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Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:57 pm
by The Fuzzy Pengui
Updated, although it may be too dark now.
I regret to say I have a lot of real life events happening right now, I'm a full time college student, work 40 hours a week, and run all the audio/visual stuff for my church. If the community would like this to be pushed along faster, I would be able to post the original PSD files for any of the versions I have so somebody may continue, or they can go another route all together. If you don't mind this inching along little by little, I can continue to piece it together.
Thanks

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:00 pm
by wcaclimbing
no offence, but those colors are hideous.
couldnt you at least attempt some kind of color scheme for this one?
cause right now, this is just screaming MS paint.
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:03 pm
by The Fuzzy Pengui
wcaclimbing wrote:no offence, but those colors are hideous.
couldnt you at least attempt some kind of color scheme for this one?
cause right now, this is just screaming MS paint.
Any idea on a scheme? Sorry, other than Sigs I haven't done much graphic design

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:18 pm
by RjBeals
It looks like you just added a layer and darkened the entire map, text and army circles?
I don't care if you inch along revamping this map - I personally never wanted it revamped in the first place. Your map has potential, but I think needs a lot of work. The frame is there - you just need to work on colors & fonts. And the light blue beveled borders don't look right. And don't go crazy with adding "noise". I think too much of one filter can look bad.
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:31 pm
by wcaclimbing
yeah, tone down the noise a lot. its too overpowering.
I think, for teh color scheme, since Brazil is mostly rainforests, try a color scheme where each continent is a different shade of green, blue-green, brown, and tan, rainforest colors.
sort of like the color scheme for the iraq map. mostly the same colors, but small variations for each continent.
with that and reducing the noise a lot, i think it would look a lot better.
EDIT: and turn the borders from blue blobs into rivers. there are lots of rivers in brazil

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:36 pm
by Gold Knight
It reminds me of a coloring book, everything just seems rounded off. Maybe make the map a bit more concise around the borders, not so "balloon lettery"...
And yeah, the colors are way too bright and contrast too much, i like wca's idea with the rainforest type of theme, similar to this:
http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21778
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:40 am
by luckywar
I don't want to insult you, I've never made a map so can't really talk, but your revamp isn't really that good compared to the old one. Many people have given you great advice, but I've watched this thread grow and the map not really progress. With all the NEW awesome maps by so many people, maybe you ask someone's help on creating it and be a dual author. Like Dim or 30 of the people that have given advice here. Goodluck.
Edit: I must have missed your last post, you do have the humility to ask for help, good job. Hopefully someone takes you up on it and you create a great Brazil Revamp.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:18 pm
by The Fuzzy Pengui
Ok, I love all the feedback I have received after the past who knows how many months.
Would it take too long if I reread through the post and then start over from scratch to utilize all the feedback at once?
If it was, I would probably post just the borders with country fills/texture, text, army circles.
Then once that was approved, I would add the background.
Then the legend and title, etc.
Is that alright with everybody?
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:29 pm
by RjBeals
Are you being serious? You don't have to just post borders.. just work on the textures and colors.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:32 pm
by The Fuzzy Pengui
RjBeals wrote:Are you being serious? You don't have to just post borders.. just work on the textures and colors.
I said with country fills....meaning the map itself, nothing else special (forgot to add it would include xml circles and territory names). But it wouldn't just be the borders, it would include the fills and whatnot...just no background, legend, title, that kinda stuff.
Sorry for the confusion

Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:24 pm
by edbeard
I think I've said this before, but I think you're making horizontal changes here. What I'm saying is that you're making changes, but nothing seems to have improved.
It's harder to read. It doesn't look better.
Basically you've made the borders thicker. And, changing the colour of the impassables to blue makes them seem like rivers when, I believe, they are not mountains or rivers, just random impassables to make the map playable (possibly they are political?).
Anyway, I hate to be harsh, but I'm being honest. The direction (if there is one) doesn't seem to be working at all.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:27 pm
by The Fuzzy Pengui
edbeard wrote:I think I've said this before, but I think you're making horizontal changes here. What I'm saying is that you're making changes, but nothing seems to have improved.
It's harder to read. It doesn't look better.
Basically you've made the borders thicker. And, changing the colour of the impassables to blue makes them seem like rivers when, I believe, they are not mountains or rivers, just random impassables to make the map playable (possibly they are political?).
Anyway, I hate to be harsh, but I'm being honest. The direction (if there is one) doesn't seem to be working at all.
I know you have said that before, but that is part of the reason I asked for help if somebody would like to help with the graphics. I have admitted to being new to graphic design, and could use some guidance. I have also said that I may restart completely, just piecing together little parts at a time, so I don't have a "whole map" together, when the basics of it are crap.
Again I ask, would anybody like to help, or should I restart piecing it together piece by piece?
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:30 pm
by oaktown
I have to agree with EdBeard on this one. I get the sense that you are either trying too hard to be true to the original, or that you aren't able to think out of the box on this one. Throw out what it used to look like and start over, because simply making the lines smoother and the text a bit cleaner doesn't really seem like much of a revamp.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:32 pm
by oaktown
The Fuzzy Pengui wrote: I have also said that I may restart completely, just piecing together little parts at a time, so I don't have a "whole map" together, when the basics of it are crap.
I wouldn't say that the basics of what you have are crap, but i do think you need to look beyond the original for inspiration... spend some time looking at other maps (not just CC maps, but real maps) and try to get some fresh ideas that will give it your own flavor.
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:46 pm
by The Fuzzy Pengui
Thanks Oaktown, I really appreciate those encouraging words, and critique of the current map.
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:46 pm
by The Fuzzy Pengui
Brazil Revamp
Original Cartographer: Marvaddin
Revamp Cartographer: The Fuzzy Pengui
Restrictions: Marvaddin has the right veto any suggestions or changes to gameplay or graphics
New Map! Older Versions available upon request.
This is by far the map I feel most pleased with!
There are three issues I already know about, and will fix once this version meets approval.
1) The Gradient and Bonus Armies are not in the Legend.
2) The Territory Names and XML/Army Circles are not completed for the whole map.
3) The Impassable Borders aren't complete...they have a lot of work ahead of them.
Thanks in advance

