Difference between revisions of "Large Area Maps in Photoshop"

From OakthorneWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
(New page: These instructions use the base .psd map entitled "Map-Raw.psd". Instructions are given on a layer-by-layer basis. Start with either the Generating a Land Form steps OR the Using an Alrea...)
 
 
(6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
  
 
Start with either the Generating a Land Form steps OR the Using an Already-Existing Shape steps.
 
Start with either the Generating a Land Form steps OR the Using an Already-Existing Shape steps.
==Generating a Land Form==
+
==STEP ONE: Generating a Land Form==
 
===Background Layer===
 
===Background Layer===
 
* Filter > Render > Clouds
 
* Filter > Render > Clouds
Line 9: Line 9:
 
* Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Threshold 1
 
* Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Threshold 1
 
* At this point, landmass-like shapes will appear.
 
* At this point, landmass-like shapes will appear.
* '''Brush:''' Soft, Size 200, Opacity 10%
+
* '''Brush:''' Soft Round, Size 200, Opacity 10%
 
* Paint Layer > Opacity 50%
 
* Paint Layer > Opacity 50%
 
* With Black, click onto areas you want to remove land. This removes land with each click.
 
* With Black, click onto areas you want to remove land. This removes land with each click.
Line 17: Line 17:
 
* Edit > Copy Merged
 
* Edit > Copy Merged
 
* Click on the Channels Tab
 
* Click on the Channels Tab
==Using an Already-Existing Shape==
+
==STEP ONE: Using an Already-Existing Shape==
 
* Place the map shape into a layer above the Background layer.
 
* Place the map shape into a layer above the Background layer.
 
* Color the land so that it is white, and the seas so that they are black.
 
* Color the land so that it is white, and the seas so that they are black.
Line 30: Line 30:
 
* Layer > Delete > Layer
 
* Layer > Delete > Layer
 
* Create "Land" Layer
 
* Create "Land" Layer
 +
==Land==
 +
* Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
 +
* Select > Inverse
 +
* Cut
 +
==STEP TWO: The Ocean==
 +
This step can be skipped if the map has no ocean areas. Delete all oceanic layers except "Water Main" if this is the case.
 +
===Ocean Deep===
 +
* Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
 +
* Select > Inverse
 +
* Select > Modify > Contract > 25 pixels
 +
* Select > Feather > 15 pixels
 +
* Filter > Render > Clouds
 +
* Filter > Render > Difference Clouds (repeat several times)
 +
===Ocean Emphasis===
 +
* '''Brush:''' Soft Round, Size 100, Opacity 25%, Black
 +
* Paint deep areas of water.
 +
* Switch to White
 +
* Paint shallow areas of water.
 +
===Ocean Shallow===
 +
* Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
 +
* Select > Modify > Expand > 10 pixels
 +
* Select > Feather > 10 pixels
 +
* Edit > Fill > White
 +
* Layer > Duplicate Layer > "Ocean Shallow Variation"
 +
 +
===Ocean Shallow Variation===
 +
* Lock Layer (first icon under Lock)
 +
* Layer Mode > Overlay
 +
* Filter > Render > Clouds
 +
===Ocean Elevation===
 +
* '''Brush:''' Soft Round, Size 100, Opacity 25%, White
 +
* Select Layer Mask in Layers Tab
 +
* Click near coasts to build up coastal shelves of shallower water
 +
* Paint below islands as well
 +
* SAVE
 +
==STEP THREE: Land==
 
===Land===
 
===Land===
 +
* Edit > Fill > White
 
* Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
 
* Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
* Edit > Fill > Foreground Color (should be White)
+
* Layer > Add Layer Mask > Reveal Selection
 +
* Image > Adjustments > Levels > 32, 1.00, 255
 +
===Elevation===
 +
* '''Brush:''' Soft Round, Size 100, Opacity 25%, White
 +
* ''Optional:'' Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
 +
** Filter > Render > Difference Clouds (repeat several times)
 +
* Paint elevation details in with brush above
 +
==STEP FOUR: Mountains==
 +
===Hills===
 +
* '''Brush:''' Soft Round, Size 50, Opacity 35%, White
 +
* Paint hill details in Layer Mask with brush
 +
===Mountains===
 +
* '''Brush:''' Soft Round, Size 50, Opacity 35%, White
 +
* Paint mountain details in Layer Mask with brush
 +
===Peaks===
 +
* '''Brush:''' Soft Round, Size 25, Opacity 50%, White
 +
* Paint peak details in Layer Mask with brush
 +
===Ice===
 +
* '''Brush:''' Soft Round, Size 100, Opacity 25%, White
 +
* Paint snow details in Layer Mask with brush
 +
===Land===
 +
This is to make Rivers
 +
* '''Brush:''' Hard Round, Size 3, Opacity 100%, Black
 +
** Shape Dynamics: Fade 250 (Less for shorter, More for longer)
 +
* Outline path of river with Pen Tool, altering shape with Direct Selection Tool. Start at terminus of river.
 +
* Stroke Path with Brush
 +
* SAVE
 +
==STEP FIVE: Vegetation==
 +
===Grass===
 +
* '''Brush:''' Spatter, Size 100, Opacity 25% - 50%, White
 +
* ''Optional:'' Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
 +
** Filter > Render > Difference Clouds (repeat several times)
 +
* Paint vegetation details in with brush above
 +
===Forest===
 +
* '''Brush:''' Spatter, Size 100, Opacity 25% - 50%, White
 +
** Angle Jitter: 100%
 +
* Paint forest details in with brush above
 +
==STEP SIX: Finishing==
 +
* Activate the Hue/Saturation, Levels and Brightness Adjustment.
 +
* Add labels with additional levels above the Adjustment layers.

