AscensionAtlasStyle Revised 120817
AscensionAtlasStyle Revised 120817
AscensionAtlasStyle Revised 120817
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter I: Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Chapter II: Tutorial and Photoshop Notes ................................................................................................................................... 4 Part 1: Document Layout ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Part 2: General Tips ................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Part 3: The Layer Style Dialog Box ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Part 4: The Lighting Effects Workspace (CS6) .......................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter III: Creating The Physical Terrain ................................................................................................................................... 9 Part 1: Create an Overall Map Shape....................................................................................................................................... 9 Part 2: The Ocean .................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Part 3: Terrain ........................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Part 4: Overall Color............................................................................................................................................................... 16 Part 5: Climate Zones - Deserts, Tundra, and More............................................................................................................... 21 Part 6: Tweak the Shelving .................................................................................................................................................... 23 Part 7: Add Rivers .................................................................................................................................................................. 24 Chapter IV: Adding Map Features.............................................................................................................................................. 26 Part 1: Longitude and Latitude Grid....................................................................................................................................... 26 Part 2: Countries .................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Chapter V: And the Rest .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Appendix: Special Notes for CS 5.1 ............................................................................................................................................ 33 Part 4: The Lighting Effects Dialog Box (CS 5.1) ..................................................................................................................... 34
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
Note: This tutorial was written for Photoshop CS 6, with notes for CS5.1. It has been tested and is known to work only with those versions of Photoshop. Where elements are drastically different between CS6 and CS5.1, I explain it both ways. You can follow a video tutorial using this document. The video series is here: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL44EEB5472CD8BE93 Its tempting to skip the instructions (Chapter II). Unless youre very proficient with Photoshop, dont. Youll just waste a lot of time. At least read Chapter II, Part 1. It explains the document layout and color coding of terms. This tutorial is an alternate presentation of Ascensions Atlas Style mapping tutorial (used with permission) with a few revisions (http://www.cartographersguild.com/content.php?116-Ascensions-atlas-style-in-Photoshop). The main goal of this document is to speed the process by including as many shortcuts as possible (especially for repeated use). It was also intended to clarify some steps. Many steps are different from Ascensions tutorial; there are several more layers, and the document organization is different. However, the end results of most steps are almost always identical. The differences in the final style are two additional mountain layers (which can be deleted) and a slightly different method of adjusting the climate gradient. Other changes were made more from a process perspective than a style perspective. I welcome feedback and suggestions on how to both improve the clarity of this document and improve the tutorial. I hope Ive kept the original work as in-tact as possible while presenting it in a way thats accessible to even first time Photoshop users. Hopefully, even a seasoned Photoshop user will learn some new techniques. I learned a lot from doing Ascensions tutorial, and I learned a lot from creating this revised version. Thanks for checking it out. Good luck and happy mapping! - Kindari @ www.cartographersguild.com
Step - the main instruction (layer Layer Name) - indicates which layer should be selected while completing this step. --- Quick Tip lists a related keyboard shortcut, Photoshop panel, dialog box, menu item, or mouse command.
Sub-steps provide details and settings related to their parent Step / Sub-step. Apply any Sub-step settings for a Step / Substep before moving on to the next Step / Sub-step. E.g. Apply 1-a-i to finalize 1-a before going to 1-b.
COLORS:
CS 5.1 vs CS6 specific notes are listed in bold italic purple. Keyboard Shortcuts are listed in Bold Italic Red: - + indicates to press keys together - e.g. Ctrl + D - -> indicates a sequence - e.g. Alt -> S -> D Dialog boxes are listed in Bold Italic Dark Orange; Sections, and Attributes in Bold Italic Orange; and buttons in [Brackets]. - Dialog Box -> Section -> Sub-section -> Attribute: value - Dialog Box -> Section -> [Button] Panels and the main canvas are listed in Bold Italic Green with Sections and Settings in Bold Italic Olive Green - Panel -> Section -> Setting: value Menu -> submenu items are listed in Bold Italic Blue - Menu -> Sub-menu -> Sub-menu Specific mouse commands are listed in bold. - Click click the left mouse button once - Double click click the left mouse button twice - Right click click the right mouse button once - Drag hold the left mouse button and move the mouse, dragging whatever was clicked on to another location - Draw similar to drag, usually used only on the Image Canvas hold the left mouse button down and move the mouse, thereby causing the selected tool to draw its intended effect on the Image Canvas. - Modifier + mouse command - hold the listed modifier key(s) while completing the mouse command.
