The Atlas is finally coming together, with the first 5 maps are done and you can get them here: https://bit.ly/GH-Flanaess-Atlas576CY-2020REV2
Thanks to great help from Duane Costa, the indexing of the maps are under way in parallel, thank you so much for helping out.
My goal is to have at least 5 map done per week, and then add in the additional maps required as work progress.
I hope everyone are doing well despite all current troubles and I'm sorry for being a more that a little late with getting the first Atlas map out the door. The Atlas is a difficult project for me since its is designed not for someone with my own passions and needs, this is project for those who wants a set of Greyhawk maps well suited for printing and also giving a hand in finding their way around the setting.
Each map will come in several different formats, the first is as two high resolution PDF files each covering a 11x17 page with bleed and binding margin (seen next to each other above). This is the version you need if you want to take it to a printer and order a print of them bounded into a book. The bounding margin in the center overlaps to make sure the entire map is visible across the spread.
You can get the left and right PDF's here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/71jgqh3ewzhf5el/Map%2016%20left%20-%20bleed.pdf?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3tdpbcadq6i2exq/Map%2016%20right%20-%20bleed.pdf?dl=0
A version without the bleed and the margins are also available for those who want to print using a printer at home and want to make it match a 11x17 inch paper.
You can get the PDF's here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nnw7s6qq3f8m2hr/Map%2016%20left.pdf?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/di9qh1ez10isgdr/Map%2016%20right.pdf?dl=0
The third version is the whole map as a single JPG perfect for use on a computer or tablet. You can get it here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i1sn8oaowrvcco0/Map%2016-digital.jpg?dl=0
This is the first version of what each map will look like and my plans are to cover the Flanaess with 50 of these maps, which I hope will have each area of interest well covered on at least one of the maps. Below is a overview image of the map coverage layout.
The different colors are only to make it a bit easier to understand. The arrows along the borders of each map also help you find the map next.
The maps themselves are only one part of this project, the indexing of all the text labels on the map is another vital part of this, and a massive undertaking with somewhere around 25 000 to 40 000 names on the map it will take some serious work to get then all into a spreadsheet.
Each map will use an alpha numerical square reference numbering For example:
Greyhawk 16:D-6
Verbobonc 16:E-3
All the main maps will have be of the same scale, this is not by design it is a limitation due to Illustrator makes it hard to resize the map and keeping the size of the labels. Larger size maps derived from my main map would be way too cluttered in many areas, and adjusting all these labels by hand would require a week or more per map so it's not really practical.
I'm well aware of this these limits and planning to move the Greyhawk mapping over to using GIS technology, which will make a whole new range of things like scales, various formats and publishing platforms supported with much less work involved. My plans are that this is the last major project without the use of a Geographic Information System technologies as a base.
There will be a number of overview maps in the 576 CY Atlas, including a political overview of the Flanaess to make it easier for beginners of the setting to find their way around.
At least two appendix will be made, a heraldry listing as is appropriate for a Greyhawk product listing all the heraldry of the Flanaess that I can fit in. The other appendix is a much asked for feature, a module index listing map references associated with each module.
I have two new blog posts with new heraldry and terrain only maps over on my website: https://www.annabmeyer.com
Above is a look at the layout without the bleed and binding margin, which is how it will look in its format for digital use.
Below is the left page with bleed and margins.
and the right page
So please check them out for problems and improvements.
A reminder for tomorrow's Discord planning meeting at 6pm PDT.
Items on the agenda:
Now I'm off to Twitch for some Greyhawk talk with Jay Scott, Mike Bridges and Bryan Blumklotz in this week's Legend & Lore: Heraldry is the topic!!
Please join us at https://www.twitch.tv/lordgosumba
The heraldry presented in this week's show will be available after the show!
Hi Everyone!
You are invited to a Discord meeting this Thursday May 21 @6pm PTD to plan the listing work for the atlas. So if you're interested in helping me get all the places on the map into Excel so they can be properly listed and inserted on the correct map pages.
