Some artworks

[Dain]

Hi Dain, really like your wondrous map of Eredane. Since I guess it is originally a multilayered photoshop file, could you post a map which would only show the "known" landmarks (i.e. the human cities and settlements as opposed to dwarven / elven cities and villages or special places like Brahaman's Balm or other magical sites)

You guessed correctly and the multilayer Photoshop file is already available in the download section.
http://www.againsttheshadow.org/index.php?action=tpmod;dl=item73
I don't recall exactly what's in the file but I'm pretty sure the texts are on a separate layer, not editable though.

If I may ask, which font/size did you use for the place names ? (if I ever want to defile your masterpiece by adding some personal landmarks  )

Help yourself, the map has been made for that purpose
About the fonts in PhotoShop:
The font used for cities is "handserif" size14 (http://www.dafont.com/handserif.font)
The font used for the River is Trinigan size 18 and 14 (http://www.fontspace.com/fontgrube/trinigan-fg)
The font used for the Mountains is Brubeck size 30 and 24 (http://www.dafont.com/brubeck.font)
The font used for the regions is Rosemary 100 and 48 (http://www.dafont.com/rosemary-roman.font)
Don't hesitate to go to the original post, you'll find some more details, possibly.
http://www.againsttheshadow.org/index.php?topic=1678.0

Another question: where do the places marked in the northernmost corner of the map come from? (Hoarl, Invurin)

Most of what you'll find on the map is canon. Despite not having any personal work on it, there are still some towns that are coming from the Gazetteer that Smeagol made some time ago. Do you recall that Gazetteer?
Check that out: http://www.againsttheshadow.org/index.php?topic=1192.msg10637#msg10637

Whatever your answer, thanks for your time in creating this map and for offering it to the community.

No problem, I love doing that.
I've got some more to finish btw. Aryth's globe, another version of Eredane, the list's long ...

[Dweller on the Threshold]

Thanks for your lightning-fast answer...I am immediately going to study these old maps...

[Dain]

Hi guys,

I'm back with another illustration.

Despite the scene not being for Midinght (not again! ), I'm more than willing to do so. Until now, lack of true inspiration kept me away from doing it and I'm asking you my dear light bearer friends to propose something, an idea that would be suitable for Midnight, using the same perspective, style, whatever words may come to your mind when looking at this illustration

I've been thinking of a part of Eisin, the elven city in Ruins, Cambrial or Baden's Bluff.
What do you think guys?

[TwiceBorn]

The architecture strikes me as being more Dornish than Sarcosan or Elvish, so I don't think the illustration depicts Eisin (ruined elvish city) or Cambrial (majority Sarcosan settlement at the height of its glory). I also picture Baden's Bluff and even Cambrial as being more "built up", even if the latter is now dominated by ruins.

If the illustration were to depict part of a settlement in 100 Last Age, I would go with either Kardoling, or maybe even the heart of Chandering, or the (not completely) reconstructed keep district in Davindale, or Pendor Keep in Bastion.

I think there was a good fan-made description of Kardoling on this site somewhere. 

Either way, amazing work, as always! I'm envious of your gift!

[TwiceBorn]

Dain, I see that you were already aware of Albert's write-up on Kardoling: http://www.againsttheshadow.org/index.php?topic=1099.0 and http://www.againsttheshadow.org/index.php?topic=1099.0.

[TwiceBorn]

You guessed correctly and the multilayer Photoshop file is already available in the download section.
http://www.againsttheshadow.org/index.php?action=tpmod;dl=item73

Dain, what version of Photoshop would be optimal to access/edit the various layers of your map? I'm using Mac OS X 10.7.5.

Thanks in advance for your time/advice.

[Dain]

I guess my demand about the illustration wasn't clear enough. Sorry for that.
I was asking for an idea, yes, but for a new project, Midnight related. I know that the previous illustration is not likely to fit Midnight's setting. There's no way it can be elvish or even Dorn.


I want to start another project but I haven't decided yet what to draw. I was thinking of Cambrial, Eisin or Baden's bluff  but I'm open to anything that may be interesting for any of your campaign.

The idea of depicting Kardoling is tempting though ..