SAVE OFTEN
Save about every 20 steps. Its a good practice in any kind of file creation. - Ctrl + S Save - Ctrl + Alt + S Save as copy
STEP BY STEP
Follow the guide step by step verbatim your first time through. And keep it simple. By the end, youll better understand how an early step affects a later one. Youll also be more comfortable with shortcuts.
MAKE PRESETS
Create presets when a step offers one. It saves a lot of time and makes repeated use of the tutorials faster.
KEEP TIDY
Adding layer style effects can quickly clutter the Layers panel. Keep the Layers panel organized by collapsing these when not needed. You can always expand them again later. - Collapse / Expand layer effects - click the small triangle at the far right of a layer (just right of the fx icon) - Collapse / Expand group - click the triangle just to the left of the group folder icon
CENTER AREA
This area lists the settings for the currently selected section in the Left Column Area.
CONTROL PANEL
In the Control panel, you can load and save presets, add lights and click [OK] or [Cancel] to finalize or cancel the lighting effect and return to your image.
16.
17. 18.
e. Tip: X swaps background and foreground colors. f. Stop whenever youre happy with your overall land / water layout. Select layer Layer 1 --- Layers panel -> click layer thumbnail or name area Merge Down layer Layer 1 into layer Shape Land --- Ctrl + E Double Check: Default Colors: --- D Select Color Range (layer Shape Land) --- Alt -> S -> C a. Select: Sampled Colors b. Localized Color Clusters: Unchecked c. Fuzziness: 1 Delete Selected -> delete selected again (layer Shape Land) --- Delete -> Delete a. Note: This may seem odd, but the first Delete actually leaves a tiny bit of transparent pixel data. The second one finishes the job. In CS6, this seems to be resolved. Deselect --- Ctrl + D Before finalizing the land shape, either leave the edges as is (18-a) or smooth them (18-b). Do either part 18-a or 18-b of this Step but not both.
a. b.
Continue with no land shape edge smoothing: i. Rename layer Shape Land to Base --- Layers panel -> double click layer name Smooth the land shape edges: i. Create a new layer and name it Base (layer Shape Land) --- Ctrl + Shift + N ii. Hide layer Shape Land --- Layers panel -> click eye icon left of layer thumbnail iii. Create a selection from layer Shape Land --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer thumbnail iv. Smooth Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> S 1. Sample Radius: 1 v. Double Check: Default Colors --- D vi. Fill with Background Color (White) --- Ctrl + Backspace vii. Deselect --- Ctrl + D viii. Optional: Try a different amount of smoothing. 1. Step Backward 3 times --- Ctrl + Alt + Z 3 times to Step 18-b-iii completed. 2. Repeat Sub-steps 18-b-iv to 18-b-vii using a different Sample Radius for 18-b-iv-1. ix. Select layer Shape Land --- Layers panel x. Delete layer (layer Shape Land) --- Delete
25. Lighting Effects filter (layer Ocean) --- Filter -> Render -> Lighting Effects Click here for Step 25 for CS5.1 a. Note: This lighting effect uses five lights with identical size and settings. Only their positions differ. b. Adjust the settings and size for the first light (the one in the center position). Then, in Step 25-n, you will duplicate that light to setup the other four lights. c. Properties panel -> Type Dropdown box: Point d. Properties panel -> Intensity: 6 e. Properties panel -> Hotspot: (not applicable) f. Properties panel -> Exposure: 0 g. Properties panel -> Gloss: -100 h. Properties panel -> Metallic: 100 i. Properties panel -> Ambience: 8 j. Properties panel -> Texture Channel: Red k. Properties panel -> Height: 10 l. Lights panel-> Visible: visible --- this is the eye icon, just like layer visibility in the Layers Panel m. Image Canvas -> Position and Size: see pictures below n. After the first light is configured and sized move it to one of the corner positions (Figure 2, below). Add three more lights and position them in the other corners. Check their settings and size some may need to be reset for each light. Finally, add a fifth light for the center position (Figure 1). Remember: all five lights should use the same settings and size. Only their positions differ. See Chapter II: Part 4 on Lighting Effects if youre stuck. o. Control panel -> Presets: Save i. Save -> File Name: Atlas Hills.ple --- save a lighting effects preset for future use p. Click [OK] in the Control panel to apply the effect.
