8/10/2019 111591716 Turning Maps Into Globes in GIMP by Arsheesh

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Turning Maps into Globes in GIMP A Cartography Guild Tutorial | By Arsheesh 1

Contents

Introduction Page 1

Map Object Page 1

Introduction

This is a quick and easy tutorial which shows how to turn a two

dimensional world map into a global sphere, using GIMP.

How to Use this Tutorial

Throughout the tutorial I will offer explanatory text and screencapture figures describing the methods we are using, followed

by highlighted key commands which will look like the following:

What You Will Need

I will be using version 2.6.10 of GIMP. You will need a flattened

copy of a world map. The height to width ratio of this map

ought either to be 1:2 (for a view of the entire world), or 1:1 (for a

view of only one side of the world).

Map Object

For this tutorial Ill use my world map of Eriond to illustrate the

steps involved. Begin by opening a flattened copy of your world

map in GIMP; heres mine:

Figure 1: Flattened World Map

Click on your Filters menu, select Map and in the drop down

menu for Maps select Map Object.

General Options Settings

A pop-up window for the Map to Object feature should appear

and should look something like Figure 2. In the options menu

under general options, select Sphere from the Map To field.

This is the option that maps your image onto a sphere. Also

make sure to select Create new image and the Transparent

background fields. When the first option is checked, a new

image will be generated from the Map Object command, thus

preserving your original World Map image. With the second

option checked, this new image will have a transparent, rather

than a white background image.

Light & Material Settings

Im going to use the default values for these fields, but if you

want you can adjust the color, position and intensity of the light

settings using these options.

DIFICULTY LEVEL: Begin

Turning Maps into Globes in GIMPA Cartography Guild Tutorial by Arshees

Image > Canvas Size > Lock Aspect Ration > 100px > Center > Resize

Filter > Map > Map Object

Options > Map to: Sphere >Transparent Background >Create New Image

8/10/2019 111591716 Turning Maps Into Globes in GIMP by Arsheesh

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Turning Maps into Globes in GIMP

A Cartography Guild Tutorial | By Arsheesh 2

Orientation Settings

Notice how in the preview window of Figure 2 the global view of

Eriond is dominated by the ocean. I wanted to feature more

land in my global map so I went ahead and adjusted the

orientation settings. Under the Orientation menu the Rotation

settings make the object rotate along the X, Y and Z axes.

Adjusting the image along the X axes rotates the image either

clockwise or counterclockwise. Adjusting the image along the Y

and Z axes rotates the image either to the right or to the left.

You can experiment with these options and then click on the

Preview button to see the adjusted orientation of the globe.

I decided I wanted more of the western continent in view so I

rotated the globe 75 degrees along the Y axes, thus moving it to

the right (see Figure 3). I was happy with the results and so

clicked OK to generate the globe (See Figure 4).

Figure 2: General Options Settings

Figure 3: Orientation Settings I Chose

Figure 3: Initial Global Image

Turning the Oval into an Orb

As you can see, the global view of Eriond turned out to be an

oval shape. This is because I am working with an image that has

a height to width ratio of 1:2 (if you are working with an image

with a height/width ration of 1:1 the globe should be ci rcular).

To transform this Oval into an orb shaped globe, simply go to

your Image menu, click on scale image and select ScaleImage. In the pop up window that emerges, click on the chain

link symbol to the right of the width and height fields to unlock

the aspect ratio and then edit the Width fieled to match that of

your height, then press Scale (See Figure 5).

Figure 5: Unlocking the Aspect Ratio to Adjust Width

Finally, lets get rid of that excess transparent space surrounding

the globe. Go to Image and select Autorcrop Image.

Thats it! Your map should now look something like the global

view of Eriond featured on the front of this Tutorial.

Orientation > Rotate Y axes (75) > OK

Image > Scale Image > Unlock Aspect Ratio > Set Width = to Height

Image > Autocrop Image