California [Quenched]

[natty dread]

I thought the final step in Map Foundry would be all about logistics and game strategy, leading up to the Beta test. Instead, people are still quibbling about fonts and backgrounds and such. This California map is good enough -- let's try it out!

You thought wrong. This is graphics workshop, graphics discussion is what takes place in here.
And "good enough" has never been the leading qualifier for maps here... a true artist strives for excellence. TBK knows the foundry procedure well, being a mapmaker with some experience already, so he knows how to have patience with a project. The best way you can help is to offer something constructive instead of trying to rush it through.

I did change the header font, and added glows to the legend. I also increased the color intensity on the main map.

All good changes. I still think you should try to make the title header the same colour as the main title though... to give a more uniform look to the title. Or perhaps not exactly the same, but a slightly darker brown...

I guess I don't really agree with the comments about the legends background. It's not really supposed to be the focus and if I added more to it, it would look crowded and gaudy. Sort of like "less is more" in this instance. I mean there's already a lot going on.

I agree with this. In fact, I think you could fade it even more out of focus - increase the "focus contrast", so to speak. Not by much though.

Some minor things that could be tried: the transparency of the insets bothers me slightly. How about giving them a translucent dark backdrop? Also you could try replacing the simplistic black frame with a similar one you have around the whole picture (nice job on that one btw, subtle but effective.)

And one more thing that slightly bothers me: the main map has a drop shadow, but the insets and minimap don't. Ok, it's partially justified in that the main map goes over one of the insets, but you could give the insets & minimap a smaller and slightly sharper drop shadow, so that it looks like they are also elevated from the background but not as much as the main map.

[jefjef]

This especially doesn't make sense to me because the background is made from photographs and you even acknowledge that in you're comment.

The Bridge/sunset Title background is a superb pick and a great choice.

The background on the left side is drab/bland/dull in comparison. Like the tree. No offense intended.

[Vlasov]

Thanks for the correction, Natty_ Dread. This is my first long foray into the Map Foundry. Now I understand better the progression from Graphics Workshop to Final Forge, etc.

[The Bison King]

All good changes. I still think you should try to make the title header the same colour as the main title though... to give a more uniform look to the title. Or perhaps not exactly the same, but a slightly darker brown...

I tried that earlier, I thought it looked stupid.

I agree with this. In fact, I think you could fade it even more out of focus - increase the "focus contrast", so to speak. Not by much though.

Well that's what I was going for in increasing the vividness of the main map. I know that the act of uploading this will naturally dull the colors, so I want to see how dull it get's before I fade anything further.

And one more thing that slightly bothers me: the main map has a drop shadow, but the insets and minimap don't. Ok, it's partially justified in that the main map goes over one of the insets, but you could give the insets & minimap a smaller and slightly sharper drop shadow, so that it looks like they are also elevated from the background but not as much as the main map.

I also tried this earlier. I'm not so sure it's a good idea, it sort of makes things compete for attention.

[natty dread]

Well that's what I was going for in increasing the vividness of the main map. I know that the act of uploading this will naturally dull the colors, so I want to see how dull it get's before I fade anything further.

You can try it by converting it to jpeg with a quality setting of 90 or so.

[The Bison King]

Well that's what I was going for in increasing the vividness of the main map. I know that the act of uploading this will naturally dull the colors, so I want to see how dull it get's before I fade anything further.

You can try it by converting it to jpeg with a quality setting of 90 or so.

The way I export from photoshop gives me quality options 1-12. I pick 12

[AndyDufresne]

One of the things I've always disliked---is a mix between realism---photographs---and drawn images---the landmass and other emblems. If the photo looked like the bear in style, I'd give it my thumbs up.


--Andy

[The Bison King]

One of the things I've always disliked---is a mix between realism---photographs---and drawn images---the landmass and other emblems. If the photo looked like the bear in style, I'd give it my thumbs up.


--Andy

I guess you didn't like Who Framed Roger Rabbit then...

[AndyDufresne]

One of the things I've always disliked---is a mix between realism---photographs---and drawn images---the landmass and other emblems. If the photo looked like the bear in style, I'd give it my thumbs up.


--Andy

I guess you didn't like Who Framed Roger Rabbit then...

That's different than a map by a long shot.


--Andy

[The Bison King]

One of the things I've always disliked---is a mix between realism---photographs---and drawn images---the landmass and other emblems. If the photo looked like the bear in style, I'd give it my thumbs up.


--Andy

I guess you didn't like Who Framed Roger Rabbit then...

That's different than a map by a long shot.


--Andy

Avoiding the question! just admit it already! you hate Who Framed Roger Rabbit and had an empty childhood as a result!

[Victor Sullivan]

One of the things I've always disliked---is a mix between realism---photographs---and drawn images---the landmass and other emblems. If the photo looked like the bear in style, I'd give it my thumbs up.


--Andy

I guess you didn't like Who Framed Roger Rabbit then...

That's different than a map by a long shot.


--Andy

Avoiding the question! just admit it already! you hate Who Framed Roger Rabbit and had an empty childhood as a result!

I know I felt empty until I saw it... Did you at least see Osmosis Jones? That was a decent movie. But thats beside the point. All of my graphical fuddy duddies have been melted to a fine chocolately goo with which to top various sweet confections, so I have no further issues with the delicious image set before our eyes to munch slowly, whilest enjoying the violence cast upon California in censored numbers, so the little ones may enjoy it too...