Duplicate layer and name it Ocean Adjust (layer Ocean) --- Ctrl + Alt + J Clear layer styles (layer Ocean Adjust) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> A Set layer Blending Mode to Overlay and Opacity to 25% (layer Ocean Adjust) --- Layers panel Duplicate layer and name it Shelf (layer Ocean Adjust) --- Ctrl + Alt + J Clear layer styles (layer Shelf) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> A
31. Create a new layer with default settings. (layer Shelf) --- Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N 32. Create a selection from layer Base --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer thumbnail 33. Expand Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> E a. Expand By: 20 34. Feather Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> F a. Feather Radius: 20 35. Select Inverse --- Ctrl + Shift + I 36. Fill with Foreground Color (Black) (layer Layer 1) --- Alt + Backspace 37. Deselect -> Merge Down (layer Layer 1) --- Ctrl + D -> Ctrl + E 38. Select Color Range (layer Shelf) --- Alt -> S -> C a. Select: Sampled Colors b. Fuzziness: 150 39. Delete Selected -> Deselect (layer Shelf) --- Delete -> Ctrl + D 40. Set layer Fill to 0% (layer Shelf) --- Layers panel 41. Add a Color Overlay layer style (layer Shelf) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> V a. Blend Mode: Overlay b. Color: White: #FFFFFF (RGB 255, 255, 255) c. Opacity: 25% 42. Add a Bevel and Emboss layer style (layer Shelf) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> B a. Style: Outer Bevel b. Technique: Chisel Soft c. Depth: 20% d. Size: 32 e. Angle: -30 f. Highlight Mode: Linear Dodge (Add) g. (Highlight) Opacity: 33% h. Shadow Mode: Linear Burn i. (Shadow) Opacity: 33% 43. Add a Contour layer style (layer Shelf) --- Layer Style -> Contour a. Tip: Layers panel -> double click the layer thumbnail or name area to open the Layer Style dialog box. See Chapter II, Part 3 for more information. b. Note: This is NOT Layer Style -> Bevel and Emboss -> Gloss Contour, found in the options screen for Bevel and Emboss. Contour is its own sub-section in the Left Column Area of the Layer Style dialog box (see picture) and has its own options screen like other layer styles. Contour: Contour Editor (Custom) --- click the contour shape thumbnail i. click the diagonal line on the grid to add points ii. Point 1 Input: 25 iii. Point 1: Output 2 iv. Point 2 Input: 95 v. Point 2 Output: 85 vi. click [New] -> Name: Atlas Shelf --- save a contour preset for future use
c.
d.
Ascensions notes on Contour vs. Contour Gloss: Gloss contour affects how the highlight and shadow colors interact with underlying colors so that high points on the gloss contour are hit with the highlight color and low points on the gloss contour are hit with the shadow color. Bevel contour is what the actual bevel profile looks like (sort of like using a router on a piece of wood). This is the side profile of what the bevel looks like and this diagonal line [the default setting] is ideal for doing a carved stone look ala Roman chiseled text on a statue or faade. It is not, however, ideal for our continental shelf so we have to modify it [see settings above]. What we want is something that curves up to the right rather than going straight. That slope looks pretty steep, but that is why we set the depth of the bevel (in the previous step) at 20%. Think of it as someone stepping on the slope and squashing it flat. You could set the depth at something higher but that only increases the darkness of the shadow and brightness of the highlight and it doesnt transition smoothly. If we were to use the soften option on the chisel soft bevel (in the previous step), that only blurs everything and we want it sharp so by defining a contour and then lowering the depth we keep the ridges crisp but it also transitions smoothly from seafloor to shelf.
44. Select layers Shelf, Ocean Adjust, and Ocean --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer name area of each layer to add it to your selected layers. Dont click the layer thumbnail. That will create a Selection. 45. Group Layers --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + G 46. Rename group Group 1 to Ocean Group --- Layers panel > double click group name
PART 3: TERRAIN
Now that the ocean is setup, lets add some terrain on our land. In this section, well create the mountains and hills. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. Unhide and select layer Land --- Layers panel Duplicate layer and name it Hills (layer Land) --- Ctrl + Alt + J Difference Clouds filter (layer Hills) --- Filter -> Render -> Difference Clouds Repeat Last Filter (Difference Clouds) (layer Hills) --- Ctrl + F Duplicate the layer and name it Mountains (layer Hills) --- Ctrl + Alt + J Hide layer Mountains and select layer Hills --- Layers panel Add Noise filter (layer Hills) --- Filter -> Noise -> Add Noise a. Amount: 5% b. Distribution: Gaussian c. Monochromatic: checked 54. Unhide and select layer Mountains --- Layers panel 55. Lighting Effects filter with these settings (layer Mountains) --- Filter -> Render -> Lighting Effects Click Here for Step 55 for CS5.1 a. Control panel -> Presets: Default i. This puts you back to the default single light setup b. Tip: If you get stuck, see Chapter II, Part 4 for more information. c. Properties panel -> Type dropdown box: Spot d. Properties panel -> Intensity: 28 e. Properties panel -> Hotspot: 100 f. Properties panel -> Exposure: 0 g. Properties panel -> Gloss: -100 h. Properties panel -> Metallic: 100 i. Properties panel -> Ambience: 8 j. Properties panel -> Texture Channel: Red k. Properties panel -> Height: 8 l. Lights panel-> Visible: visible m. Image Canvas -> Position and Size: see picture n. Control panel -> Presets: Save i. Save -> File Name: Atlas Mountains.ple --- save a lighting effects preset for future use o. Click [OK] in the Control panel to apply the effect. 56. Hide layer Mountains and select layer Hills --- Layers panel 57. Repeat Last filter with dialog (Lighting Effects) (layer Hills) --- Ctrl + Alt + F a. For CS6 - Control panel -> Presets: Atlas Hills --- if you didnt save a preset, see step 25 for settings. For CS5.1 - Style: Atlas Hills --- if you didnt save a style preset, see step 24 for settings. 58. Hide layer Hills and Select layer Land --- Layers panel 59. Repeat last filter (Lighting Effects) (layer Land) --- Ctrl + F
66.
