You asked, and so I have indeed created a little documentary showing how I go about creating maps.
Even though it is nearly an hour long, I can assure you that this is merely the briefest overview of one possible approach to creating maps – but it is the easiest and by far the least technically challenging.
I truly hope you will have a go yourself and, if you do, you will require the lowest technology available: some paper, a few pencils and a couple of fineline pens.
The next stage could go in a couple of different directions. On the one hand, I could stick to traditional media, transfer the design to some thicker paper and get out the coloured pencils and watercolours or inks. On the other hand, the route I normally take is to scan the sketch we have achieved here into a program like Adobe Photoshop and really go to town.
The last couple of minutes of the video show results that have been achieved using both methods.
If you would like to see a more advanced tutorial using the software approach, then I would be happy to do that for paying subscribers – it involves a lot of work! I would also go into the various types of mapping software available to achieve particular kinds of results. Who knows, we might even touch on the possibilities offered by AI.
Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the video which I made in the sweltering heat of my attic studio on a hot, August day. As anyone who does this kind of thing knows, the hour of video equates to something like a full day once you take into account the editing, adding music and effects and additional material!
But it will be worth it if a) some more of you sign up as paid subscribers and b) you have a go at making maps yourselves! Don’t be shy and do feel free to share your efforts.
Henry
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