Create Maps of countries

[Frajer]

Iam into a project at the moment. This project is about drawing maps. I have 5 countries and I need to draw a map for each of them.

I have added two different maps how I would like them to look like. The second Image is in 3d(is not nessecery to do like this)

The first image is what Iam focused to do.
As you can se the images are nice drawn and the lines-thicknes are very symetric to eachother. the lines that divied the counties are straigth and nice.

When I tried to draw similar, I got very bad lines and and they got not so straigth.

And i did send a 3d map because i would like to know how to create something 3d. thanks.

PLS HELP me.

[Crax]

Yey! Sweden!

Euuh.. The 3D-effect in the second picture look like a simple outer shadow blending mode option.

Assuming you have Photoshop i'll walk you tru it briefly.

To set the blending option on a layer simply rightclick on the layer and select blending options. Then select outer shadow and play around with the settings.
Another way of making something look 3D is to copy the layer you want to work with and past it into a new layer, then you recolor the new layer and put it behind the old one.

There is a tool to make straight lines in photoshop. It's found on the tools window. Just click on the shapes tool and hold down for a while, then all avaliable options will display and your line tool will be there!

Hope this made any sense
Flygande bäckasiner söka hvila på mjuka tuvor.

[Raven12388]

I personly would use the pencil tool and hold shift down as i go to each point that will make the line between each point perfectly strait much easier than using the line too wich creates a new layer for every line so in this case that is what i would do

Edit to say after looking at it again i would use the pen tool to make shapes then put a stroke on each shape to make each piece of the map that way you can actially get the map lines perfect

[dflynn]

If you want to make the lines nice and smooth, use the Pen Tool and set it from "Shape Layers" to "Paths" In the toolbar along the top of the screen.
Select your Pencil Tool and set the diameter to 2-3 pixels.
Then draw the path you wish your line to follow.
Right click on the path and select Stroke Path > Pencil Tool > OK.
Right click on the path again and select Delete Path

And you're good to go.

As for the the 3D. It would have likely been done in Illustrator. You can open up the PSD in Illustrator and preserve the layers. It should preserve the path. Then select
Effect> 3D Extrude & Bevel.

[Frajer]

Thanks a lot for your answers I will try today todo like you told me, and i will upload a image as soon iam finished.

[Frajer]

Can I import from photoshop to a Illustrator without loosing the qulity?

[dflynn]

Yes, as long as you are using the pen tool and maintaining all of your original vectors.

[Frajer]

I used brush instead of pencil.
The lines got very thick with 2px. and they didn't get so very nice with 1px

so I used brush with 1 px.

[Frajer]

dflynn I did the 3d in illustrator.. but it didn't get so good as the above picture.. can you help me out?