67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78.
79. 80.
Leftmost Color Stop -> Color: White - #FFFFFF (RGB 255, 255, 255); Location: 5% a. Tip: Click the solid colored box to load the Color Picker 6. Rightmost Color Stop -> Color: Papyrus - #F0E6BE (RGB 240, 230, 190); Location: 100% 7. Add 3rd Color Stop -> Color: Dark Olive Green - #405018 (RGB 64, 80, 24); Location: 35% a. Tip: Click an empty area left or right of an existing Stop to create a new one. (Above the Gradient Preview bar for Opacity Stops, below it for Color Stops.) th 8. Add 4 Color Stop -> Color: Dark Olive Green - #405018 (RGB 64, 80, 24); Location: 60% 9. Add 5th Color Stop -> Color: Dark Flesh - #DAC094 (RGB 218, 192, 148); Location: 85% 10. Name: Atlas Gradient 11. Click [New] --- save a gradient preset for future use ii. Reverse: click to check or uncheck so the gradient runs north to south (White to Papyrus) Add a Color Overlay layer style (layer Land Gradient) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> V a. Note: Use this overlay to lighten the gradient if it seems too dark. b. Blend Mode: Soft Light c. Color: White: #FFFFFF (RGB 255, 255, 255) d. Opacity: 25% (or adjust to preference) Group Layers (layer Land Gradient) --- Ctrl + G Rename group Group 1 to Gradient Group --- Layers panel -> double click group name Create a selection from layer Base --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer thumbnail Add a Reveal Selection layer mask (group Gradient Group) --- Alt -> L -> M -> V a. Tip: Dont worry too much about the blend of white to green to tan areas. Well adjust all that later. Set group Blending Mode to Hard Light (group Gradient Group) --- Layers panel Collapse group Gradient Group --- Layers panel -> click the triangle left of the group folder icon Select group Gradient Group and layer Land --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer name area of each layer to select. Dont click the layer thumbnail. That will create a Selection. Group Layers --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + G Rename group Group 1 to Land Group --- Layers panel Double Check: Default Colors --- D Select group Ocean Group --- Layers panel Add a Solid Fill Layer with default name (group Ocean Group) --- Alt -> L -> W -> O a. New Layer dialog box i. Name: Color Fill 1 ii. Color: None iii. Click [OK] to confirm settings and progress to Step 78-b b. Color Picker (Solid Color) dialog box i. Black - #000000 (RGB 0, 0, 0) Unhide and select layer Mountains --- Layers panel Select Color Range (layer Mountains) --- Alt -> S -> C a. Select: Sampled Colors b. Fuzziness: 200 Delete Selected (layer Mountains) --- Delete Select All --- Ctrl + A Border Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> B a. Width: 60 Feather Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> F a. Feather Radius: 25 5.
