Are you allowed to use a map that isnt yours?

[P Gizzle]

are you allowed to use a map that isnt yours as a template, and create the borders, and etc. as long as u give credit?

[P Gizzle]

bump! does anyone know? because im horrible at graphics, but i can think of some good ideas.

[cowshrptrn]

depends on how much u modfiy it, if its pretty non-recognizable as the original map it should be ok. U're talking about an outside map, right? not an existing CC map?

if you just trace the borders of an atlas or something then you dont' need to credit it, but if its a fictional place then i'd say yeah.

[P Gizzle]

yeah, im talking about a map on like, an online atlas. could i use the outline of it and fill it in on paint, or whatever. i would still credit the site

[zim]

P Gizzle,

The maps on the wikipedia are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License so if you're looking for a map of part of the real world to use you should be able to find one there.

...that gives readers the same rights to copy, redistribute and modify a work and requires all copies and derivatives to be available under the same license. Copies can also be sold commercially, but if produced in larger quantities (greater than 100) then the original document or source code must be made available to the work's recipient...

So as long as you give everyone the right to copy, redistribute and modify your map you should be OK.

If you can't find anything their that will work you may want to look for something via the Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org/image/). Check the "I want to use the image in other works box" and anything you find should be remixable.

Zim

[P Gizzle]

Sweet, im gonna try building a map now!

so, i can build on a map from Wikipedia? or any map from a link from wikipedia?

[sully800]

Don't use paint. Use a legit program like inkscape....if you don't know how to use anything but paint: Learn. It will not only make your map much better, it will probably make your life a lot easier as well.

[P Gizzle]

use one of those free tools jota was talking about?

[ttocs]

by the way, what is the best mapmaker tool?

[P Gizzle]

yeah that would be helpful, if im goning to make the NCAA map

[zim]

Sweet, im gonna try building a map now!

so, i can build on a map from Wikipedia? or any map from a link from wikipedia?

Gizzle, anything inside the wikipedia.org domain is probably fine but links to content not hosted at wikipedia.org could be under any type of license.

Zim

[P Gizzle]

geez, that's quite a restriction. allright. any other sites i can take maps from? can i take any from Gov't sites?

[P Gizzle]

i think i can take from gov't sites, since the box below this map says something about a common, such and such. please look and give me feedback



http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Electoral_map.png

[zim]

i think i can take from gov't sites, since the box below this map says something about a common, such and such. please look and give me feedback



http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Electoral_map.png

Gizzle,

That's even better for your purposes than the GFDL or a CC license it's in the public domain so you can do with it as you please, your tax dollars at work...

Zim

[P Gizzle]

all right! so, i can take from a gov't site? that'll be the easiest to find a good map. what's the best tool to draw over a map?

[zim]

all right! so, i can take from a gov't site? that'll be the easiest to find a good map. what's the best tool to draw over a map?

P,

You can take the map you reference earlier, I think you're probably OK for any US government map that isn't labeled otherwise but I can't say for sure.

In terms of tools if you're a mac guy Inkwell is probably the best way to go (I used Illustrator for mine but it's more complex and expensive than you need). On windows or linux I'm not sure what the best vector drawing program is currently. The key is you want something vector rather than raster or bitmap based. Hopefully someone else can give you a specific reco...

Zim

[haha]

there already a map of the us so i dout it will be sucksesfull

[P Gizzle]

ok, well im windows. im on a new laptop. i got it in july, so if that helps. Well, whatever's easiest.

[RexRegis]

http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1410

And for image development, many users have sworn by:
Fireworks 30 day free trial.
GIMP Free, open source.
Google's 'Picasa' Free download.
Fireworks 30 day free trial.
Illustrator 30 day free trial.
Inkscape Free, open source.
Photoshop CS2 30 day free trial.

[Nous-irons]

GIMP > all

Also, just put the GFDL in small print, like most of the maps. I think Wikipedia maps are excellent to draw from, and there are no copyright issues. The public domain maps don't even need notices legally, although to avoid the issue of plagiarism credit should be given. (Plagiarism is an ethical, not a legal, issue.)

Check out some of Yue Ninjie's maps on Wikipedia.

[P Gizzle]

GIMP > all

Also, just put the GFDL in small print, like most of the maps. I think Wikipedia maps are excellent to draw from, and there are no copyright issues. The public domain maps don't even need notices legally, although to avoid the issue of plagiarism credit should be given. (Plagiarism is an ethical, not a legal, issue.)

Check out some of Yue Ninjie's maps on Wikipedia.

im using wikipedia maps on the French and Indian War map, and the Spanish Conquest map. and i will have my map making partner download gimp. he's doin the graphics, while i do geography and playability