I'd guess fag packet = packet of cigarettes, so Ian is talking about small (cigarette packet sized) maps.

LOL!

Brette:)

Nogrod wrote:

mbassoc2003 wrote: It never occurred to me that this might mean something else in th US.
I suppose the US version would be a napkin sketch map.

I figured it was something like that . I was honestly curious.

Two countries divided by a common language

Zach

Well, that and they are nuts over there...

I believe I have mentioned before that I do not use a "program" per se.

I have my style, my preferred fonts, and layouts and just go with them.

I use the MS word doc in my PC ('97-03 I believe) and it manages just fine.

grodog wrote:
InDesign is probably the top program used among desktop publishers, Zach.  You can also get by with PageMager, but that's generally used for stuff more like posters, handouts, etc., and from what I understand* it's also pretty much been succeeded by InDesign as well.  I know that Kramer at Usherwood (who lays out OSRIC for us, and S&W books for Matt) uses InDesign.

Yeah I have read that too. I went ahead and sprung for InDesign 5 and have spent a few hours watching tutorials and getting a feel for it. Since I am in no real rush the learning curve issue is not a problem. It sure can do a lot of stuff though, things have come a long way in computer publishing since I last used PageMaker 3.0 in college. Sigh, I get old and everything else gets new.

* via folks at the day-job who do layout for realz

You have a day job?!? I was certain nothing is more lucrative than OSR publishing. Now I have to let my dreams of a Hefner-esque lifestyle fueled by sales of adventure modules die.  

But seriously, I wish you all the best and hope you guys are able to turn what you do now into a cool way to make money. Your products certainly are very good and that kind of quality makes me want to work a lot harder on my little vanity project.

Nogrod

m

grodog wrote:
Apparently I have the wrong hobby job

Your hobby job isn't the wrong one, it's just the respectable one. Now this is purely conjecture, but I have a feeling that by the second Sunday in June I will have a much clearer understanding in regards to the less respectable job.

But back to topic. How much turnaround do the artists need for illustrations. Cover, plus interior artwork for, let's say 32 pages. Also what kind of guidelines do you give the artists? Do you just hand them a manuscript? Or are you more specific?

With zero experience with this, it's my gut feeling that giving the artist a chance to do what they feel is right is far better than saying "I want seven kobolds removing a dragon's mother-of-pearl tooth from his mouth, while three more kobolds pull his tail and kick him in the 'jewels'. Oh and by the way I want kobolds with Mohawks. Blue Mohawks." If I had superior artistic vision, then I wouldn't want to pay for an artist.

But any experiences you could share about this would be of great interest to me. That's enough blathering out of me for now.

Zach

Hey all,

I was going to post a request on the cartographers guild site, but before I do I wanted to ask here first for recommendations for a cartographer and fantasy cartography in general. I will be looking for the aforementiocartridge soon for the module I have written, which is nearly finished the second proofread stage. I have all the maps done roughly in iDraw on my trusty iPad. I have all the software for doing this (CC3, GIMP, etc.), but none of the talent to make something in the quality I am now looking for.

As art and maps are a big part of the impression and perceived value given to a hobby project, I am willing to pay quite handsomely if necessary. I like old-school TSR maps (surprise), but I am willing to give a good cartographer a huge amount of artistic license to do what they do best. The only real requirement is that the maps be delivered digitally and be scalable.

Anyone here a mapmaker, or worked with someone they recommend (or even seen maps by someone that left a significant impression on them)?

Can anyone give a ballpark guess on what a good cartographer might ask for regarding compensation (I don't want the rights, just the ability to reprint them for any related project)?

Thanks,

Zach

Guy Fullerton wrote:I might have the time to do the rendering for your maps, but I'd need to know more about the magnitude of the project, the sort of maps you need done, and whether it's a for-profit project before I can give an estimate. I'll shoot you a PM...

Thanks Guy, I shot an email your direction with some details. I appreciate the reply.

Zach