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:46 am
by Optimus Prime
That looks world better. I almost like how it fits into a similar theme as the new South America map. The feeling of cohesion is kind of nice.
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:31 am
by edbeard
Yes, this is worlds better. A few things though...
1. Ask Marv about the colours. If you're trying to represent the areas like on the South America map, then he can give you insight as to what belongs where.
2. I don't like the font you're using. I think it's the same throughout the map. I just can't read it easily.
3. If you're going to label all the non-playable areas, then you should probably allow them all to be seen and not covered by the legend.
4. The compass just doesn't fit as it looks now. Maybe blend it in, or go for a different style on that.
5. Some of the borders are inconsistent, in that, they don't always connect solidly with other lines that they cross/collide. This mostly happens in the non-playable areas, but also in other places.
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:34 am
by The Fuzzy Pengui
edbeard wrote:Yes, this is worlds better. A few things though...
1. Ask Marv about the colours. If you're trying to represent the areas like on the South America map, then he can give you insight as to what belongs where.
Wasn't really going like the SA map, I was just trying to find a color scheme like was previously suggested, and with Brazil....greens fit, IMO.
edbeard wrote:2. I don't like the font you're using. I think it's the same throughout the map. I just can't read it easily.
Do you have an idea on a type of font? I want something kind of classy or stylish. Also, do you think that removing the bold from the font may help? It would at least be better spacing between the letters, and may help a little.
edbeard wrote:3. If you're going to label all the non-playable areas, then you should probably allow them all to be seen and not covered by the legend.
4. The compass just doesn't fit as it looks now. Maybe blend it in, or go for a different style on that.
These kinda go together...I wasn't really sure what to do with the dead space in the bottom of the map. I thought a compass could add a nice touch, but not sure what style to use. If I move the legend over where the compass is, there is dead space on the left, and if I leave it how it is, then countries are covered up. Any suggestions for that?
edbeard wrote:5. Some of the borders are inconsistent, in that, they don't always connect solidly with other lines that they cross/collide. This mostly happens in the non-playable areas, but also in other places.
I did just notice that in some of the non-playable areas, but where in the playable field is this noticable? I was trying to be really careful when drawing borders, but mistakes are always made
Thanks for your comments edbeard, and OP, thanks for yours as well

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:50 am
by MrBenn
Penguin; I like the look of this latest version - it is a vast improvement on earlier ones.
I agree with comments about the font , and think it does need to be a bit clearer.
The legend is good where it is - perhaps move some of the text beneath it, and make it less transparent? I think that the colour of it needs to be less brown, and perhaps a litttle more vibrant?
The compass is a bit overpowering, and I'm not sure it really fits with the rest of the map...
But, like I said earlier, this is a vast improvement, and certainly looks promising.

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:50 am
by edbeard
all you have to do is move the Bolivia label north, the Argentina one south, same with Chile (and make it horizontal not vertical), and the Paraguay label southeast a bit.
I'm having trouble finding the borders that I saw before, but there's one where the north central area meets the northwest continent, and one where the North East meets the light green one continent (touching the ocean). Two things somewhat related to this. I don't think you need the ocean labels. And, I could be crazy but the borders you used in the northeast continent look completely different than the other continents. They look thinner.
For the font, spacing might be an issue. Everything is somewhat bunched up. I'd just put out a few different fonts and see what people think.
edit: also about the borders. Some places where they meet/cross you get dot like connections. they're just bigger than they should be.
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:59 am
by Unit_2
The Fuzzy Pengui wrote:Brazil RevampOriginal Cartographer: Marvaddin
Revamp Cartographer: The Fuzzy Pengui
Restrictions: Marvaddin has the right veto any suggestions or changes to gameplay or graphics
New Map! Older Versions available upon request.
This is by far the map I feel most pleased with!
There are two issues I already know about, and will fix once this version meets approval.
1) The Gradient and Bonus Armies are not in the Legend.
2) The Territory Names and XML/Army Circles are not completed for the whole map.
Thanks in advance

That one is alot better good job on it, though did you get Marv. to say its ok?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:19 pm
by RjBeals
I still prefer the original Marv map.
I don't like all Green territories.
I don't like the font
I don't like the borders or how the impassible areas look
I don't like the pattern behind the countries
I like the compass
I like The Fuzzy Pengui
I like the non-playing "grey" areas of South America
I would still prefer a green background instead of water.
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:39 pm
by yeti_c
Starting to take shape I reckon...
This is much superior to your previous efforts... and the direction this is taking is much better than the original - I like the unplayable areas... gives you a sense of where it actually is!!
C.
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:24 pm
by Kaplowitz
It looks much better!
just change the font and make the continents more distinguishable.