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.

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, 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

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
• Edit > Fill > Foreground Color (should be White)

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, 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 > Contract > 10 pixels
• Select > Feather > 10 pixels
• Edit > Fill > White