#Writing-related question: seeking recommendations for easy-to-use, free or very inexpensive #shareware, #Mac-compatible #drawing #software for #mapmaking.
Currently I'm working on a writer's bible for the Stationverse, called "The Silmarillisaurus" because of course it is. For my own use, mainly—a shared world would be neat, but if that ever happens it will be a long time from now. This is for me to keep track of everything.
What I have in mind is really basic. I don't have Tolkien's sketching ability, so I figure I'll draw something simple and then try to pretty it up a bit on screen. Drawing and cloning symbols for mountains, trees, etc., along with lines for shores and rivers and roads, then cloning and pasting as needed.
(*Dedicated* map-making software that allowed me to do things like topo lines would be nifty, but I'm not expecting that.)
Untold æons ago, I was actually pretty decent with Illustrator, at least for a non-artist. Those skills are gone now, like tears in rain, and so is a registered copy I can use on anything resembling a modern OS. Simple and cheap is what I'm after.
Oh yeah—I'm also open to working with an artist who can take my crude sketches and turn them into something publishable. I can pay, just not much right now, and I don't want anyone to feel ripped off. You may be noticing a theme here.
You already have Freeform installed in macOS... worth a look?
@medigoth
Yes.. whiteboard.. but it has some tools in there.
I've used Affinity Design for some years for simple tasks, like editing SVGs. It's an Illustrator level app.. but it's 1-time purchase and there's usually 1 or 2 sales per yr ~50%. That said, Affinity was sold ~1yr ago to an Oz company that does subscriptions.
Pixelmator Pro (photo app) may be worth a look. Apple bought it ~6months ago. It does some vector/drawing. Not yet an Apple app, but may be a free upgrade when it is.