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Inkscapism (Jan 21, 2006)

If you're like me, designing maps on paper leads to large swathes of forest disappearing, graphite stocks depleting, and a slow increase in aggrevation as you are forced to redesign large portions because it would be a pain to erase.

Fortunately, there are more fun (and productive) ways to get base layouts designed. My personal favourite is to use Inkscape to get the mind whirring (hint: use the 'Document Properties' dialog to set up a nice Hammer-style grid with snapping enabled). If you're not used to vector graphics it will take an evening or so to adapt, but it's well worth it.

I find it much quicker than paper, plus you can correct scale as you go along and even use excessive amounts of eye-piercing colour, gradients, patterns, swirly things and all sorts of unnecessary rubbish, whilst saving forests, graphite and sanity.

...and maybe, at the end, have a pretty good idea of the map you're going to make next.

(Edit: for grid drawing and snapping, go to File | Document Preferences and try these settings.)

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user comments

Luke at 16:51 on Jan 21, 2006

If you're going to use vectors you might as well use Fireworks or Freehand, much better control/features over all.

Dave at 16:59 on Jan 21, 2006

Only problem with those is that they cost money! I'm happy with Inkscape for now :)

smeerkat at 17:07 on Jan 21, 2006

got any screenshots of the interface?

Dave at 17:09 on Jan 21, 2006

smeerkat: http://www.inkscape.org/screenshots/index.php

VividHazE at 19:31 on Jan 21, 2006

I've recently started experimenting with Inkscape myself and I've found it quite a good package, considering you can get it for nothing :)

Since I don't see it very often on your site Dave I thought I'd point out theres a small error, your Get Firefox and Get Thunderbird buttons have their ALT tag information the wrong way around :) (I'm not being cheeky i'm trying to help)

Addicted to Morphine at 16:28 on Jan 22, 2006

Do you think you could post a picture of what a portoin of one of your final layout sketches looks like?

I'm just curious.

Dave at 17:24 on Jan 22, 2006

Addicted to Morphine: well, I had planned to, but unfortunately I don't have anything that I'm allowed to show! Next time though, certainly.

Monkeh at 22:52 on Jan 25, 2006

How do you get shapes to snap to the grid?