85. Subtract layer Base shape from Selection --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + Alt + click layer thumbnail 86. Delete Selected -> Deselect (layer Mountains) --- Delete -> Ctrl + D 87. Move and Erase mountains as you want (layer Mountains) --- Image Canvas a. Tip: Dont worry about erasing all the mountains outside the land area; well get those later. For now, they provide more variety. If you see a mountain you like, move it into your land areas (see sub-step 87-c below). b. Erase unwanted mountains with the Eraser tool --- E i. Control panel -> Mode: Brush ii. Control panel -> Flow: 20% iii. Image Canvas -> right click 1. Size: 300 px (adjust as needed) 2. Hardness: 0% 3. Tip: Enter (twice if needed) closes pop-up brush palette. c. Move mountains with the Lasso and Move tools (layer Mountains) --- L and V i. Select the Lasso tool --- L 1. Control panel -> Feather: 25 px ii. Draw a selection around an area of mountains iii. Select the Move tool --- V iv. Drag the selection area to a new location v. Deselect Ctrl + D vi. Note: Do not rotate the mountains - it will ruin the lighting effects d. Alternate and repeat Step 87-b and 87-c until happy with the result. 88. Create a selection from layer Base --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer thumbnail 89. Contract Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> C a. Contract By: 20 90. Feather Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> F a. Feather Radius: 20 91. Invert Selection -> Delete Selected -> Deselect (layer Mountains) --- Ctrl + Shift + I -> Delete -> Ctrl + D 92. Select layer Color Fill 1 -> Delete layer --- Layers panel -> Delete 93. Select layer Mountains --- Layers panel 94. Add a Color Overlay layer style (layer Mountains) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> V a. Blend Mode: Soft Light b. Color: Muddy Brown: #5A461E (RGB 90, 70, 30) c. Opacity: 100% 95. Add a Bevel and Emboss layer style (layer Mountains) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> B a. Technique: Chisel Soft b. Size: 1 96. Set the layer Blending Mode to Hard Light (layer Mountains) --- Layers panel 97. Duplicate layer and name it Mountains 2 (layer Mountains) --- Ctrl + Alt + J a. Name: Mountains 2 b. Mode: Luminosity c. Opacity: 25% 98. Repeat Last Filter with dialog (Lighting Effects) (layer Mountains 2) --- Ctrl + Alt + F a. For CS6 - Control panel -> Presets: Atlas Mountains --- if you didnt save a preset, see step 55 for settings. b. For CS5.1 - Style: Atlas Mountains --- if you didnt save a preset, see step 55 for settings. 99. Edit Bevel and Emboss layer style (layer Mountains 2) Alt -> L -> Y -> B
a. Depth: 83% b. Size: 29 c. Soften: 5 100.Add a Reveal All layer mask (layer Mountains 2) --- Alt -> L -> M -> R 101.Select the Brush tool --- B (-> Shift + B if needed) a. Control panel -> Flow: 10% (adjust as needed) 102.Draw to hide or reveal rough mountains (layer Mountains 2 layer mask) Image Canvas a. Tip: Draw with black to hide rough mountains and reveal normal mountains below. b. Tip: Draw with white to reveal rough mountains again. Feel free to experiment! c. Tip: X swaps between hide and reveal (black and white). d. Stop whenever youre happy with the result. 103.Duplicate layer and name it Mountains 3 (layer Mountains 2 layer mask) --- Ctrl + Alt + J a. Name: Mountains 3 b. Mode: Pin Light c. Opacity: 25% 104.Repeat Last Filter (Lighting Effects using preset Atlas Mountains ) (layer Mountains 3)--- Ctrl + F 105.Edit Bevel and Emboss layer style (layer Mountains 3) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> B a. Depth: 100% b. Size: 13 c. Soften: 1 106.Select layer Mountains 3 layer mask --- Layers panel -> click layer mask thumbnail 107.Select the Brush tool --- B (-> Shift + B if needed) a. Control panel -> Flow: 30% (adjust as needed) 108.Draw to hide or reveal extra rough mountains (layer Mountains 3 layer mask) Image Canvas a. Tip: Draw with black to hide extra rough mountains and reveal rough or normal mountains below. b. Tip: Draw with white to reveal extra rough mountains again. Reveal extra rough mountains where rough mountains were hidden (in Step 102) to create a slightly different effect. Feel free to experiment! c. Tip: X swaps between hide and reveal (black and white). d. Stop whenever youre happy with the result. 109.Select layers Mountains, Mountains 2, and Mountains 3 -> Group Layers --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer name area of each layer -> Ctrl + G 110.Rename group Group 1 to Mountains Group --- Layers panel 111.Optional: If you dont like the rough mountain effects, you can hide layer Mountains 2 and Mountains 3 at any time. --- Layers panel 112.Hide group Mountains Group -> unhide and select layer Hills --- Layers panel 113.Double Check: Default Colors --- D 114.Select Color Range (layer Hills) --- Alt -> S -> C a. Select: Sampled Colors b. Fuzziness: 150 115.Delete Selected -> Deselect (layer Hills) --- Delete -> Ctrl + D 116.Create a selection from layer Base --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer thumbnail 117.Contract Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> C a. Contract By: 10 118.Feather Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> F a. Feather Radius: 10 119.Invert Selection -> Delete Selected -> Deselect (layer Hills) --- Ctrl + Shift + I -> Delete -> Ctrl + D
