Cartography for Wesnoth

The Background

Paste the old image into a new layer above your Background layer and resize to the desired dimensions. Set the new layer's blending to 'Soft Light', then name it 'Original'. (1)
Begin roughly outlining the old coastline using the Lasso Tool. (2)
Create a new layer, above the Original layer. Name it 'Coastline'.
Fill in the selected area on with white on the Coastline layer. (3)

Create a new layer named 'Coastline' above your Background layer. Paint land on this layer using a hard, white brush.

Set the blending of the Coastline layer to 'Multiply'. Using the Eraser Tool and Brush Tool, modify the edges until they seem a little more realistic. (1)
A variety of effects can be created by modifying the contour. Each 'peak' becomes a new line, as slopes become gradients.

There are two basic methods used to create water features - one gives them an outline, the other does not. To make outlined rivers, use the Eraser Tool with a small, hard brush to make gouges in the land on the Coastline layer. The alternative method is listed below.
Switch to the Magic Wand Tool and make sure the Contiguous option is disabled. Select the transparent areas of the Coastline layer, then create a new layer named 'Seas'. (1)
Fill the selected area with the Paint Bucket Tool.
Set the blending of the new layer as appopriate for the color of your water and style for your map. A few examples, with the default one first:

If you wish to make water features without an outline, create a seperate layer named 'Rivers' with the same blending as the Seas layer, then paint them on with a small, hard brush.

Switch to the Magic Wand Tool and make sure the Contiguous option is disabled. Select the white areas of the Coastline layer. Create a new layer named 'Elevation'.
Using the default foreground and background colors, select Filter > Render > Clouds from the menu. (1)
Select Filter > Render > Difference Clouds from the menu.
Press the shortcut CTRL+F to cycle through different elevations until you find one roughly appropriate for your map; the dark areas representing lowlands and the light, highlands.
Alter details with a soft brush and the Burn/Dodge tools. Use the Blur Tool if any areas become too pixelated. (2)
Set the layer blending to 'Color Burn' and modify the Opacity to 80%. Lower the Fill amount until you get the desired effect. (3)

This page was last modified 19:32, 21 February 2008.