How to draw realistic Coastlines, Rivers or Roads.

First open the BMP file you have produced using grid and save it in "gif" of even better in "png" format.

Let say that the map in BMP was 1627 kb big (a full map is always that big in BMP format).

Then the conversion into a gif file will produce a perfect clone of the BMP but which is only 320 kb and a ping would only be 67 kb!!!

Let's work on the ping format file. First, let's zoom in to the region upon which we want to correct the coastlines or draw rivers.

Drawing tips to produce realistic maps

1) Select a Region

Let's work on the ping format file. First, let's zoom in to the region upon which we want to correct the coastlines or draw rivers.

2) Edit the palette and select a foreground color ( blue here )

To edit the palette, double click on the foreground color and select the color you want. since grid only works with 16 colors, you shall not have a big choice. Do not worry f you think the colors are too bright now, we can still work them later, replacing one by another, hence obtaining a decent result.

3) Draw the coast or river over the map

Select first the width of the drawing tool (3 to 5 pix will do the trick).

Then draw the coastline or river course. Feel free to erase as much land or hexes grid as you want to get a realistic coastline or river course.

4) The coast has been drawn

The hexes grid and some portions of land hexes have been erased and replaced by a blue coastline.

5) Select a bare sea region to get a blank grid hexes

Use the rectangular selection tool to copy and paste as new image a blank portion of uniform color (blue for the sea or even green for plains).

6) Use the magic wand to select the intact hex grid

Then use the magic wand to select the black hexes grid and copy the selection. Activate the map you are drawing upon and paste as new selection the black hexes grid. Zooming in a lot will help you adjust the hexes grid.

6) The coastline is realistic and the hex grid is regenerated

The Coastline has been realistically drawn. You can add now aesily rivers or roads or borders using the same technique.