Item:map - Tumblr Posts

A tutorial on a (bit cheating) way of creating fictional maps.

Open your editing software (RECOMMENDING Krita, since it's free and it's very good).

Step 1: Google "X country silhouette" and copy it.

A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.

Paste it onto the canvas.

Step 2: Separate the silhouette from the background you copied with it! You can do that by using magic wand selection tool or by making a gradient map with black on 49,9% and transparent on 50% on the slider.

A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.
A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.

Step 3: Repeat several times with numerous countries and/or islands, cities, municipalities, communes, continents et cetera.

A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.

Step 4: Combine, mesh, stretch, rotate, mirror - go ham, make it work.

A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.

Step 5: Erase and add.

A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.

Step 6: Have your map outline ready, copy/paste it several times in the same doc on different layers and edit in different ways like biomes, kingdoms, mountains and other.

Step Mountains+: To figure out mountains, make another layer on the doc and do something like this:

A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.

-and then in every polygon you add an arrow.

A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.

Where arrows meet or transfer onto continents, add mountains.

A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.

Color the sea with a couple layers of depth and you're done :D

A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.
A Tutorial On A (bit Cheating) Way Of Creating Fictional Maps.

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