120.Add a Color Overlay layer style (layer Hills) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> V a. Blend Mode: Soft Light b. Color: Muddy Brown: #5A461E (RGB 90, 70, 30) c. Opacity: 100% 121.Add a Bevel and Emboss layer style (layer Hills) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> B a. Style: Emboss b. Technique: Chisel Soft c. Size: 5 d. (Highlight) Opacity: 50% e. (Shadow) Opacity: 50% 122.Set layer Blending Mode to Soft Light and Opacity to 50% (layer Hills) --- Layers panel 123.Unhide all layers except layer Base -> expand group Land Group -> select group Gradient Group --- Layers panel a. Note: group Gradient Group should be collapsed. 124.Create a new layer and name it Land Adjust (group Gradient Group) --- Ctrl + Shift + N a. Name: Land Adjust b. Mode: Color Dodge c. Opacity: 25% 125.Double Check: the previous Step should create the following layer order. If it doesnt, Layers panel -> drag layer thumbnail or name area to move it up or down in the layers stack: a. Land Group i. Land Adjust ii. Gradient Group 1. Land Gradient iii. Land 126.Create a selection from layer Base --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer thumbnail 127.Set Foreground Color to Dark Olive Green: #405018 (RGB 64, 80, 24) --- Tools panel 128.Set Background Color to Papyrus: #F0E6BE (RGB 240, 230, 190) --- Tools panel 129.Render Clouds filter -> Deselect (layer Land Adjust) --- Filter -> Render -> Clouds -> Ctrl + D
143.Select layer Hills --- Layers panel 144.Duplicate layer and name it Hills Snow (layer Hills) --- Ctrl + Alt + J 145.Select layer Hills --- Layers panel 146.Create a selection from layer Change --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer thumbnail 147.Expand Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> E a. Expand By: 20 148.Feather Selection --- Alt -> S -> M -> F a. Feather Radius: 20 149.Delete Selected (layer Hills) --- Delete 150.Select layer Hills Snow -> --- Layers panel 151.Invert Selection -> Delete Selected (layer Hills Snow) --- Ctrl + Shift + I -> Delete 152.Select group Mountains Group --- Layers panel 153.Add a Reveal Selection layer mask (group Mountains Group) --- Alt -> L -> M -> V 154.Select group Mountains Snow Group --- Layers panel 155.Reselect --- Ctrl + Shift + D 156.Add a Hide Selection layer mask (group Mountains Snow Group) --- Alt -> L -> M -> D 157.Select layer Change -> Delete layer (layer Change) --- Layers panel -> Delete 158.Select layer Mountains Snow --- Layers panel 159.Edit Color Overlay layer style (layer Mountains Snow) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> V a. Color: Gray: #505050 (RGB 80, 80, 80) --- try experimenting with some additional blue 160.Copy layer Mountains Snow Color Overlay layer style to layers Mountains Snow 2, Mountains Snow 3, and Hills Snow --- Layers panel a. Double Check: Reveal layer Mountains Snow Layer Effects --- Layers panel -> click triangle at right edge of the layer if the effects are not already revealed. b. Copy the Color Overlay effect to the other layers. --- Layers panel -> Alt + drag Color Overlay from layer Mountains Snow effects to destination layers. c. Note: Each layer may only have one Color Overlay layer style. This Step will replace the existing Color Overlays.
172.Create a new layer and name it Rivers (layer Layout) --- Ctrl + Shift + N 173.Set the Pencil tool size to 1 px or 2 px --- Image Canvas -> right click 174.Draw squiggly rivers that follow the layout we created in Step 171. (layer Rivers) --- Image Canvas a. Tip: Again, dont worry if your rivers go outside the land area and into the ocean. b. Tip: Alt + scroll mouse wheel to zoom in or out. c. Tip: Hold spacebar to temporarily switch to Hand tool, then drag to adjust the Image Canvas position. d. Ascensions notes on rivers: Zoom in to 200% or more so that we can see our little hills Draw a river that has lots of squiggles but generally follows the shape we want. Two words of advice for this step as it can get very tedious and time-consuming: A start with the largest river system first, once you get that done it all gets easier and faster and B dont get carried away with adding all kinds of tributaries, youll go mad I tell ya, just stick to major branches (except in swamps then add as many as you like). Stop whenever youre happy with the result.
a.
