The next stage in creating my map was to add the cities.
I used a large rectangle for Moscow, circles for the other major cities, and smaller circles for the less important cities.
I then began to delineate the various geographic zones, including the arid area in the south, the central marshland area, and the grass steppe.
The next step was to delineate the areas of steppe covered by deciduous and coniferous trees.
When I first completed this stage, I felt that it looked quite good, but after a good night's sleep I realised that the trees were just to regularly laid out and the map looked very crowded. I therefore reduced the number of trees and made their positions withing each grid square much more random. To me, the result looked much better.
The next stage will be to give the areas of steppe covered by deciduous and coniferous trees a green background colour, and then to add the roads.
I used a large rectangle for Moscow, circles for the other major cities, and smaller circles for the less important cities.
I then began to delineate the various geographic zones, including the arid area in the south, the central marshland area, and the grass steppe.
The next step was to delineate the areas of steppe covered by deciduous and coniferous trees.
When I first completed this stage, I felt that it looked quite good, but after a good night's sleep I realised that the trees were just to regularly laid out and the map looked very crowded. I therefore reduced the number of trees and made their positions withing each grid square much more random. To me, the result looked much better.
The next stage will be to give the areas of steppe covered by deciduous and coniferous trees a green background colour, and then to add the roads.
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteYour MAP is coming along nicely- you certainly have a good handle on electronic computer drawing programs. By comparison I'm still in the Dark Ages with pencil, ruler, rubber and paper.Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI’m actually using the simplest drawing program there is, MS Paint. I use it just as I would a pencil, paper and coloured pencils/pens. It’s just a matter of trial and error ... and lots of practice!
All the best,
Bob
I have been using Power Point for maps. Steven (Balagan) taught me.
DeleteDick Bryant,
DeleteI know several other people who also used PowerPoint to make maps. I’ve tried using it, but I prefer MS Paint.
All the best,
Bob
So, MS Paint allows you to create the grid and everything?
ReplyDeleteGridiron,
DeleteI drew the first grid square using the program’s shape drawing tool. I then copied it, pasted net to the first grid square ... and so on. I set the approximate size of the eventual map using ‘properties’, and just kept pasting grid squares to each other until I had a gridded map. It’s a slow, painstaking process ... but it works!
Give it a try!
All the best,
Bob
You could create the grid by fotocopying a grid array onto a jpg file. When I need a map, I take a copy of the file, and open it using Paint.
DeleteI find a helpful trick to be doubling my copy/pastes and setting the selection area to transparent. I'll copy then paste one square, then select those two and copy paste. Then again but with all 4 squares. As the number of boxes doubles the canvas fills quickly. It saves time and effort since I'm aligning a large block each time.
DeleteArchduke Piccolo,
DeleteI’ve tried using something along those lines, but with not a lot of success.
All the best,
Bob
Mr. Pavone,
DeleteThat is very similar to the method I use to create grids for my maps.
All the best,
Bob
I have also drawn grids in Paint using the line tools (a 16x12 grid for the western desert). It took forever....
ReplyDeleteThese days I use Mapping Board, which lets you set the grid style, frequency, colour etc as an attribute.
Martin Rapier,
DeleteI’ve tried other programs, and I used to use Visio a lot ... and then it became very expensive to replace when the version I used with Windows 7 was replaced by a newer one that worked with Windows 10.
I’ve now become quite adept at using MS Paint, and find it works well enough for my needs.
All the best,
Bob
A very pleasing looking map already, Bob.
DeleteArchduke Piccolo,
DeleteCheers, I’m hoping that it will look even better when it is finished.
All the best,
Bob
Cheers Bob the map is really insightful
ReplyDeleteAs it explains why after banging away on the front door in 1941 the Germans tried that amazing 1942 right hook that gained them so much territory but left them a logistical nightmare. It also explains why you cannot strategically defend against the right hook - so like the Russians you don't. The psychological impact being that the Germans were thinking the war was as good as won .. which made what happened at Stalingrad inconceivable to the German mindset!
Again .. nice map .. it shows a lot!
Geordie an Exile FoG,
DeleteCheers! I think that matters will become even clearer once the main transport links are added.
Capturing Stalingrad because it was named after ‘The Man of Steel’ became an obsession, and if it had been named Volgograd - as it is now - Hitler might have been less willing to make it the target of his offensive. Capturing Baku and the Russian oilfields would have been a far better objective. It would have crippled the Soviet war effort and provided German with much-needed oil.
All the best,
Bob