#map-making — Public Fediverse posts

Carto is an Inkscape extension designed to simplify the creation of maps, sketches, and vector diagrams, incorporating graphic scales, color palettes, and geometric symbols #mapmaking

https://carto-geo.fr/logiciels/extension-carto

Carto is an Inkscape extension designed to simplify the creation of maps, sketches, and vector diagrams, incorporating graphic scales, color palettes, and geometric symbols #mapmaking

https://carto-geo.fr/logiciels/extension-carto

All right, I’ll be listening to this podcast for sure tomorrow! How to tame your Dragon was one of the very first movies, if not the first movie my ex and I watched together.

http://oculi-mundi.com/cressida-cowell

Side note: holy crap does this podcast have the worst website ever? I mean this thing is a lesson in how not to do a website.

#TTRPG #Podcast #HowToTameYourDragon #Dragons #MapMaking #Maps

All right, I’ll be listening to this podcast for sure tomorrow! How to tame your Dragon was one of the very first movies, if not the first movie my ex and I watched together.

http://oculi-mundi.com/cressida-cowell

Side note: holy crap does this podcast have the worst website ever? I mean this thing is a lesson in how not to do a website.

#TTRPG #Podcast #HowToTameYourDragon #Dragons #MapMaking #Maps

Mercator Settlement: A Free 16th Century Settlement Brush Set for Fantasy Maps

Buckle up mapmakers, it’s history time! Between 1567 and 1570, surveyor Robert Lythe worked in Ireland on behalf of the British government to assess how best to garrison and colonize their latest conquest. Much of that work was never widely distributed in his time; but those surveys would later go on to influence a great many cartographers, including the Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator.

Mercator is famous for a great many things, particularly his globes, but also his maps and atlases. He’s also the guy who invented the now infamous Mercator projection. Handy for shipping when created, it has since become derided for its distortion despite its widespread adoption. But that could be an article of its own, and there’s plenty of people who have written those already, and we got fantasy maps to make.

Today’s set comes from Mercator’s famous 1595 Atlas. It was published posthumously by his son Rumold not too long after his death. From there, the copper plates were acquired by Jodocus Hondius, who further reprinted Mercator’s maps, further popularizing the man. The source for this latest brush set is one of those early Hondius reprints, and is the first in my Mercator Collection. It’s time to meet Mercator Settlement.

All my Map Tools will always be free. Want to help support this work?
Click here to learn how.

So how doesn’t Lythe come into play here? Well, there’s an odd little map is tucked away inside that 1595 Atlas, and later reprinted “with privilege,” as Hondius liked to say. It’s a map of Carlow County, Ireland (at the time called Catherlagh Baronia), detailing the hills, trees, gallows, and villages along the River Barrow. Lythe’s survey’s most likely influenced its creation, as his work would have been accessible by Mercator.

As best I can tell, Mercator didn’t create maps of any of the other counties in Ireland, so I’m not sure why Carlow was specifically chosen. (Maybe a commission?) He tended to focus his work on larger-scale projects, mapping whole countries or continents, and not on intimate regional maps. So it’s an odd inclusion and stands out among his other published works. But the signs and symbols are perfect for fantasy maps.

I was immediately drawn to Mercator’s approach to the towns and villages. I’ve always liked it when cartographers from the 16th and 17th centuries drew detailed depictions of settlements rather than just round dots or repeating the same symbol over and over. That tends to works rather well for fantasy maps. But there’s more here than just his drawing of habitation. While I am officially classifying this as a settlement set, it’s robust enough to go beyond that. There are lush forests, hilly mountains, and even a rare earthwork structure that once served as the border between Carlow and Kilkenny. (Fun little fact: this is the first time I have been able to source every object from the original manuscript.)

Because I was able to extract so much from the original manuscript, Mercator Settlement has over 230 brushes, including:

• 12 Small Towns
• 88 Towns
• 15 Large Towns
• 2 Cities
• 17 Unique Settlements
• 15 Individual Trees

• 13 Small Forests
• 18 Forests
• 33 Single Hills
• 21 Multiple Hills
• 2 Unique Hills
• 2 Map Component Cartouches

The button below links to a ZIP file that contains a 2.3 MB Photoshop ABR brush set (it’ll also work with GIMP, Affinity Photo, and I’m told Procreate now). I also release the set as a pack of individual PNGs organized by folder, similar to how I organize the ABR file. This should make using these with tools like Wonderdraft much easier. No more extracting symbols from an enormous PNG.