175.Create a selection from layer Base --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer thumbnail 176.Invert Selection -> Delete Selected -> Deselect (layer Rivers) --- Ctrl + Shift + I -> Delete -> Ctrl + D 177.Set layer Fill to 0% (layer Rivers) --- Layers panel 178.Add a Color Overlay layer style (layer Rivers) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> V a. Blend Mode: Multiply b. Color: Medium Gray-Teal: #406480 (RGB 64, 100, 128) c. Opacity: 33% 179.Select layer Layout -> Delete layer (layer Layout) --- Layers panel -> Delete
193.Double Check: Default Colors --- D 194.Expand group Land Group and select layer Land -> Add a Stroke layer style (layer Land) --- Alt -> L -> Y -> K a. Ascensions Note: this [gradient choice] allows the stroke to be seen around the green land and doesnt overpower the snow and sand. b. Size: 1 px c. Fill Type: Gradient d. Gradient: Gradient Editor (Custom) --- click the sample gradient bar i. Gradient Type: Solid ii. Double Check: Both Opacity Stops -> Opacity: 100% iii. Leftmost Color Stop -> Color: Gray - #A0A0A0 (RGB 160, 160, 160); Location: 0% iv. Rightmost Color Stop -> Color: Black - #000000 (RGB 0, 0, 0); Location: 100% e. Reverse: Checked f. Style: Reflected g. Angle: 90 degrees
PART 2: COUNTRIES
Now lets add countries! We will follow a similar method to the river layout in Chapter III, Part 6. 195.Double Check: Collapse any expanded groups and layer effects to tidy up. 196.Double Check: Default Colors --- D 197.Select layer Rivers --- Layers panel 198.Create a new layer and name it Layout (layer Rivers) --- Ctrl + Shift + N a. Name: Layout b. Opacity: 25% --- adjust this while working if it is hard to see 199.Select the Pencil Tool --- B (OR Shift + B if needed) a. Image Canvas -> right click i. Size: 18 px --- large enough to see when zoomed out 200.Draw a layout guide for your countries. (layer Layout) Image Canvas -> draw a. Tip: Again, dont worry if your borders go outside the land area and into the ocean. b. Ascensions notes on this Step: Here is where we have to start thinkinghow would the geography contribute to the placement of borders? Well, mountains are natural boundaries so thats a good place to start. Just following the mountains I can easily get ten countries here [referring to his tutorials example map], if you want more countries then subdivide the areas along rivers
201.Create a new layer and name it Borders (layer Layout) --- Ctrl + Shift + N 202.Set the Pencil tool size to 1 px --- Image Canvas -> right click 203.Draw borders that follow the layout we created in Step 200. (layer Borders) --- Image Canvas a. Note: I recommend having your borders at the land edges go a few pixels into the water for this part. This ensures your border extends all the way to the edge. b. Tip: Set your zoom level based on how detailed you want the borders. c. Tip: Alt + scroll mouse wheel to zoom in or out. d. Tip: Hold spacebar to temporarily switch to Hand tool, then drag to adjust the Image Canvas position. 204.Create a selection from layer Base --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer thumbnail 205.Invert Selection -> Delete Selected -> Deselect (layer Borders) --- Ctrl + Shift + I -> Delete -> Ctrl + D
206.Select layer Layout -> Delete layer (layer Layout) --- Delete 207.Select layer Base -> Duplicate layer and name it Country 1 (layer Base) --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + Alt + J 208.Unhide layer Country 1 and move it beneath layer Borders --- Layers panel 209.Hide layer Borders and Double Check: layer Country 1 is selected --- Layers panel 210.Create a selection from layer Borders --- Layers panel -> Ctrl + click layer thumbnail 211.Delete Selected -> Deselect (layer Country 1) --- Delete -> Ctrl + D 212.Make sure the borders work. a. Select the Magic Wand tool --- W i. Tolerance: 0% ii. Contiguous: Checked b. Click inside each countrys border. If the Selection that loads is not the same as the border you expected, there may be a gap in the lines you drew on layer Borders. Unhide layer Borders and go back and close any gaps and then continue the tutorial from Step 209. c. When youre finished, Deselect --- Ctrl + D 213.Add an Inner Glow layer style (layer Country 1) --- Layers panel -> Alt -> L -> Y -> W a. Blend Mode: Overlay b. Opacity: 25% c. Color: Solid - Red: #FF0000 (RGB 255, 0, 0) d. Size: 16 px 214.Duplicate layer and name it Country 2 (layer Country 1) --- Ctrl + Alt + J 215.Repeat Step 214 to create a layer for each country you have until you have a layer for each country. (i.e. Country 1, Country 2, Country 3, Country 4, etc.). a. Tip: If you already know the names of all your countries, you can go ahead and name each layer one of the names. At the moment, all the layers are all the same, so it doesnt matter which is named which. Just keep in mind that the tutorial will keep calling these the Country ## layers. 216.Hide all the Country ## layers except layer Country 1 --- Layers panel 217.Select layer Country 1 -> select the Magic Wand tool --- Layers panel -> W a. Tolerance: 0 b. Contiguous: Checked 218.Create a Selection of the country shape boundary--- Image Canvas -> click inside the countrys border a. Note: This should select the shape area of the country. b. Note: If you set custom country names, select the country that corresponds to the layers name. c. Tip: If you want an island off the coast to be included with this country, shift + click inside it to add it to the selection. d. Tip: To quickly select many small islands, switch to the Lasso tool (L -> Feather: 0px, Anti-alias: Unchecked) -> shift + draw a selection around the islands to add any land in that area to your current selection. Its okay to include empty areas of ocean in the selection. Dont forget to go back to the Magic Wand tool (W) when finished! 219.Invert Selection -> Delete Selected -> Deselect (layer Country 1) --- Ctrl + Shift + I -> Delete -> Ctrl + D 220.Unhide the next Country ## layer and select it. Repeat Steps 218 219 for each country. a. Note: Do this for each Country ## layer until all your countries are isolated on their layers. b. Tip: If it helps you organize, hide each Country ## layer after you finish isolating it in Step 218 - 219. You can always toggle it hidden and unhidden to check your progress.
