Learn how to use the Map Effects Fantasy Map Builder in Photoshop to create your own maps for your upcoming novel or next role playing campaign. Best of all, you don't even need to know how to draw! CLICK HERE to learn more about the Map Effects Fantasy Map Builder   Installing Your Brushes I. Download and unzip your Fantasy Map Builder folder on your Ipad or computer. II. Open the file and navigate to the folder named “Brushes”. III. Select either Photoshop, Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, or Affinity, depending on the app you will use. Photoshop Simply double-click on the .ABR file, and t ..read more

  Creating your own fantasy world is frankly a lot of fun, but it can quickly become overwhelming. With so many locations, cultures, and events to keep track of, it's easy to get lost in the details of your own world. Having a map helps you develop many of the big-picture elements of your story, creating a more consistent and immersive experience for your players or readers. A map is more than just a tool for navigation; it's a way to bring your story beyond the written word and immerse people in the history and culture of your world. Whether you're a seasoned game master or a first-time ..read more

    Cities and villages obviously need food to survive, so like the rest of us you’ve probably found yourself drawing the same rows of fields all around your fantasy map for your city or village. But what if you want to create something a little more interesting and make your worldbuilding stand out? It turns out with a little digging, you can find some fascinating and effective methods for farming in unlikely places throughout history. The floating gardens of the Aztecs or “chinampas” are a perfect example. You probably didn’t even realize you can grow crops on man-made islands! Bu ..read more

Creating names for the locations on your fantasy map can feel intimidating. Should you randomly string letters together to make words that just sound cool; or do you need to pull a Tolkien and create your own language from scratch? How do you strike a balance between names that sound generic and predictable, and so over the top that nobody can pronounce them? If you’ve ever looked up how a particular place got its name, you might realize that the study of place names (toponymy) is often complicated. Fortunately, there are some basic principles you can follow to create unique names on your map ..read more

     Everyone knows you need to draw rivers on your fantasy map if you want it to be realistic…right? Access to fresh water is necessary for cities and villages to thrive, but did you know that despite the Mayans living in a region where jungles could flourish, the area is nearly devoid of rivers? How could they not only survive, but build one of the most impressive civilizations we only now are beginning to recognize? If you want to create a unique setting for your setting, looking at real places and cultures throughout human history is a great source of inspiration. Let’s del ..read more

Forests are often a core feature of many fantasy maps. After all, what would Middle Earth be without Mirkwood, Lothlorien, or Fangorn? But, knowing where a forest should go on your own map is one of those things that has a simple answer with layers of complexity. Can a forest go anywhere? What actually causes a forest to form in the first place? The simple answer to where to place forests is…pretty much anywhere you want. But you may be thinking, don’t you need a certain climate to have a forest? While it’s true that a particular species of tree cannot grow just anywhere, remember there are t ..read more

Placing cities and villages is one of my favorite steps in the map making process. It’s the moment a map goes from being just a landscape to having a history with a story to tell. The placement of cities and their relationship to one another is the backbone to a world with a sense of depth and realism. Cities and towns don’t pop up by accident; which means some thought needs to go into where you place them so your map doesn’t appear unrealistic. The good news is there are a few simple principles to keep in mind which will not only help with the placement, but will cause the story to begin to ..read more

Do you want a classic hand-drawn fantasy map of your own, but don't have the time to teach yourself how to draw? With the Map Effects Fantasy Map Builder you can create fantasy maps of your own with just a few clicks and a bit of imagination. Whether you want a map for the fantasy book you’re writing or just want something to show off to your role playing buddies, this has you covered. In this video walkthrough I will show you some of the features included in the Map Builder, and how you can use it in the Procreate app. I hope you find this helpful and look forward to seeing the maps you cre ..read more

Map-making can feel pretty overwhelming when you first begin. From learning to draw, to understanding world-building and the nuances of geography, there is a lot to potentially take in. But what fundamentally makes one map good and another not? I believe that it comes down to three primary things, and if you keep these in mind you can feel confident that you’ll be able to consistently create good, if not great fantasy maps for your stories.   1: Helpful for Navigation At its most basic level, the purpose of a map is to help a person get from point A to point B. A map serves to orient a ..read more

     If you love fantasy maps then you probably have an appreciation for hand-drawn illustrations that look like they were made on an expedition into an unknown land. There’s just something about a map that was made with traditional tools that makes it feel like it has a richer history. Because of this, many cartographers choose to draw all their maps with pen and paper rather than digital tools; some even opt to use a traditional dip pen. But, have you considered going further down the rabbit hole of map-making by creating your own ink from scratch? Sure, you can buy it at the ..read more