Islands

[Ep5i10n]

[](http://www.freemmorpgmaker.com/files/imagehost/#bdba9ef7de2a2475350a8e31322ac717.png)
This one was my first attempt and turned out looking kind of cheesy and flat.

[](http://www.freemmorpgmaker.com/files/imagehost/#84bbcba06ec47f4f8eb8989783155bae.png)
This was my second attempt, it also doesn't look quite as good, i feel that it looks better though…

Any kind of criticism is accepted and i will take you suggestions into consideration :)

[saadhamza]

My question is what you are making these for. Is this for a mini-map type thing on your game? Or just a fun drawing?

[Ep5i10n]

Just a fun drawing for practice type stuff…

[Jeff]

What is it?

[Baron]

An Island like this:


PSD file for the learnings:
http://www.stripedelephants.com/GAMEZ/Island.psd

[Ep5i10n]

@Eckhart:

> What is it?

It is a map view of a few islands

[Urumil]

@Ep5i10n:

> It is a map view of a few islands

It actually looks like someone vomitted. No offence.

[Dark Crusade]

@Gamzee:

> It actually looks like someone vomitted. No offence.

Be a bit more constructive then that. I've never seen someone vomit out something resembling that. Give some pointers or at least specify why it looks bad or what could be improved.

[Urumil]

@Kreator:

> Be a bit more constructive then that. I've never seen someone vomit out something resembling that. Give some pointers or at least specify why it looks bad or what could be improved.

I'm sorry for that. -bows-
I consider that the Fuzziness at the edges of the first one and the whole island on the second one diminish the impression of an actual Island. Second Point: Islands don't show up colors like this. Ever saw a real tree glowing neon-green? Or a beach in a dark blue like that? Nope, I think.
Third point: I would like to give your second "Island" the attribute "fucked up" because it gains the mistakes you've done in your first image. Fuzziness, and wrong colors.
No offence.

[Ep5i10n]

@Gamzee:

> I'm sorry for that. -bows-
> I consider that the Fuzziness at the edges of the first one and the whole island on the second one diminish the impression of an actual Island. Second Point: Islands don't show up colors like this. Ever saw a real tree glowing neon-green? Or a beach in a dark blue like that? Nope, I think.
> Third point: I would like to give your second "Island" the attribute "ducked up" because it gains the mistakes you've done in your first image. Fuzziness, and wrong colors.
> No offence.

okay, i will try better with that

Edit: I tried to make it look more like a desert island, but, it looks like it has an STI now… 

[Urumil]

Looks good this time. But what's with the trees now?
like this?

[Ep5i10n]

@Gamzee:

> Looks good this time. But what's with the trees now?
> 
> like this?

i didnt add any trees

[Urumil]

That is what I was wondering about.

[Jeff]

@Gamzee:

> That is what I was wondering about.

What are you talking about? Use your words now, bud.

[SawQuart]

@Ep5i10n:

> I tried to make it look more like a desert island, but, it looks like it has an STI now… 

lul, it looks like Australia. That's much better than the previous tries. Try toning down the colors just a bit because it looks like the saturation is up too high. Also, the lighter colors in the ocean should be closer to shore so it looks like deep and shallow water.

[Ep5i10n]

@Jungle:

> lul, it looks like Australia. That's much better than the previous tries. Try toning down the colors just a bit because it looks like the saturation is up too high. Also, the lighter colors in the ocean should be closer to shore so it looks like deep and shallow water.

thanks, ill try that

Edit:
I tried what you said.

[Urumil]

@Ep5i10n:

> okay, i will try better with that
>
> Edit: I tried to make it look more like a desert island, but, it looks like it has an STI now… 

this looked better. your last ones colors have too much of neon.

[SawQuart]

@Ep5i10n:

> thanks, ill try that
>
> Edit:
> I tried what you said.
> 

Eh, that just looks pillow shaded now.

Look at this real life map of India:

[Ep5i10n]

@Jungle:

> Eh, that just looks pillow shaded now.

 here, I removed most of the gradual shading that i put in

[Medleyy]

It doesn't really look like anything. It just looks like a shoddy, splattered gradient. Try defining it with texture rather than different coloured blobs.

[SawQuart]

@Aeri:

> It doesn't really look like anything. It just looks like a shoddy, splattered gradient. Try defining it with texture rather than different coloured blobs.

To add onto this, try adding some white water away from the island to give the impression of sandbanks. The point of my previous posts wasn't to limit the light water to right around the island, but rather make it more organized and less splattered.

Also try to make the island a different shape other than a rounded square. No islands look like that in reality.

[Ep5i10n]

@Aeri:

> It doesn't really look like anything. It just looks like a shoddy, splattered gradient. Try defining it with texture rather than different coloured blobs.

so, like a height map?

[Medleyy]

Put leaves in the trees and grass blades. It's just like you took a brush, clicked, changed the size and colour and repeated. Too simplistic to resemble a map.

[Baron]


Add some details!

[Medleyy]

Exactly. Water should have ripples and trees leaves. Make the sand grainy. Try adding gradient-lines in and a compass, then print it on aged paper. That would look awesome.