Like this set? Click here to learn how you can support this project.

Download the Mercator Settlement PNG Pack
(4.2 MB)

As with all of my previous brush sets, Mercator Settlement is free for any use. I distribute my sets with a Creative Commons, No Rights Reserved License (CC0), which means you can freely use this and any of my brushes in personal or commercial work and distribute adaptations. No attribution is required. Easy peasy!

Enjoy Mercator Settlement? Feel free to show me what you created by emailing me. I love seeing how these brushes get used, and I’d be happy to share your work with my readers. Let me see what you make!

Mercator Settlement in Use

Want to see how I’ve used this set? There are three versions: a colored example, a black-and-white rendition, and a decorated sample. Click on any of the images below to view them larger. Perhaps this will inspire you as you get started on your projects!

Sample Details: I hand-drew the landmasses in Photoshop using True Grit Texture Supply’s Monomania. The font is Thanatos Variable from Herzberg Design, which can be licensed from them or via Adobe Fonts. The water texture is from a currently unreleased set based on Mercator’s work. It’s still in development but I’ll release it when I feel like it’s right. Still a bit finicky now. All the names are surnames that come from famous biologists. The paper texture is from True Grit’s Infinite Pulp. True Grit is also where I got Atomica, which gives me ink-like effects for the text and colors, and I used their recent release Aqua Studio to get the watercolor effect. I didn’t mean this to be a True Grit ad at this point, but what can I say, I’m a fan and I like their stuff!

Support this Work

Brushes and tools released through the #NoBadMaps project will always be free and released under a public domain CC0 license. If you’d like to support the project and help me cover the cost of hosting, research, and tool-set development, I’ve put together three ways you can help, and all are detailed below.

Buy My Books→

I’m not just a map enthusiast. I’m also a novelist! The easiest way to support me (and get something in return) is by purchasing one of my cosmic horror urban fantasy novels.

❦

Buy Me a Coffee→

A simple and quick way to support the #NoBadMaps project is through a one-time donation of any amount via ko-fi. Your support helps keep this project going and is appreciated.

❦

Join my Patreon→

If you want to continually support the #NoBadMaps project through a reoccurring monthly contribution, consider joining my Patreon and get sneak peeks into what’s coming.

❦

More Map Brushes

This is just one of many brush sets and map tools I’ve released. You can find it and other free brushes covering a wide variety of historical styles on my Fantasy Map Brushes page. Every set is free, distributed under a CC0 license, and open for personal or commercial use. I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that works for your project. Click the button below to check them out!

Want to stay in touch with me? Sign up for Dead Drop, my rare and elusive newsletter. Subscribers get news, previews, and notices on my books before anyone else delivered directly to their inbox. I work hard to ensure it’s not spammy and contains interesting and relevant information. Sign Up Today →

Mercator Settlement: A Free 16th Century Settlement Brush Set for Fantasy Maps

Buckle up mapmakers, it’s history time! Between 1567 and 1570, surveyor Robert Lythe worked in Ireland on behalf of the British government to assess how best to garrison and colonize their latest conquest. Much of that work was never widely distributed in his time; but those surveys would later go on to influence a great many cartographers, including the Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator.

Mercator is famous for a great many things, particularly his globes, but also his maps and atlases. He’s also the guy who invented the now infamous Mercator projection. Handy for shipping when created, it has since become derided for its distortion despite its widespread adoption. But that could be an article of its own, and there’s plenty of people who have written those already, and we got fantasy maps to make.

Today’s set comes from Mercator’s famous 1595 Atlas. It was published posthumously by his son Rumold not too long after his death. From there, the copper plates were acquired by Jodocus Hondius, who further reprinted Mercator’s maps, further popularizing the man. The source for this latest brush set is one of those early Hondius reprints, and is the first in my Mercator Collection. It’s time to meet Mercator Settlement.

All my Map Tools will always be free. Want to help support this work?
Click here to learn how.

So how doesn’t Lythe come into play here? Well, there’s an odd little map is tucked away inside that 1595 Atlas, and later reprinted “with privilege,” as Hondius liked to say. It’s a map of Carlow County, Ireland (at the time called Catherlagh Baronia), detailing the hills, trees, gallows, and villages along the River Barrow. Lythe’s survey’s most likely influenced its creation, as his work would have been accessible by Mercator.

