To create a fantasy map I use this common photoshop technique:
Open a new file 8.5" x 11", 200 resolution, RGB
Select Filter: Render: Clouds
The result will look something like this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieB4aTPN3GDJMZV37IbS-ul3mD0meMiO4RrLCjpS8n3_jEdp7LyJzk4eqtI85obX3SxTviG4-EoL50hE-UMP8nQAX-LTgxsE1dPr6brjEMAmdn1B0u3_N6TxHghpoW9gps4CZP-kITYbHQ/s400/renderclouds.jpg)
Set contrast to 100%
Slide brightness back and forth until you get shapes you like.
This will create convincing looking coastlines. The result will look something like this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxUiVpSNhdy1czRHeP6mxmdRTOOZycwjGco5uJBXNme5Q1_rvp8yYniCOcZKVkSmxoWCzSUKNRmDr0h2uODjTBMqUPWpDhl_Om6wbc5J24vh4hU8gUkxjnJe_m8J-5UXM5VJct4xmYZTE/s400/landmasses.jpg)
I do these steps a few times until I get land mass shapes I like, and then crop into the most interesting area using the Crop tool.
Here is the shape I've settled on with the "Lavivrus" map over layed so you can see how I'll be fitting it in:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZAS_KdycglkVVT8tD4_XmPD8IbsYjtlWx51_haGIyqmVOwQNNAMnr-ypnp95-xO0wxOjQRE2yTyxraOERaJHRZK0ghvp7V53KF1hc8slHDIREtHYDZyIM-37whOws505fZX2UrAl-xwv/s400/Lavivrus_landmass.jpg)
Ah, nice starting point. I'm looking forward to seeing where it ends up.
ReplyDeleteNifty technique.
ReplyDelete