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Post by petemaidhof on Jul 18, 2016 16:21:35 GMT 1
I am interested in DYO maps for this series. I see that Adobe Illustrator seems to be the go-to tool. What other graphic programs are being used for this purpose?
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Post by petemaidhof on Jul 18, 2016 16:57:33 GMT 1
Has anyone used Inkscape as a low cost alternative?
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Post by Gustav6 on Jul 18, 2016 21:18:15 GMT 1
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Post by Tony37 on Jul 19, 2016 1:44:33 GMT 1
Inkscape, from what I remember, is probably the best free vector based (like Illustrator) software so definitely recommended if going that route.
GIMP and Paint.net are good free raster based (like Photoshop) software.
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Post by Gustav6 on Jul 19, 2016 10:28:34 GMT 1
I have used both (Gimp and Paint.net) and I personally prefer Paint.net for ease of use, but both are good choices.
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Post by petemaidhof on Jul 19, 2016 14:53:53 GMT 1
I believe that I read either here, BGG or CSW that GMT Panzer and MBT maps have 7/8" hexes and 7/8" vehicle counters. Tried measuring all sides and across the hex of a Panzer map and the closest I came was 1". What is the standard way to measure the size of a war game hex?
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Post by Tony37 on Jul 19, 2016 15:13:10 GMT 1
There is no real standard way, however the Panzer/MBT hexes are 1 inch across, through the center dot, from flat edge to flat edge. I can upload files for hex grids, any size (10x27.75, 22x34, etc..) just need to know what format works best. They are in Illustrator file type .ai, with three groups each for Hex, Dots, Numbers. If I save as a .pdf they might loose the ability to edit each group. ok...uploaded MBT-HEX-GRID.pdf, let me know if it works By the way, that 100m per 1 inch hex makes it so easy to figure out real world map distances. The 10 hexes top to bottom equals a 1000 meter grid square on military maps. (figuring out distances across the hex grid grain is too much math effort for me....) Attachments:MBT-HEX-GRID.pdf (548.78 KB)
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Post by petemaidhof on Jul 19, 2016 15:33:31 GMT 1
Excellent Tony, thank you very much. I guess that I would establish a file then open this hex-pdf as a transparent layer, then create a terrain layer on top of that.
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Post by Tony37 on Jul 19, 2016 16:01:24 GMT 1
First, make a copy of that file and keep it as a master hex grid file, never save over it and if you make changes save those as a different file name.
That file should already be transparent, there should be no white areas only gray/black lines, dots and number text. At least that's how it opens in Illustrator.
Usually when I work the hex grid layer is near the top of the layer stack. If you look at Panzer/MBT maps the hex grid is on top of everything.
Basically only things above the hex grid layer in my workflow are administrative stuff (contour lines, place markers, etc..) that are not saved in the final product.
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Post by Tony37 on Jul 21, 2016 14:10:20 GMT 1
For hex grids try downloading from this website, it provides a pdf file that works great with vector based editors. incompetech.com/graphpaper/hexagonal/Trick is we... need to find the perfect settings to generate correctly sized Panzer/MBT hex grids. |
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