As best I can tell, Mercator didn’t create maps of any of the other counties in Ireland, so I’m not sure why Carlow was specifically chosen. (Maybe a commission?) He tended to focus his work on larger-scale projects, mapping whole countries or continents, and not on intimate regional maps. So it’s an odd inclusion and stands out among his other published works. But the signs and symbols are perfect for fantasy maps.

I was immediately drawn to Mercator’s approach to the towns and villages. I’ve always liked it when cartographers from the 16th and 17th centuries drew detailed depictions of settlements rather than just round dots or repeating the same symbol over and over. That tends to works rather well for fantasy maps. But there’s more here than just his drawing of habitation. While I am officially classifying this as a settlement set, it’s robust enough to go beyond that. There are lush forests, hilly mountains, and even a rare earthwork structure that once served as the border between Carlow and Kilkenny. (Fun little fact: this is the first time I have been able to source every object from the original manuscript.)

Because I was able to extract so much from the original manuscript, Mercator Settlement has over 230 brushes, including:

• 12 Small Towns
• 88 Towns
• 15 Large Towns
• 2 Cities
• 17 Unique Settlements
• 15 Individual Trees

• 13 Small Forests
• 18 Forests
• 33 Single Hills
• 21 Multiple Hills
• 2 Unique Hills
• 2 Map Component Cartouches

The button below links to a ZIP file that contains a 2.3 MB Photoshop ABR brush set (it’ll also work with GIMP, Affinity Photo, and I’m told Procreate now). I also release the set as a pack of individual PNGs organized by folder, similar to how I organize the ABR file. This should make using these with tools like Wonderdraft much easier. No more extracting symbols from an enormous PNG.

Like this set? Click here to learn how you can support this project.

Download the Mercator Settlement PNG Pack
(4.2 MB)

As with all of my previous brush sets, Mercator Settlement is free for any use. I distribute my sets with a Creative Commons, No Rights Reserved License (CC0), which means you can freely use this and any of my brushes in personal or commercial work and distribute adaptations. No attribution is required. Easy peasy!

Enjoy Mercator Settlement? Feel free to show me what you created by emailing me. I love seeing how these brushes get used, and I’d be happy to share your work with my readers. Let me see what you make!

Mercator Settlement in Use

Want to see how I’ve used this set? There are three versions: a colored example, a black-and-white rendition, and a decorated sample. Click on any of the images below to view them larger. Perhaps this will inspire you as you get started on your projects!

Sample Details: I hand-drew the landmasses in Photoshop using True Grit Texture Supply’s Monomania. The font is Thanatos Variable from Herzberg Design, which can be licensed from them or via Adobe Fonts. The water texture is from a currently unreleased set based on Mercator’s work. It’s still in development but I’ll release it when I feel like it’s right. Still a bit finicky now. All the names are surnames that come from famous biologists. The paper texture is from True Grit’s Infinite Pulp. True Grit is also where I got Atomica, which gives me ink-like effects for the text and colors, and I used their recent release Aqua Studio to get the watercolor effect. I didn’t mean this to be a True Grit ad at this point, but what can I say, I’m a fan and I like their stuff!

Support this Work

Brushes and tools released through the #NoBadMaps project will always be free and released under a public domain CC0 license. If you’d like to support the project and help me cover the cost of hosting, research, and tool-set development, I’ve put together three ways you can help, and all are detailed below.

Buy My Books→

I’m not just a map enthusiast. I’m also a novelist! The easiest way to support me (and get something in return) is by purchasing one of my cosmic horror urban fantasy novels.

❦

Buy Me a Coffee→

A simple and quick way to support the #NoBadMaps project is through a one-time donation of any amount via ko-fi. Your support helps keep this project going and is appreciated.

❦

Join my Patreon→

If you want to continually support the #NoBadMaps project through a reoccurring monthly contribution, consider joining my Patreon and get sneak peeks into what’s coming.

❦

More Map Brushes

This is just one of many brush sets and map tools I’ve released. You can find it and other free brushes covering a wide variety of historical styles on my Fantasy Map Brushes page. Every set is free, distributed under a CC0 license, and open for personal or commercial use. I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that works for your project. Click the button below to check them out!