Latest revision as of 21:16, 26 March 2012

These instructions use the base .psd map entitled "Map-Raw.psd". Instructions are given on a layer-by-layer basis.

Start with either the Generating a Land Form steps OR the Using an Already-Existing Shape steps.

STEP ONE: Generating a Land Form

Background Layer

  • Filter > Render > Clouds
  • Create "Paint Layer"

Paint Layer

  • Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Threshold 1
  • At this point, landmass-like shapes will appear.
  • Brush: Soft Round, Size 200, Opacity 10%
  • Paint Layer > Opacity 50%
  • With Black, click onto areas you want to remove land. This removes land with each click.
  • With White, click onto areas you want to add land. This adds land with each click.
  • Reduce Brush size to deal with smaller details.
  • Select > All
  • Edit > Copy Merged
  • Click on the Channels Tab

STEP ONE: Using an Already-Existing Shape

  • Place the map shape into a layer above the Background layer.
  • Color the land so that it is white, and the seas so that they are black.
  • Select > All
  • Edit > Copy Merged
  • Click on the Channels Tab

Alpha Channel

  • Create new Channel.
  • Edit > Paste to new Channel.
  • click on "Threshold 1" layer in Layers.

Threshold 1

  • Layer > Delete > Layer
  • Create "Land" Layer

Land

  • Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
  • Select > Inverse
  • Cut

STEP TWO: The Ocean

This step can be skipped if the map has no ocean areas. Delete all oceanic layers except "Water Main" if this is the case.

Ocean Deep

  • Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
  • Select > Inverse
  • Select > Modify > Contract > 25 pixels
  • Select > Feather > 15 pixels
  • Filter > Render > Clouds
  • Filter > Render > Difference Clouds (repeat several times)

Ocean Emphasis

  • Brush: Soft Round, Size 100, Opacity 25%, Black
  • Paint deep areas of water.
  • Switch to White
  • Paint shallow areas of water.

Ocean Shallow

  • Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
  • Select > Modify > Expand > 10 pixels
  • Select > Feather > 10 pixels
  • Edit > Fill > White
  • Layer > Duplicate Layer > "Ocean Shallow Variation"

Ocean Shallow Variation

  • Lock Layer (first icon under Lock)
  • Layer Mode > Overlay
  • Filter > Render > Clouds

Ocean Elevation

  • Brush: Soft Round, Size 100, Opacity 25%, White
  • Select Layer Mask in Layers Tab
  • Click near coasts to build up coastal shelves of shallower water
  • Paint below islands as well
  • SAVE

STEP THREE: Land

Land

  • Edit > Fill > White
  • Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
  • Layer > Add Layer Mask > Reveal Selection
  • Image > Adjustments > Levels > 32, 1.00, 255

Elevation

  • Brush: Soft Round, Size 100, Opacity 25%, White
  • Optional: Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
    • Filter > Render > Difference Clouds (repeat several times)
  • Paint elevation details in with brush above

STEP FOUR: Mountains

Hills

  • Brush: Soft Round, Size 50, Opacity 35%, White
  • Paint hill details in Layer Mask with brush

Mountains

  • Brush: Soft Round, Size 50, Opacity 35%, White
  • Paint mountain details in Layer Mask with brush

Peaks

  • Brush: Soft Round, Size 25, Opacity 50%, White
  • Paint peak details in Layer Mask with brush

Ice

  • Brush: Soft Round, Size 100, Opacity 25%, White
  • Paint snow details in Layer Mask with brush

Land

This is to make Rivers

  • Brush: Hard Round, Size 3, Opacity 100%, Black
    • Shape Dynamics: Fade 250 (Less for shorter, More for longer)
  • Outline path of river with Pen Tool, altering shape with Direct Selection Tool. Start at terminus of river.
  • Stroke Path with Brush
  • SAVE

STEP FIVE: Vegetation

Grass

  • Brush: Spatter, Size 100, Opacity 25% - 50%, White
  • Optional: Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
    • Filter > Render > Difference Clouds (repeat several times)
  • Paint vegetation details in with brush above

Forest

  • Brush: Spatter, Size 100, Opacity 25% - 50%, White
    • Angle Jitter: 100%
  • Paint forest details in with brush above

STEP SIX: Finishing

  • Activate the Hue/Saturation, Levels and Brightness Adjustment.
  • Add labels with additional levels above the Adjustment layers.