Tips for Mapmaking in GIMP?

Doctor Imperialism

I've very recently started to tenatively modify maps in GIMP, and it's been pretty fun so far. Do any of you veteran mapmakers happen to have any tips or advice you could share? :)
 

Cazaril

Pretty much every map element should go onto a separate layer, because it makes changing things much, much less of a hassle. And make sure you actually label your layers, or having "New Layers #1-25" will come back to bite you when you're trying to find the right now.
 
Kaiphranos

Kaiphranos

Donor
Doctor Imperialism said:
Now, how do paths work? I've never quite figured them out.
Click to expand...

You place these points called anchors, then use the option 'stroke path' to draw along the path. It makes for a neater, smoother line than simply using the pencil or paintbrush tools (And you can choose the line weight and type, if you want dotted or dashed lines), and you can re-select the path if you need to draw it again for some reason--just select the path tool and click on the path in the list of paths, which should be right next to the list of layers. You can also click on the segments between the anchors to shape them into curves if you need to. You can close a loop in a path by dragging one anchor over top of another, and you can select an area enclosed by a path in this fashion.

There's also a way to get text to follow a path, but it's a bit tricky. You draw the path, then write out your text in a text box. At the bottom of the text box tool menu there's a button that says "text along path." Click it, and it will create a new path outlining the letters of the text along the path you drew. Go up to 'select' and choose 'from path," which should select the area within the letters. Make a new layer that includes the area where you want your text to be, and on that layer use the bucket tool to fill in the selection. Then go to the paths list and make the outline path invisible. (Click the eye.) That should hopefully do it.
 

Doctor Imperialism

Kaiphranos said:
You place these points called anchors, then use the option 'stroke path' to draw along the path. It makes for a neater, smoother line than simply using the pencil or paintbrush tools (And you can choose the line weight and type, if you want dotted or dashed lines), and you can re-select the path if you need to draw it again for some reason--just select the path tool and click on the path in the list of paths, which should be right next to the list of layers. You can also click on the segments between the anchors to shape them into curves if you need to. You can close a loop in a path by dragging one anchor over top of another, and you can select an area enclosed by a path in this fashion.

There's also a way to get text to follow a path, but it's a bit tricky. You draw the path, then write out your text in a text box. At the bottom of the text box tool menu there's a button that says "text along path." Click it, and it will create a new path outlining the letters of the text along the path you drew. Go up to 'select' and choose 'from path," which should select the area within the letters. Make a new layer that includes the area where you want your text to be, and on that layer use the bucket tool to fill in the selection. Then go to the paths list and make the outline path invisible. (Click the eye.) That should hopefully do it.
Click to expand...

Future8 said:
I actually made a tutorial on making maps
using paths in GIMP a while back.
Click to expand...



Cool! Thanks.



Any other tips someone wants to share?
 

Color-Copycat

It's having overlapping canvases where you can draw separate stuff on each 'layer' and modify their transparency values as well.

For instance, on one layer, you might have the national borders marked out, on another you might have railroads and canals, so on and so forth. It's very handy for organizational purposes as you're working.
 
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