Want to stay in touch with me? Sign up for Dead Drop, my rare and elusive newsletter. Subscribers get news, previews, and notices on my books before anyone else delivered directly to their inbox. I work hard to ensure it’s not spammy and contains interesting and relevant information. Sign Up Today →

Heyo, ich wollte nochmal ein Artikel vom Kritischer Fehlschlag Blog teilen. Hier wird darauf eingegangen wie QGIS, eine Geoinformationssystemsoftware, genutzt wird, für die eigene Rollenspielrunde:

https://kritischerfehlschlag.de/2026/06/17/qgis-und-wie-man-damit-rollenspiel-machen-kann/

Finde ich total wild zu sehen, welche Programme genutzt werden können für Rollenspiel, obwohl diese dafür nicht gedacht sind.

#qgis #kritischerfehlschlag #pnpde #mapmaking

Heyo, ich wollte nochmal ein Artikel vom Kritischer Fehlschlag Blog teilen. Hier wird darauf eingegangen wie QGIS, eine Geoinformationssystemsoftware, genutzt wird, für die eigene Rollenspielrunde:

https://kritischerfehlschlag.de/2026/06/17/qgis-und-wie-man-damit-rollenspiel-machen-kann/

Finde ich total wild zu sehen, welche Programme genutzt werden können für Rollenspiel, obwohl diese dafür nicht gedacht sind.

#qgis #kritischerfehlschlag #pnpde #mapmaking

Milby’s Maps is one of the billionty creators I follow on #Patreon who I’d shower with money if I had it to spare.

Matt’s stunning current project is to produce #TTRPG- and #VTT-ready #maps of the #Vatican, and, in his latest update on the #catacombs below St Peter’s Basilica, relates a great tale about the perils of amateur #archaeology during the search for St Peter’s bones: https://www.patreon.com/posts/158946697?utm_campaign=postshare_fan

#archeology #history #mapmaking

Milby’s Maps is one of the billionty creators I follow on #Patreon who I’d shower with money if I had it to spare.

Matt’s stunning current project is to produce #TTRPG- and #VTT-ready #maps of the #Vatican, and, in his latest update on the #catacombs below St Peter’s Basilica, relates a great tale about the perils of amateur #archaeology during the search for St Peter’s bones: https://www.patreon.com/posts/158946697?utm_campaign=postshare_fan

#archeology #history #mapmaking

I'm using inkarnate to make my maps, but as I did a bit of drawing last year and right now want to use a style which has a bit of an #OSR flair, am experimenting with lines and shading to model terrain. Also, want to move more to bw maps (due to printing cost and - again - OSR flair).
WDYT?
#ttrpg #mapmaking

I'm using inkarnate to make my maps, but as I did a bit of drawing last year and right now want to use a style which has a bit of an #OSR flair, am experimenting with lines and shading to model terrain. Also, want to move more to bw maps (due to printing cost and - again - OSR flair).
WDYT?
#ttrpg #mapmaking

Ehnaiton Megabattlemap Project Update 6: Most of the city houses finished, and important places numbered (we are at number 98 🙃). Now to the outskirts.

#ttrpg #rpg #maps #sakerpg #mapmaking

Ehnaiton Megabattlemap Project Update 6: Most of the city houses finished, and important places numbered (we are at number 98 🙃). Now to the outskirts.

#ttrpg #rpg #maps #sakerpg #mapmaking

In preparation for creating the print-on-demand version of the ANDERS Core Rules book, I used the opportunity to improve the map for the Kingdom of Aroath a little bit.

Do you like the smoother design?

#AndersRPG #TTRPG #RPG #ttrpgDesign #mapmaking #mapdesign

My 1st attempt creating an island / landmass with high cliffsides, well above the waterline.

I'm reasonably happy with it, but I'm not certain the visual reads as it's supposed to. More details would help, but I want this minimal to start, before adding extra elements emphasizing land vs water.

Also: I'm enjoying the Pigma Micron pens I've just started using. I've never been fully comfortable with pencils, but I'd also never used a quality pen before either.

#drawing #mapmaking

Me alongside my wild western map and compendium guide pages. (Available for sale and/or display)

#art #artist #artistic #painting #watercolorpainting #watercolor #western #map #mapmaking #rdr #rdr2 #fanart #videogamefanart #ilovrmyhorseyandmyhorseyloveme

A cartographer's attempt to realistically map Tolkien's world

https://www.intofarlands.com/atlasofarda

#HackerNews #cartography #Tolkien #MiddleEarth #mapmaking #fantasyart #worldbuilding

Une #map finie il y a peu pour la nouvelle saga de Victor Dixen.