If this sounds interesting the join my discord server (if you haven't already done so), and if you are a patreon member (not a requirement) you can connect your Discord with Patreon and this will happen automatically.
Here is in invite that is valid for 24 hours: https://discord.gg/Z65k9u
When you arrive at my server please state that you are interested in helping out, and I'll add you to the Atlas Project Group.
First I must say welcome to all new members, thank you so much for helping me do this!!
Here comes a new map layout proposal for using maps that spread across both pages. I've tried to keep them horizontal, but four areas seem to be better served by using a vertical orientation.
With 53 maps I think most countries and regions of the Flanaess are reasonably well covered. The colors are only to make it easier to set them apart.
Numbering are an another issue altogether, and this test is a first try to keep the major regions in sequence, but is that something preferable. This example might also show my biases for which areas I'm most interested in. Each map only have one set of numbers but spread over two pages.
My thinking here is to use map numbers instead of page numbers, since it is one map split over two pages. This saves margin space for other things and keep the clutter down, is this a good idea?
When the page layout and what area each map spread should cover it is time to look at the settlement lists and index, and how we can split up all the work of index every place on every map.
I know I'm being very picky and cautious with this, but it needs to be set up right before producing the map pages. I don't want to have to go back and redo things, better to think a bit extra and do it right the first time.
My Patreon have leveled up today, we are now 250 members!!
Thank you so much for helping me fulfill my dream of using the world of Greyhawk to try and set new standards in mapping a fantasy world.
To celebrate this I'll do a number of special things this week. Today I'll try and stream a live work session on my Discord server tonight @6pm PDT . If you are not already on it here is an invite: https://discord.gg/JyjkRc
Thank you again for your support!!
Here is a good look at the latest version of the Atlas page layout. I'm really starting to like this setup. Lots of features, but still a fairly consistent look. The page numbers and titles are a bit too big I think, so I'm going to make them smaller to make more room.
Added the heraldry for the nation in focus, it booth looks cool and it can be removed from the map to not cover the terrain.
The settlement list is just a placeholder but it can work to have the list like that. The minimap will also need a bit of adjustment to make sure all of it is inside the bleed. Over all I think the template is coming together.
Now it's time to prepare for the execution of this. I'm going to set up a special group on my Discord server to manage this. For those of you who are not members yet here is an invite: https://discord.gg/9pQsUp
I'm also going to test live stream some of this work on my Discord as well.
Here comes a first look at how a dual page layout can work. I've seen that lots of atlases use both a horizontal and a vertical map orientation. It is the map and the list of places that are tilted, the rest of the map are kept identical to the other pages keeping the overall experience more coordinated.
There will be 0.5 inches margin for side notes like the earlier tests I did and also 0.25 inch for bleed. Note that the map overlap is included in the margin and bleed, this helps bridge the page gap and reduce the overall size. It can also look great with a traditional bound print and also work well with a spiral binding.
Areas with lots of settlements the actual map area can be reduced to give more room for a larger list.
I really like this configuration, what do you think?
What is this you might ask, it is a a page spread from the of the best atlas publishers in the world and I think we should learn from them!
With a bit of work we can make this atlas become the best ever made for a fantasy world. By using the whole spread we can use side margin to list all the places (and maybe other features as well) and add a grid to find them. This is something I will need help with, analyse each map and list all the places and coordinates in an Excel spreadsheet. A byproduct will be a list with all the settlements in Greyhawk. The size of the greid have to be determined, and lets try and make it something useful like 50 miles or so.
I'll have an example page ready in a few days, so we can work out the details and see how big the map will actually be. When we have the map size of a spread we can split up the continent properly, but it will be in the 95-100 pages range I'm pretty sure. With that many pages we can cover every part fairly properly, and set a new standard for fantasy atlases.
Thank you again for helping me realize this!!! 🙂