[Dain]

I'm using PS cs6 and I'm on an iMac as well

[TwiceBorn]

Thanks for your quick reply, Dain. Would any version of PS Elements give access to layers and ability to edit layers?

[TwiceBorn]

I guess my demand about the illustration wasn't clear enough. Sorry for that.
I was asking for an idea, yes, but for a new project, Midnight related. I know that the previous illustration is not likely to fit Midnight's setting. There's no way it can be elvish or even Dorn.


I want to start another project but I haven't decided yet what to draw. I was thinking of Cambrial, Eisin or Baden's bluff  but I'm open to anything that may be interesting for any of your campaign.

The idea of depicting Kardoling is tempting though ..

Aaaah… Well, in that case, Cambrial, Eisin, Baden's Bluff and Kardoling (not to mention the northern cities) would all be worthwhile projects! That having been said, I would probably be most likely to use at some point in the hopefully not too distant future illustrations of Baden's Bluff in my own campaign… if I manage to resurrect it. :-)

But whatever you do is bound to be awesome, so do what inspires you most!

[Nifelhein]

An orc warren!

[Dain]

Hmm, yes. That's never been done I believe. Good challenge indeed!

[Nifelhein]

[TwiceBorn]

Thanks for your quick reply, Dain. Would any version of PS Elements give access to layers and ability to edit layers?

Dain, do you know?

[Dain]

Very sorry, I missed your post

Yep yep, it should be absolutely fine for reading the files and layers.
I'm not quite sure about the layers' effects though. Give it a try and tell me. I can probably make some changes if so.

[TwiceBorn]

I don't actually have either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements yet… just wondering whether the less expensive Elements would be sufficient to view layers.

I may not be able to purchase either program for some time.

[Dain]

I used to use TheGimp which is free and do the trick for most of the tasks. Have you ever tried that program?

[TwiceBorn]

No, I have never heard of it. But I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Pheros]

I'll vouch for GIMP too.  It's not as flashy as PS, but it can do most things.  Layers are super easy with it.  Originally UNIX based, now on LINUX.  You can get it to run under X11 on most Macs with a little bit of doing.

[TwiceBorn]

Can you elaborate on the "little bit of doing," Pheros? I'm not very tech savvy.

[Dain]

What I believe he meant was about TheGimp not being fully integrated to Mac osX ... which was true some time ago.
Now, TheGimp is a program as easy to install as any other .dmg file.
There's nothing to worry about.

As it is said on their home page:

Since the 2.8.2 version GIMP runs on OSX natively. No X11 environment is required.

As a matter of fact, the program can be launched without installing it, it's portable. You'll find an application within the .dmg, and not a .pkg (like MS Office). Easy man. See, noooo worries
just get it there: http://www.gimp.org/downloads/

[Pheros]

Ohhh, that is good to know.  I installed it 4 or so years ago, and I remember it wasn't exactly straight-forward.  I'm glad they got a working dmg now.

[Pheros]

Ha...yeah, version 1.2.5, so feel free to ignore anything I have to say about installation TB!

[TwiceBorn]

So I finally downloaded The Gimp. At the very least, it gives me an even greater appreciation for your alternative map of Eredane, Dain… it truly is amazing, zoomed in! Thanks for bringing this program to my attention.

I still think it's going to take me some time to figure out how the program works, how to edit/add layers to customize the map for my campaign, how to insert text that matches the fonts/boxes in your map, etc. I've never used software like this before.

[Dain]

So I finally downloaded The Gimp. At the very least, it gives me an even greater appreciation for your alternative map of Eredane, Dain… it truly is amazing, zoomed in! Thanks for bringing this program to my attention.

I still think it's going to take me some time to figure out how the program works, how to edit/add layers to customize the map for my campaign, how to insert text that matches the fonts/boxes in your map, etc. I've never used software like this before.

It takes a bit of time figuring out how Gimp works but it sure does the trick at the end of the day. One thing that helps is to activate the option 'single window mode' ON. I know people who have been a bit disturbed by the floating windows and preferred having them stuck in one position once and for all.


In the meantime, here is the final version of the last project. Hope you still like it.
HD version: