Creating Fantasy Maps with Natural Texture (Using Adobe Photoshop)

Maps are an important part of stories and books that take us on a character's journey through an land, whether real or imagined!

Many of us who've enjoyed fantasy stories have seen those beautifully illustrated maps inside the cover to help guide us through the worlds the author has created. The styles of these maps can wildly vary, depending on where and how they are used, and also how they communicate the genre in context. A fantasy of traditional ilk might be seen as an ink drawing on a papyrus scroll. Perhaps it's more stylized with modern a modern vector graphic twist. Or maybe it's more visual and literal, like the maps you'd see in video games.  

For whatever purpose a map may serve, this course helps demonstrate the creative process of this style of map that you see attached in the project section and in the introduction. Although I've created it in my own style, these maps are extremely adaptable to your personal taste. Change the colors, change the texture, changed whatever you want - this is just a technique that you can leverage in making your own design!

This tutorial uses Adobe Photoshop to create the graphics, and the steps involve specific tools included in the software. If you know of other software that allows for the same features, feel free to use what is available to you. 

The videos will walk your through the steps of establishing your land masses, applying color and styles. This technique depends on the use of natural textures found in photography, borrowing the patterns of grass, water, rock, tree foliage, and other elements that you can creatively envision on your map design. Using the clone stamp tool, you will apply textures to your map that will construct a beautiful piece of artwork which can be used for your creative purposes. You'll learn how to:

• Outline your map and colorize it
• Apply a base grass pattern for land masses
• Carve lakes and rivers into the land areas
• Apply rugged land formations
• Apply mountain and tree textures
• Create roads, cities and labels
• Add detailed additions, water textures and coloration options

If you come along for the creative journey, I hope you find it interesting and helpful!