Learn how to transform a simple black circle into a detailed, realistic fantasy continent. This comprehensive tutorial guides you through creating a rough heightmap in Photoshop or GIMP, from shaping your initial landmass to sculpting mountain ranges. A perfect starting point for bringing your world to life in Gaea or Wilbur
Welcome, fellow Kartographers! Are you ready to create stunning, realistic fantasy maps? In our first tutorial, we’ll transform real-world mountain ranges into custom brushes for GIMP or Photoshop, laying the groundwork for breathtaking landscapes in Gaea. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting, this process will help you craft organic-looking heightmaps that serve as the foundation for your fantasy worlds. Plus, if you want to jump straight into map making, check out Joshua Goff Visual’s incredible brush pack and tutorial. Let’s embark on this creative journey together and unlock the magic of map-making!
Before diving into the details, I want to give a high level overview of the process. This helps to understand why we do each step. Step 1: Plan your project Before embarking on your map-making journey, you have a few things to consider: What style of map do you want? Maximal realism, or a more exaggerated