right on the exact points. ( which i find very exasperating )
does this make sense.

- natty dread
- Posts: 12877
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:58 pm
- Location: just plain fucked
Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
Yes, you in fact can.
Take the rectangle selection tool and make a rectangle somewhere. Now, in the tool options, you can see the values for size and position of the rectangle. You can now edit those values directly and the selection will adjust accordingly.
Take the rectangle selection tool and make a rectangle somewhere. Now, in the tool options, you can see the values for size and position of the rectangle. You can now edit those values directly and the selection will adjust accordingly.

- WILLIAMS5232
- Posts: 2193
- Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2009 4:22 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Biloxi, Ms
Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
thanks, that is spectacular. i've searched and searched for a way to do this. i just knew there had to be a way.



Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
Just wanted to say thanks again for these tutorials, natty.
I've tried my hand at mapmaking, didn't get too far. Firstly, and most importantly, I don't have the patience. Secondly, I don't have the skill (currently). But thanks to your tutorials, I have the basics down and I like to screw around with it and try new things (as you suggest).
Anyway, I wanted to post this for 2 reasons:
1. To show people what you can do once you have the basics down. (Although there are much better examples out there, this one sucks.)
2. I just wanted to share it with someone, since I spent so much time working on it.
Keep in mind, this isn't meant to be a CC map or anything, it's just me screwing around. I found a cool map I wanted to draw, and I came up with this. It's not much, but I think it's an improvement on my previous work. To everybody else, keep practicing with it, I guess you can only get better. Also, to natty, sorry for using your thread to post this, but nowhere else seemed appropriate.
(The picture is quite big, you may need to right click on it and click "view image" to be able to see the whole thing.)
[bigimg]http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/2272/tamriel5.png[/bigimg]
I've tried my hand at mapmaking, didn't get too far. Firstly, and most importantly, I don't have the patience. Secondly, I don't have the skill (currently). But thanks to your tutorials, I have the basics down and I like to screw around with it and try new things (as you suggest).
Anyway, I wanted to post this for 2 reasons:
1. To show people what you can do once you have the basics down. (Although there are much better examples out there, this one sucks.)
2. I just wanted to share it with someone, since I spent so much time working on it.
Keep in mind, this isn't meant to be a CC map or anything, it's just me screwing around. I found a cool map I wanted to draw, and I came up with this. It's not much, but I think it's an improvement on my previous work. To everybody else, keep practicing with it, I guess you can only get better. Also, to natty, sorry for using your thread to post this, but nowhere else seemed appropriate.
(The picture is quite big, you may need to right click on it and click "view image" to be able to see the whole thing.)
[bigimg]http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/2272/tamriel5.png[/bigimg]
Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
very nicely done! Well drawn map. Now just find a better font for the territory names.
Highest Rank: 26 Highest Score: 3480


- natty dread
- Posts: 12877
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:58 pm
- Location: just plain fucked
Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
I am trying to learn how to draw a CC map, yet in this tutorial all images are gone and not displaying properly. Is there any way the links to the images can be reverted?

Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
josko.ri wrote:I am trying to learn how to draw a CC map, yet in this tutorial all images are gone and not displaying properly. Is there any way the links to the images can be reverted?
Probably not.
However, the software probably comes with a tutorial of its own.
“Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.”
― Voltaire
― Voltaire
Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
Dukasaur wrote:josko.ri wrote:I am trying to learn how to draw a CC map, yet in this tutorial all images are gone and not displaying properly. Is there any way the links to the images can be reverted?
Probably not.
However, the software probably comes with a tutorial of its own.
Thanks, I found one. dakky21 helped me out.

Re: GIMP mapmaking tutorial - Part 1: Basics
josko.ri wrote:Dukasaur wrote:josko.ri wrote:I am trying to learn how to draw a CC map, yet in this tutorial all images are gone and not displaying properly. Is there any way the links to the images can be reverted?
Probably not.
However, the software probably comes with a tutorial of its own.
Thanks, I found one. dakky21 helped me out.
Nice and good luck! Looking forward to seeing what you come up w/.

