How to create real maps?

[Roman]

Any method to create a map? I ever tried but forgot how to do it.
I want to make a map of Usuahia a pbem Argentina vs Chile.

[Mobhack]

Well, see the sticky re height maps at the top of this forum, I think tthe tool still works?

That gives you the basic elevations and you then fill it in from looking at a google maps overhead view. I certainly recall using the tool and that method to do an Imphal/Kohima map a few years ago.

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by Roman

Any method to create a map? I ever tried but forgot how to do it.
I want to make a map of Usuahia a pbem Argentina vs Chile.

My opinion:

the easy way - use google maps or some similar site and build the map from this. Focus on getting the main elements of the location in place, where are the urban areas, water obstacles, woods and roads - use artistic licences and don't worry too much if the details are not perfect - like having exact distance between villages, or if you're working from a modern map but building a 1950s map things have probably changed greatly - urbanization, hard surface roads etc might differ - don't worry too much about this though..., the map will never be perfect anyway..., add location names, maybe name some interesting buildings...


the expect your marriage to suffer way - use the venhola program. This produces a superior result, sets the height terrain in one easy go - but is time consuming as it offers a crazy amount of information if you wish to use all of it. Exact length of an airfield runway for instance, location of individual hedgerows in Normandy, the exact location of all roads hex by hex - it will not always be possibly to apply on a game map - but still there is a massive amount of information and building a max size map takes time. Use two screens if possible - you will be counting hexes.

A drawback with venhola is it being somewhat unstable. It seems to need regular maintenance to run properly and typically it works for a while, say a couple of months, then starts to degrade and lose the map layer with location names while the satellite layers and hexgrid still works...

Right now venhola does not work for me. I can not navigate the map in any layer. You might have better luck.

https://www.venhola.com/maps/

[Roman]

Thanks for the suggestions!!
I think I'm going the easy way using the google maps kilometer counter to measure the map in general and details.
I am seeing that with the land relief button I can also see the height of the elevations.