Make a fantasy map

I’ve realised I have a particular workflow for drawing coastlines in my maps. Here’s a quick walkthrough. Each step is done on a new layer in photoshop, and I use a 5px hard round brush in each case with size set to pressure. However, all of these steps can be done in Gimp – or … Continue reading "How to Draw Coastlines on a Fantasy Map"

One of the first things you'll need to do when writing a fantasy novel is make a map of your world. Here are some tips for how to start drawing a map (even if you're not an artist), how your map influences your story, and how to make your map realistic and pretty!

There are many storytelling possibilities for your RPG adventure by including something like a mysterious chasm. Is it a natural feature? Was it created by someone in the ancient past with the power to make fissures in the rock itself? The question is…how do you draw a chasm? In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the process so you can easily add a crack in the earth for your party to explore on your fantasy map.

Mountains are perhaps the most important natural feature you can draw on a map. They impact weather patterns, where rivers flow, and ultimately where cities and nations arise. In this tutorial, I will walk through one of my favorite methods to draw mountains on your fantasy maps for your rpg, or boo

Some questions to ask yourself as you're creating a fictional World. We're talking countries, cities and towns.

Draw Your Own Fantasy Maps: One of my favorite things about playing tabletop RPGs is that it inspires me to create art that fits into that world. Whenever I play a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, I always feel compelled to create a very detailed world map to help me envision th…

If you want an easy way to draw three-dimensional buildings and structures on your fantasy map, then using an isometric perspective is the method for you! The reason this technique is so achievable is that it really comes down to following a grid. As long as you do that, then you can draw all kinds

Today we are going to look at the top free D&D map builders around and let you know what makes each of them unique. Hopefully after this you will have all the tools you need to try making maps for your campaign yourself.

The methods for drawing forests on your fantasy map are seemingly endless, ranging from the simple to the complex. In this tutorial, I will walk you through some easy steps to create an iconic forest, even if you don’t have much confidence in your drawing abilities. It all comes down to some simple

Volcanoes are one of the most dramatic features you could include on your fantasy maps, not only for their destructive power but also for their unique beauty. Adding a volcano to your maps can open up many storytelling possibilities, but how do you go about drawing one?

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There is probably nothing more iconic in cartography than the compass rose. In this tutorial you'll learn everything you need to draw a simple compass on your fantasy maps, and hopefully it will inspire and give you confidence to take it a step further.

Canyons are a striking feature of any landscape and can really be a focal point in the story you're telling. In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw canyons that bring a sense of depth to the landscape and make your fantasy map really stand out.

Learning how to draw banners is an essential part of creating an immersive fantasy map. You can use them to share the name of the region you’re mapping, or for individual cities, locations, and territories. In this tutorial I want to walk you through how to draw a relatively simple banner anyone can draw, that still looks interesting and professional.

It is available online for free with a considerable number of features. Serious fantasy map-makers would be advised to upgrade to the paid option which costs around $5 a month or $25 a year.

Today we are going to look at the top free D&D map builders around and let you know what makes each of them unique. Hopefully after this you will have all the tools you need to try making maps for your campaign yourself.

If you don’t consider yourself an “artist”, then the idea of shading might feel very overwhelming. In this beginner friendly tutorial, I’ll walk you through an extremely simple method for shading your map that I am confident anyone can do; regardless of your perceived artistic abilities. So let’s start mapping!

If you enjoy finding inspiration for your stories from real-world locations, then look no further than the stone pillars of Wulingyuan, China. But the real question is, how do you draw something like that on your fantasy map? In this tutorial, I’ll break down the process so you can add these iconic