If you create your own maps digitally, what do you use as map-making software?

Personally, I am fond of Inkscape, as it gives me maximum flexibility and the vector-based approach is great for scaling and rotating things.

  • Skua@kbin.earth
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    15 hours ago

    For large-scale maps, a combination of Inkscape, Gimp, and Wilbur for me! The general process is:

    • Rough out landmasses in Inkscape
    • Rough out a heightmap on those landmasses in Gimp
    • Simulate erosion on Wilbur
    • Bring it back to Gimp for colouring and manual details
    • Back to Inkscape for labelling

    I made this as a fancied-up version of a Quiet Year game I played with some friends https://i.imgur.com/gB3sIEs.jpeg

    For smaller-scale ones like D&D battle maps, just plain old Gimp (or sometimes some layout with Inkscape beforehand, and also sometimes some textures made in Inkscape). I made this version of Biete Mariam, a church in Ethiopia https://i.imgur.com/nz1ysvY.jpeg

    • juergen_hubert@ttrpg.networkOP
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      8 hours ago

      I’ve been eyeing krita for fancy brushwork - GIMP is primarily photomanipulation software, and doesn’t really hold a candle when it comes to brushes. Have you tried it out?

      • Skua@kbin.earth
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        5 hours ago

        Technically yes, I have, but it was so long ago now that my experience is probably too outdated to be useful. I remember it being fine, but I was already familiar with Gimp and wasn’t doing enough to justify learning a new program. I am drawing everything with a mouse as well, which probably affects the way that I interact with features quite a bit.

        Like I said, though, I expect that my experience is not very reflective of the current state of the program, so I might need to try it again