Bienvenue à Eversand !

A new map drawn for Victor Dixen's new saga.

Welcome to Eversand !

#mapmaking #mapmaker #novelmap

@pipapogames just put out the demo for Map Map, a Game About Maps & I'm in love.

It's the mapmaking game I've always yearned for! Step counting, landmarks, penciling on notes, complex geography. No joke I think I might cry this is so cool 😭. Stopped on island 5 to wait for launch.

If exploring islands and finding treasures using your own orienteering skills sounds fun you NEED to try this.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2702260/Map_Map__A_Game_About_Maps/

#mapmaking #TTRPG #cartography

Women Have Been Mapping The World For Centuries – And Now They’re Speaking Up For The People Left Out Of Those Maps
--
https://theconversation.com/women-have-been-mapping-the-world-for-centuries-and-now-theyre-speaking-up-for-the-people-left-out-of-those-maps-272757 <-- shared technical article
--
e.g., https://www.xyht.com/gnsslocation-tech/dr-gladys-west/ <-- shared @xyHt 2019 article on Ms. #GladysWest’s background, career and marked contributions
--
#GIS #spatial #mapping #spatialdata #contributions #cartography #mapmaking #history #woman #education #employment #recognition
@WomenInGeospatial #WomenInGeoscience

Geography buff or roleplay addict? This video will serve both (and more!) Join us as we dive into creating our own maps with this powerful and easy to use online tool!
https://youtu.be/EuslsObKcOg?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fedica-videos-NL
#mapmaking #begrepen #creative #roleplay #storytelling #geography

Guess who finally finished the map for our upcoming homebrew campaign.....except for ya know digital cleaning and coloring 😭

.......may the GM never need something this elaborate again
#ttrpg #dnd #homebrew #worldbuilding #mapmaking

Design Principles Of Kashida Justification - A Unique Technique In Arabic And Persian Mapping [overview / tutorial]
--
https://doi.org/10.14714/CP107.2055 <-- shared paper
--
#GIS #spatial #mapping #mapmaking #traditions #calligraphy #arabic #persian #cartography #labels #tutorial #learning #software #kashidas #history #presentation #justification

Is It Time To Redraw Our Maps? / ‘Free The Map’
(From migration to ecology, new knowledge makes new cartographic demands)
--
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/dec/14/is-it-time-to-redraw-our-maps <-- shared media article
--
https://doi.org/10.1080/17450101.2019.1676031 <--shared paper
--
https://freethemap.org/ <-- shared ‘Free The Map’ page, where “Prof. Henk van Houtum makes a compelling case for a new cartography…”
--
[this post should not be considered an endorsement of any particular viewpoint or book/product]
#cartography #cartopolitics #geography #visualisation #humanimpacts #mapping #mapmaking #GIS #spatial #interpretation #history #borders #internationalborders #jigsawpuzzlemaps #neutrality #objectivity #mappingrevolution #uncertainty #subjectivity #multiplicity

Continuing with Procedural City Generator, the best cyberpunk-themed map options are:

* AppleDark (inspired by Apple Maps, the main streets are orange, side streets are gray, city blocks are dark grey, water is dark blue)

* Assassin (inspired by Assassin’s Creed IV, main streets are thick white lines, side streets are thin white lines, and water is black).

#TTRPG #Cartography #MapMaking #Cyberpunk

The Procedural City Generator creates 2D and 3D city maps. The 3D maps are exportable to Blender. Map styles include Google Maps, Apple Maps, and hand-drawn.

Check it out at:
https://probabletrain.itch.io/city-generator

#TTRPG #Cartography #MapMaking

David and I have talked about this before, but it's funny how - in real-world games - I always sketch out my battle maps. I rarely use canned ones, or maps I created in Inkarnate.

But online? I feel ... obligated? compelled? ... to have nicer battle maps. #GMing #MapMaking #RPGProps

Since my Outlaws of the North map is based on the PNW, I keep renaming cities vaguely inspired by the actual location.

So I have this little fishing village where Aberdeen is. The small town in WA, not its more famous Scottish cousin.

It is where Kurt Cobain was from, so I’m tempted to just call it Nirvana. Is that too obvious? Anyone think of something related but cleverly obscure to use instead?

#TTRPG #HexCrawl #NSR #Cartography #GMPrep #MapMaking #Nirvana #Aberdeen #KurtCobain #PNW