Download Source Files
We have another Psd Premium tutorial exclusively available to Premium members today. If you want to take your fantasy mapping skills to the next level, then we have an awesome tutorial for you. Learn how to make a map of a magical kingdom, like those found in role playing games and other media. Learn more at the jump!
This Premium Tutorial is Filled with Creative Tips
Having the ability to produce a fantasy map is a great addition to any Illustrators’ arsenal. Fantasy maps are used extensively in role playing games, in both digital and print media. Although there are some specialist map generator applications available, their results often appear lackluster and uninspiring. In this tutorial, we’ll adopt a hands-on approach and modify existing source material to conjure up the magical Kingdom of Nyan!
Tutorial Details
- Program: Adobe Photoshop CS3 or later
- Program: Adobe Illustrator CS2 or later
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Estimated Completion Time: 3 hours
A preview of the final image is below.
Professional and Detailed Instructions Inside
Premium members can Log in and Download! Otherwise, Join Now! Below are some sample images from this tutorial.
PSD Premium Membership
As you know, we run a premium membership system here called ‘Premium’ that costs $19 a month which gives members access to the Source files for tutorials as well as periodic extra tutorials, like this one! You’ll also get access to Net Premium and Vector Premium, too. If you’re a Premium member, you can log in and download the tutorial. If you’re not a member, you can of course join today!
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By Mark Mayers
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Very nice Map! I really love this kind of work, unfortunantly I’m not Plus :\
I am currious, if I get the Plus account, are there detailed instructions on how to create the original map?
Yes.
The cool things it’s everyone’s looking to the models but not to the map. The map it’s the point, d’oh! ¬¬
This is really awesome, I wish I had a plus acc to view this.
ha ha ha wtf?
This looks sweet.
Interesting tut. I think it would look better if the 3d models had more texture though.
Been looking for a tut like this, altho now I see it doesn’t look like its something I’ve been looking for… :D
I created a fantasy map this year, altho my hdd broke down and the map wasn’t finished…
You can check the latest wip at http://sivut.blizzu.net/map3.jpg
That map looks great! Do you have the raw psd file? I’d love to check out how you accomplished it. I know the hdd broke down, so it may not be possible, but great job though!
Tutorial Details
# Program: Adobe Photoshop CS3 or later
# Program: Adobe Illustrator CS2 or later
but youre using Poser allso?
No. He used Poser to create the models but the models are included in the source folder for us to use, so we don’t have to make them.
The 3D models are NOT included for copyright reasons – but there are 3D renders in the download, so you can complete the tutorial.
The Poser screengrab just explains the process I went through before creating the renders.
Oh, sh**. I really would need this tutorial.
oh come on guys!! all good tutorials are not free =(
i gone try this tommrow, its good ,its a weekend, have lots of time to practice.
looks really standard one. love it
i wish you didn’t have to pay to be a plus member
Lol! It’s ONLY $9!! How is that going to hurt your pocket? I’m a student, about to take on a $17,000 loan and I still feel comfortable spending $9 (well it’s a little more for me since I’m in New Zealand) a month on this. Could be a lot worse yanno ;)
I second that. I can forego two lattes a month for this.
Whoa..looks like it came from out of a video game :)
I`m not plus ! ! !
Looks like civilization or something. very different for this site, and in a good way!
I’m plus and all I see is the psd not the actual tutorial
Oh my God! It’s just so awesome!
I think I will buy an plus account just to be able to get this tutorial!
Nice new tutorial. Need more like this. Can’t wait to check it out.
great !!
Just glanced over it. Very nice how you built the landmasses and the coastlines. Also some very nice links to resources i didn’t know before.
Thanks a lot.
oh woe is me.
i want plus mumbershups!
So cool ~ But $9 is so expensive (in my country)…
[sign]
uhk its a plus..
Okay so I have one complaint about this tutorial: Poser. I luv this program, but I haven’t been able to learn it yet.
Chris Haines is one example of what awesomeness can be achieved with Poser and Photoshop. So I went in this tut thinking I would pick up some Poser skills. But no deal… All the Poser stuff is just skipped. I for one would have considered it very helpfull to learn in detail how to pose these characters in a battle stance in Poser and put a sword and shield in there hands. But its not in here.
So – 1, and thumbs down.
I mean all the C4D and PS tuts here cover the C4D process in detail.
Why in this tut no Poser process? Alex Beltechi always covers everything for example. So I am very disappointed. I don’t need the assets to put this work together, I need the skills so I can creat the piece myself. Maybe I wanted to make a Planet of Apes themed map? Otherwise this is a solid tut.
Sorry if I am being to harsh. Its only because PSDTUTS has raised the bar so high.
You can learn the basic needed skills of Poser within a day. It is more a click-through program for basic character posing. You can come far with trial and error. I dont like poser personally ´cause real 3d programs like Max or Maya give you much more freedom to do as you like. But that`s my 2 cent to not include Poser.
The outcome looks great, i`ve tried this a time ago and had a more cartoonish outcome – this here is better :-)
Thanks for all your comments.
@ Elektric: To cover all the steps I went through for every Poser figure would have been far too extensive to include, and would have pushed it into being a 3D tutorial and not a Photoshop one. That’s why I briefly touched on this part and included the renders in the download.
For anyone interested in detailed Poser tutorials check out: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/tutorial/index.php?browse§ion_id=32
I understand. But working through ONE of the models would have been nice. I mean you did it in your ‘Illustrate a Sensitive Subject Using Poser, Cinema 4D, and Photoshop – Psd Plus Tutorial’.
I guess I will study that one again.
The thing is I luv the work of Chris Haines
http://www.behance.net/neondistractions
But I am not comfortable with Poser yet. Getting the proper poses down or being able to export only a wireframe.
Thanks anyway.
Hope you do more.
- not really my style of artwork but i think that’s an even better reason to do the tutorial. looks great!
the Hypsography + Shaded relief (133.9 MB) maps are no longer online. any other places to get them?
I’ve just checked and it’s there (top link) It’s a big download though.
The trim looks really cool.
it looks very cool!
very nice! i loove it
It’s a plus tut… TOo bad. Not going to pay a dime.
this just looks awful…
I mean the colors and everything about the placed models look extremely artificial. ever heard of compositing?
i’m lucky, I didn’t pay for this…
This reminds me of those maps that I usually see at the start of fantasy games. Great work!
This looks really good. And excellent choice of colors if I must say so myself. I’ve always had a thing for old map looking images…. you can do something really special.
This isn’t that different than most of that maps being made at cartographer’s guild. there aren’t that many with the extra critters added on top, granted, but that’s simple comparatively. Plus the tutorials there are free, and you can usually get help and feedback within minutes of asking for help.
cool information.
Whats the typography being used for this project? anobody knows?
Is there an actual tutorial for this creation or is the tutorial I just paid for the “follow the photos” that I’ve wasted both my time and money with?