13 replies to this topic

[P Riggs]

Do any of you hand draw maps, or has everybody switched to digitally producing maps? I create thematic maps using software, but prefer the tactile feeling of a pen in my hand. Plus, being a fan of Erwin Raisz maps, I prefer to produce maps with a feel for the landform. I haven't been able to successfully produce my vision using software. But that may be due to my not knowing the correct software package and/or how to use it.

Related question: Is there a market for hand drawn maps?

[Martin Gamache]

Artist Mike Reagan probably does quite well for himself producing hand painted (watercolor) maps.

Have you tried Painter with a fast/RAM loaded machine and a wacom pen/tablet combination?

[patdunlavey]

I'm sure most would agree that the tools you use to make maps are not the determiner of the quality you get at the end. Rather, it is a combination of cartographic talent; and your talent for mastering whatever technologies you practice your cartography with. That said, if you are talented with pen and ink, pencil, watercolor, etc., you will probably be frustrated with digital tools. As Martin suggests, I have seen a talented artist on a fast computer with Painter and a Wacom tablet produce an amazingly realistic natural media appearance. And there are a lot of benefits to going digital. But for a natural media cartographer, the transition may difficult and perhaps unsuccessful if he fails to master the digital element. Ultimately, however, the quality of the map comes from the cartographer, not his tools.

[Jean-Louis]

Do any of you hand draw maps

Absolutely. If you check 'portfolio' in this website: www.geografix.ca you will see illustrated pictorial maps mostly done by hand. The terrain and some details are done in pen and watercolor on paper. Then I scan it and enhance it in Photoshop. I find myself doing more and more of the fine detailling digitally. But I always do the first layouts in pencil, even if the final product will be totally digital.

http://www.geografix.ca/

[P Riggs]

I'm giving Corel Painter a test. I really am blown away by the realistic renderings. After using it for just a short time, I can already understand the benefits of digital with undo and versioning. I also really appreciated the samples from Mike Reagan and Jean-Louis. Very inspiring! Thanks to all who responded.

[Martin Gamache]

Although he does not make any maps one of my favorite digital artists is Ryan Church a concept artist for a lot of sci-fi and studio movies. He works with Painter quite a bit and explains in a lot of details how he creates his art and why a digital workflow is so useful for the type of fast paced, production oriented commercial art he creates.

[Matthew Hampton]

my favorite digital artists is Ryan Church

Thanks for the link Martin. He is very Geiger-esque.

[natcase]

I could have sworn Jane Crosen was discussed on Carto-talk earlier, but now cannot find a reference...

She's at www.mainemapmaker.com

[natcase]

Oops, here's a link to the earlier discussion.

[frax]

off-topic - Nat, I actually find a google search better than the integrated CartoTalk search. Try this, for instance.

[Derek Tonn]

I'm very late to this thread, but I had to mention that one of our designers, Bob North, has been commercially producing hand-rendered campus maps for most of the past 14-15 years. Samples of his work are found at: http://www.mapformat...us/3Dbyhand.htm We've been having Bob also helping us with some vector work over the past year too...but hand-rendered designs are where his heart/passion are, and he does very good work. I'm like a kid in a candy store too, as I now have the privilege to go in and Photoshop his designs at their very-final stages of production....making them just a bit more ready for display in print, signage and online. What fun!

[Jean-Louis]

..making them just a bit more ready for display in print, signage and online. What fun!

I'm with you on that, Derek. One feature of illustrated artistic type of maps is that they are a real pain to begin and lay out but the work becomes very pleasurable when you reach the Photshop detailing and tweaking near the end. Whenever there is talk of integrating myself into a production team for cranking out illustrated maps, I always fear that my place in the line would naturally fall to start them because that's where experience counts the most. Luckily I never had to seroiusly face that choice yet.

Ps. Frax, using Google to search cartotalk is really cool. Thanks for showing it.

[P Riggs]

Artist Mike Reagan probably does quite well for himself producing hand painted (watercolor) maps.

I've enjoyed Mike's work since first learning about him. For you fans of natural media cartography, I have posted an email interview with him on my blog
DecorativeMaps: Mike Reagan
I found his answers about his work to be illuminating.

[DaveB]

I've enjoyed Mike's work since first learning about him. For you fans of natural media cartography, I have posted an email interview with him on my blog
DecorativeMaps: Mike Reagan
I found his answers about his work to be illuminating.

Nice interview, illuminating indeed. Thanks!