221.Unhide -> select all the Country ## layers --- Layers panel -> click -> ctrl + click each layer name area a. Tip: If you have many countries, you can use the Select Continuous Add command, also called the shift click method. This method lets you select two layers, causing those layers and any layers in between them to be selected. This is a great method when all the layers you want to select are next to each other. i. Select the top-most Country ## layer --- Layers panel ii. Hold shift then select the bottom-most Country ## layer --- Layers panel -> Shift + click layer name area. 222.Set layer Fill to 0% (all Country ## layers) --- Layers panel 223.For each Country ## layer, edit Inner Glow layer style --- Alt -> L -> Y -> W a. For each Inner Glow layer style, change the Color so each country is unique. b. Tip: Increase the Opacity to 50% for colors like gray and brown to make them easier to see. c. Tip: Try different Blend Modes like Hard Light if the glow is still too faint. 224.Unhide layer Borders 225.Select all the Country ## layers and layer Borders --- Layers panel -> click -> ctrl + click each layer name area a. Tip: As with Step 221, you can use the shift click method here too to grab all the layers. 226.Group Layers -> rename the group Borders Group --- Ctrl + G -> Layers panel
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On the next page is how I laid out my layers based on the notes listed above.
Base (hidden) Lat / Long Lines Political Group o Countries Group Country Titles Group Country 1 (text layer) Country 2 (text layer) Etc. Borders Group Country 1 Country 2 Etc. o Capitals Group Capital Dots Capital 1 (text layer) Capital 2 (text layer) Etc. o Type 1 City Group Type 1 City Dots Type 1 City 1 (text layer) Type 1 City 2 (text layer) Etc. o Type 2 City Group Type 2 City Dots Type 2 City 2 (text layer) Type2 City 2 (text layer) Etc. o Etc. City types (Terrain related layers below)
25. Lighting Effects filter (layer Oceans) --- Filter -> Render -> Lighting Effects Return to tutorial Step 25 a. Note: This lighting effect uses five lights with identical size and settings. Only their positions differ. b. Adjust the settings and size for the first light (the one in the center position). Then, in Step 25-o, you will duplicate that light to setup the other four lights. c. Light Type: Omni d. On: checked e. Intensity: 6 f. Focus: (not applicable) g. Gloss: -100 h. Material: 100 i. Exposure: 0 j. Ambience: 8 k. Texture Channel: Red l. White is High: checked m. Height: 100 n. Position and Size (Left Side Area): see pictures below o. After the first light is configured and sized (as pictured), Alt + drag the first lights Position anchor point to duplicate it for the 2nd through 5th lights each one goes in a different corner as pictured. p. click [Save] i. Save the Style As: Atlas Hills --- save a lighting effects preset for future use
55. Lighting Effects filter with these settings (layer Mountains) --- Filter -> Render -> Lighting Effects Return to tutorial Step 55 a. Set Style: Default to quickly return to a single light setup, then adjust the settings as listed below. b. Tip: If you get stuck, see Chapter II, Part 4 for more information. c. Light Type: Spotlight d. On: checked e. Intensity: 25 f. Focus: 100 g. Gloss: -100 h. Material: 100 i. Exposure: 0 j. Ambience: 8 k. Texture Channel: Red l. White is High: checked m. Height: 100 n. Position and Size (left side area): see picture o. click [Save] -> Save the Style As: Atlas Mountains --- save a lighting effects preset for future use