Difference between revisions of "Large Area Maps in Photoshop"

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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
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* 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.
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* 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.
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==Land==
 
==Land==
 
* Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
 
* Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
* Edit > Fill > Foreground Color (should be White)
+
* Select > Inverse
==The Ocean==
+
* 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.
 
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===
 
===Ocean Deep===
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* Filter > Render > Difference Clouds (repeat several times)
 
* Filter > Render > Difference Clouds (repeat several times)
 
===Ocean Emphasis===
 
===Ocean Emphasis===
* '''Brush:''' Soft, Size 100, Opacity 25%, Black
+
* '''Brush:''' Soft Round, Size 100, Opacity 25%, Black
 
* Paint deep areas of water.
 
* Paint deep areas of water.
 
* Switch to White
 
* Switch to White
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===Ocean Shallow===
 
===Ocean Shallow===
 
* Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
 
* Select > Load Selection > Alpha 1
* Select > Modify > Contract > 10 pixels
+
* Select > Modify > Expand > 10 pixels
 
* Select > Feather > 10 pixels
 
* Select > Feather > 10 pixels
 
* Edit > Fill > White
 
* 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.

Latest revision as of 20:16, 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.