this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2025
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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.

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[โ€“] Skua@kbin.earth 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

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

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?