[Blitzaholic]

looks like a cool map bison king

keep up the good work

[Fear the Tree]

I am from California. LA and San Diego are just about all one ginormous city. You can drive 4 hours to cross it. About the perspective, I was just offering something up for your consideration.

Not really...Coming down the I-5 you enter the greater LA Area. If your driving late night/early morning you can get to Irvine in 40 mins. After Irvine/San Juan Capistrano there is really nothing between that area and SD except Oceanside. Most of Greater SD area is off the 15. I think this map is excellent and i cant wait to play it. Also, i must say ports would be a bad idea.

[The Bison King]

About graphics, i personally think that when borders and connection will be fixed the map could be ready for a short sticky period and then moving to the FF.

Whatever happened to this? It's been about a month now since this was stickied. If there's something specific you're waiting to see please tell me so that I can make whatever changes are needed?

[jefjef]

Hey Bison have you considered/tried to put the ocean pics/drawing at the same level? (Lower the left image to match the ocean level of the title image) That may transition it better.

[The Bison King]

Hey Bison have you considered/tried to put the ocean pics/drawing at the same level? (Lower the left image to match the ocean level of the title image) That may transition it better.

I actually have considered doing that. I'll try that later today.

[Industrial Helix]

About graphics, i personally think that when borders and connection will be fixed the map could be ready for a short sticky period and then moving to the FF.

Whatever happened to this? It's been about a month now since this was stickied. If there's something specific you're waiting to see please tell me so that I can make whatever changes are needed?

Concern over a unified theme for the map. Four carto mods have posted regarding this already.

[The Bison King]

About graphics, i personally think that when borders and connection will be fixed the map could be ready for a short sticky period and then moving to the FF.

Whatever happened to this? It's been about a month now since this was stickied. If there's something specific you're waiting to see please tell me so that I can make whatever changes are needed?

Concern over a unified theme for the map. Four carto mods have posted regarding this already.

Help me out here. saying that the "theme" is dis unified is extremely vague and subjective. I want to work with you guys to get this in the forge but I need a more clear sense of what needs to happen.

[Industrial Helix]

Your biggest problem is the clash of the photo and the painting, which is what Andy mentioned and it pretty much echos the sentiments of the rest of us.

The legend is just kind of thrown in there with your signature and the title. In fact, that whole side of the image just doesn't fit. I mentioned before changing the font on the minimap and the Cities bonus area to the same font as the rest of the map. I think this could go a long way to tie in that area with the rest of the map.

Redbaron mentioned the title and how "The golden state of..." doesn't bring anything to the table. It'd be one thing if you did the map in shades of gold, but you didn't.

[Victor Sullivan]

Your biggest problem is the clash of the photo and the painting, which is what Andy mentioned and it pretty much echos the sentiments of the rest of us.

The legend is just kind of thrown in there with your signature and the title. In fact, that whole side of the image just doesn't fit. I mentioned before changing the font on the minimap and the Cities bonus area to the same font as the rest of the map. I think this could go a long way to tie in that area with the rest of the map.

Redbaron mentioned the title and how "The golden state of..." doesn't bring anything to the table. It'd be one thing if you did the map in shades of gold, but you didn't.

The golden sun? Anyways, and I swear I'm not TBK's b*tch, if you know what I mean, but I think the pictures with the watercolor work well, actually, even though, like Andy said, it generally doesn't work. Idk... I'm rather satisfied with this product.

-Sully

[The Bison King]

Your biggest problem is the clash of the photo and the painting, which is what Andy mentioned and it pretty much echos the sentiments of the rest of us.

Lot's of maps use photographs, and that photograph of the sunset has actually got a number of compliments, it was actually a suggestion made by someone on the forums and not my original idea.

The legend is just kind of thrown in there with your signature and the title. In fact, that whole side of the image just doesn't fit. I mentioned before changing the font on the minimap and the Cities bonus area to the same font as the rest of the map. I think this could go a long way to tie in that area with the rest of the map.

Fine I'll change the font.

Redbaron mentioned the title and how "The golden state of..." doesn't bring anything to the table. It'd be one thing if you did the map in shades of gold, but you didn't.

It says "The golden state of" Because California is the Golden state! that doesn't need any justification. Why does India say "Her Majesty Queen Victorias"? Or why does England say "Green and Pleasant land"?

Besides it actually does coincide with the theme:

A.)The Stars are Gold.

B.)The whole map DOES have a gold tint to it especially the Legend

C.)It's supposed to make it look more like a travel "touristy" map which was sort of the whole idea.

[theBastard]

Anyways, and I swear I'm not TBK's b*tch, if you know what I mean,
-Sully

I can also hear The Bison King´s opinion on this

[The Bison King]

I lined up the Photo's like Jeff Jeff mentioned. Here's what it looks like with all legend fonts in Baja (which doesn't have numbers BTW).I think it looks ok on the mini map but I think it looks Really bad on the Insets and City parts of the legend. Maybe it's just me but I really think it's better when not every font has to slap you in the face with how original it is.

Click image to enlarge.

I think this looks way better:

Click image to enlarge.

To me the second one looks completely confident while the top one looks like it's desperately trying to grab your attention.

[Industrial Helix]

Hmm... any thoughts about the legend? What about no minimap and just using colored text?

[The Bison King]

Hmm... any thoughts about the legend? What about no minimap and just using colored text?

I prefer Mini maps when they can fit. They're easier to read at a glance.