Large Area Maps in Photoshop

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.