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SaraChristensen — Ashenfeld Territory Map
Published: 2010-03-10 19:20:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 6150; Favourites: 21; Downloads: 90
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Description
EDIT: Here's my original concept sketch for this project: [link] Download Size: 1584 x 2448
My third major project for Illustrator II class: a comprehensive map.
Because I'm a total nerd, I decided to render a topographical area
view of Ashenfeld and its surrounding regions. This is my first map
ever, really. Definitely a first in Illustrator, which is my lover now. ^^
What you are looking at are the major territories, where the story
for Remnants of Ashenfeld takes place. All territories within Ashenfeld
are labeled with the name of the lead stallion in that area (save for
the bachelor herd, with is ruled by Delfaust) and herd size.
The description at the bottom of the map will tell you more about
Ashenfeld itself and the different regions within it, so please download!
Lots of time and effort went into this. I would say 15 or more hours.
For all you Illustrator users out there, here are the techniques I used:
Mountains: blends and effects
Highland: texture overlay and effects
Forests: custom symbol and effects
Lowland: SVG filter and effects
Lakes/Rivers: strokes and effects
Uninhabitable: texture overlay and effects
Other techniques include: graphic styles, stacked effects, stacked
strokes, clipping masks, pathfinder, text on a path, brushes, etc.
I stuck with a limited color palette to keep things harmonious and
prevent visual clutter. It's still true to its natural, topographical colors.
Everything (save for the unicorn silhouettes) was rendered without a
reference. Lots of pre-digital sketching, I had roughed out four versions
of this map before I even got onto the computer. Phew! But I really
like how illustrated it feels. It's precise but it feels hand-drawn.
Ack! I'm just so excited to have this finished. I've never done a
fully-illustrated fantasy map before---I'd love to hear your comments!
Created in Illustrator CS4 from March 8-9, 2010.
PS: the characters along the top and bottom are the Theban alphabet.
Related content
Comments: 48
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
are a pain in the butt, but I feel like they're so
worth it in the end. I'm glad you appreciate the
hand-drawn look, that was something I really had
fun with. Dude, I love doing school projects on
really dorky things that make me happy. College
would be so boring if I didn't get to enjoy it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Amen!! I used to do all my com-tech videos on the geekiest things. But come on, when else could you have the opportunity to make a full Pokemon claymation? 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
when you can do something you love for a monotonous school
project, you get so much more out of it when you're able to
put passion into it. Plus, the teachers see it too, you're so right.
Haha, thanks. One of these days, my teachers are going to get sick of
Ashenfeld-related assignments I turn in and tell me to find a new muse.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
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this is now up in the hall in the tech building (first floor, of course)
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
IT IS?! I haven't seen it yet. I must be blind... Yay for my art being on display.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
yeah its just outside t124 (not the fancy automatic door)
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I just saw it a little bit ago, so cool! I love that they display our work here.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is amazing! I love the soft colors and the simple yet detailed look of it. It just looks really.. together- you know?
I really need to make myself a Ashenfeld character..
Also.. Salex? Badass name right there. I just adore it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Haha, oh yes. Simple yet detailed---if I did detailed-detailed
there would be an explosion... And =Xaliandrea totally came
up with the name Salex. Actually, she came up with most of them.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I can has info about each herd, please? 
This map, by the way, is EPIC! 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Haha, that is probably coming next! Cobra's and Ahearn's herds are
probably the most important when it comes to Ashenfeld. The bachelor
herd is also important... I'll have to come up with some stuff!
Illustrator and detail (unlike in Photoshop) is really hard for me!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Awesome! 
... you've seen pictures of him, right?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh yeah, Ohem! Love that guy, I need to do fanart of him sometime.
Since he's a stallion, he would probably need a herd of his own in a territory
that is unclaimed. That, or he can hang in the bachelor herd with Delfaust, lol.
Ashenfeld is seriously sexist in the Lowlands, lol. Herds are led by one stallion
and if there are any other males in the herd, it's because they're not fully mature.
Once they come of age, they're usually booted into the bachelor herd, but highland
herds are more apt to hang onto their sons for awhile longer. They're more lenient.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well..... Ohem is small, but he's quick. I bet he could take on a lowlander if he wanted to. 
Delfaust... remind me again which stallion that is. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Haha, totally! Fight for that territory!
He hasn't been introduced in the comic yet, but he's a key
character. Here's his most recent ref: [link] He's kind of
an all-around badass. Been through a lot, so he's tough.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
AWWWEEESOME. But dude, he's so much taller than Ohem. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
occasional 17hh. Delfaust is mostly draft, so he's just HUGE, lol.
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of both High and Low, so any size/shape is allowed. They're a medley!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Haha, maybe Ohem can be "The Wanderer" or something.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
ability and be like the region's Shaman. How cool would that be?!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
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and the rest of Ashenfeld would be like "Who the heck was that guy?" lol.
I love that, though: amiable but mysterious. Very interesting character you got there!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ohem is one of those characters where he comes into your life and makes you happy/feel loved and wanted. And then he's gone again, ever restless. He doesn't leave loved ones because he's vindictive.. it's just in his instinct to wander. He comes from Nomad stock from Tibet, you see.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Aha, a nomad---that's so cool. Not many characters are
like that these days... I sooo need to do fanart of him!
I'll put it in my journal, lol. That'll help me remember.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I wondered about that. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is very impressive! I would love to create a map of my own someday.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
become familiar with the world of Ashenfeld and its inhabitants.
I think everyone should make a fantasy map once in their life, lol.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Impressive, impressive!
I can imagine the time and energy put into this map. Illustrator can be very time consuming for maping. I use it almost only for modern looking maps.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh yes, about 15 hours worth of time and energy---but it was all worth it, always is.
Wow, really? What program(s) do you use for non-modern maps? Photoshop perhaps?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You're welcome!
Yes, I use PS for my old looking maps. But often I have to combine both. Compass roses, flags, coat of arms and grids I always make in Illustrator. It's much simpler for such things im my opinion.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh yes, definitely. Anything precise, mathematical, or symmetrical
needs to be rendered in Illustrator. I'll have to try my hand at a
map in Photoshop, though, I bet texture is a lot easier that way.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Everything which isn't clean, precise and straight is probably easier in PS. At least, I haven't found a way to do it easier and less time consuming in Illustrator.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
but it's always more time-consuming if rendered that way.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
AAAH IT'S SOO COOL.
It makes me think of all the wonderful maps that can usually be found in the opening pages of fantasy novels.
I love how much effort you put into your work~ 
Yay Ashenfield.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm glad you notice the effort I put into my
stuff. That's half the fun of it for me, lol.
I love those fantasy maps, they were my inspiration
for this whole project! And the color? Well, you know me, haha.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
When a person genuinely put effort in, it shows~
Colours =
Those fantasy maps are pretty fun to look at.
Aha~ put you guys made the awesome reference sheet recently. ^^ And since you're going through a project overhaul at the moment, I wouldn't say it's been entirely negelected. XD
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
So much fun... and even more fun to come up with!
Haha, this is true. We did come out with a breed
sheet recently. Once school gets out on the 23rd
and we're free of finals, things will happen.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
The joys of VACATION~
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Duuuuuude O____o!!! where does my character live!!?? lol, i guess my character is a bit too nonsensical to be part of the real, "serious" story >__< lol but its ok, my crazy character would probably run a muck!
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because it has wings. And because she's a badass, lol.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
oh O__o . . . . sweet ^__^
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Love it. XD Love that I can read Theban as well, tho it doesn't say anything LOL.
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That's an interesting idea, though. Maybe I can write something in Theban along the border.
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