Mapmaking Software

Vincent Locas
Universe Factory
Published in
7 min readOct 17, 2017

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In this article, I will cover 17 different software products for making maps. Some of them are general image-manipulation software; others are more specific and have a more limited application. I chose those because they are the most widely used, they have more content, more resources, more tutorials and you’re more likely to get help if you ask a question.

There are a lot of softwares for making different kinds of art pieces and I can’t review them all. You can find a more exhaustive list here. And these are the most used software on the Cartographer’s Guild by category. The 3 most popular are The Gimp, Photoshop and Campaign Cartographer 3.

Types of software

We can classify them into these broad categories:

Vector and raster

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orc_-_Raster_vs_Vector_comparison.png

Note the differences between the images. They look different but if we zoom out, the difference becomes marginal. It’s not meant to be looked at this close. The one under is the same tower but was made to look very different.

http://robotfriendgames.com/blog/2015/02/raster-vs-vector-graphics/

Vector stores dots and the equations of the lines linking them. It can also store the colour of the lines and another colour for the interior of the shape. It is possible to add gradients and textures but you are limited to the options offered by the software. It doesn’t feel like painting, it feels like using a software. That's not necessarily a bad thing but you have to rely on menus and the options offered so it might feel a bit more limited. Vector is great for drawing lines and shapes but not for colouring/texturing. Very few people make their entire maps with vectors but it’s doable.

Raster stores every pixel, enabling you to easily make gradients and textures. It feels like painting. It is better for colouring and manages lines pretty well too. It looks messier than vector which looks clear-cut as you can see in the example. Choosing one or the other depend on the style you want but both can be used in the same project. You could start the linework in vector and import it to a raster program to add colours and textures.

Both type of software work very differently. Some things are easier to do with one than with the other. Also, both type allow you use add/create your own brushes (symbols), pattern, textures, filters and add-on.

Fractal

According to the Merriam- Webster:

any of various extremely irregular curves or shapes for which any suitably chosen part is similar in shape to a given larger or smaller part when magnified or reduced to the same size

In other words, the map is generated automatically but you can change the parameters and edit the map afterwards. While it can save you a lot of time, it doesn’t always look good and it is common to edit the map afterwards. Sometimes the geography is odd such as having no continent, just long mountains rages crossing each other. People usually use fractal as a starting point for their map and then they continue working on it with other software.

Software using premade elements (doesn't have a proper name)

These software come with some basic tools for drawing coastlines and other things but rely on using premade elements to fill the map (forests, mountains, cities). They have large database of elements. With very little knowledge, it is easy to draw some coasts, plop elements and have an acceptable map in a very short period of time. These software are usually very limited when it comes to drawing. Some people continue their map using other software if they can’t find what they are looking for.

If used right, maps made with these will look like a map done with a raster software for those unfamiliar with the style used. I still get myself caught sometimes. This is because they used very well-made elements from talented artists. Most vector and raster software will also allow you to place premade elements (brushes). They are more flexible but require practice to make good-looking maps.

If you want a map and don’t want to learn how to draw, this is the best option for you if you don’t mind some limitations.

What do I use personally?

Mostly: Photoshop, Illustrator, Gprojector

The software list

3d modelling

Some people make maps in 3d, for games, for fun or in order to export the result into another software to apply different effects. It is becoming more and more common these days.

  • Sketchup (free and paid version): It is easy to learn and you can craft your own 3d elements just a few minutes after opening it for the first time. It offers fewer options than Blender. Good for conceptualizing or if you plan to continue improving the map with other software.
  • Blender (Free): Steeper learning curve, but offers more possibilities in the long run when you know how things work.

Utility

  • Gprojector (free): A program made by NASA. It can convert a map projections into almost any projection as long as the input projection is equirectangular. If it’s not the projection you’re using, use the other software below.
  • Flex projector (free): It can convert pretty much any projection into anything you want, even funky projections that don’t make sense. You just need to set the right parameters. It uses approximations instead of mathematics to change the projection. It does the job if you don’t need a perfect level of precision.
  • Gplates (free): You can set tectonic plates and plan their movement across billions of years. I’ve never really used it but there is a good tutorial here.
  • Quantum GIS or just QGIS (free): It uses real-world data. It might be useful for an alternate history map or anything using Earth’s data. You can also create your own maps from scratch but it is not the easiest option available. You can find compatible databases at many places since all GIS software (geographic information system) use the same types of files. This is a great place to get the basic data. There is also a dedicated GIS Stack Exchange.

Here are 2 tutorials to make maps:

https://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=31625

https://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=17469

Vector

  • Illustrator (paid): If you like working with vectors, this is one of the best programs in the industry. If you don’t know if you like vector, try the free trial or have a look at Inkscape. Working in illustrator feels like handiwork for kids: you can easily move basic shapes to create more complex shapes. It is really easy to manage several elements at a time.
  • Inkscape (free): It is similar to Illustrator in the sense that both use vectors. From what I could understand, it’s somewhat more limited in what in can do. It’s a good place to start if you want a feel on what it’s like to work with a vector program.

Raster

  • Photoshop (paid): It is one of the great raster program available. It’s powerful and has plenty of tools.
  • Gimp (free) You can do pretty much anything you want with this but it is less powerful than Photoshop but it’s not such a big problem. If you just started mapping, this is the software you should start with. It’s a good place to begin and later you could consider getting a paid software, some just stick with Gimp. It works apparently much better on Linux than Photoshop.

Element placement

These software usually come with options to auto generate the world. Drawing is limited, you rely on tools and symbols available for placement.

  • Hexographer (free and paid version): mapping with hexes reminding of older RPG maps. Generate a map with several options like size, and the kind of world you want (continents, pangea, archipelagos). Then you can place hexes representing forests, desert, etc. You can try the free version, it’s very easy to use. The site also mentions Dungeonographer and Cityographer but I have never heard of anyone using them.
  • AutoREALM (free): Draws random coastlines easily. Then add elements from a rather large library of objects.
  • Fractal Mapper 8 (paid): Can make different kind of maps : dungeons, continents, cities, etc. It is easy to use. You draw the coastlines and plop mapping symbols on the maps. Can store notes right on the map. Also:

included is a free add-on program called Fractal World Explorer. You can create and edit 3d shaded relief maps. It allows you to edit temperature and precipitation to create deserts and glaciers.

  • Campaign Cartographer 3 (paid): Is updated regularly and it’s easy to get help. It’s fast and easy to make a map even if you have no artistic talent. The learning curve is steeper than with Fractal mapper 8 but CC3 allow you to do more stuff. It has many add-ons for city maps, dungeon, space, isometric, interior and many supplementary elements. A lot of people use this and the untrained eye might think the map was drawn by hand.
  • AstroSynthesis (paid):This one is specific for space maps. It can generate a universe but also lets you modify it. It can auto-generate stars, planets, moons, asteroids, etc. It lets you plop stars, planets, interstellar routes, and other celestial objects. Also, according to the description, you can watch animation effects in 3d.

Generate extended planetary data — atmospheres, surface gravities, temperature, and more. It applies scientific principles during generation, taking into consideration matters of astronomy, physics, atmospheric chemistry, and planetary sciences during the generation process.

Using game engines to make maps

Finally, as a bonus, several people are creating maps using in-game map editors. Here are some that I find interesting:

Age of empire series, Age of Wonders series, Civilization series, RPG maker games, Simcity (especially 3 and 4).

Conclusion

Now that we know about the software, I have a link to a very valuable resource. It explains the basics of mapping including the most popular tutorials. I could write a post about it but the following page does an excellent job at it.

Click here.

Link to my Deviant Art

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