Digitally hand draw the Final Fantasy VII Overworld Map.
It’s already been quite a journey fleshing out this idea. From starting and stopping, to changing my mind on this and that and just overall feeling overwhelmed with the scope of this project that I overestimated it at the beginning. There was a time where I just completely stopped due to hardware limitations but also just feeling like maybe this is something I didn’t think I can see through to the end.
Maybe it was Quarantine 2020 and thinking that, “Hey, I have a bit more time to each day now that’s no longer spent commuting to and from work.” that I could actually accomplish this. And dammit I will! I had upgraded to a new drawing tablet, got some things to help me out during the process and just the joy of working on this while listening to music is what will get me through this. It’s also been therapeutic, the couple of times that I started it with the new drawing tablet which you can see here on the Equipment/Tech page.
HISTORY
I FORGOT ABOUT THIS | 2010
- Image Size: 1152×864 pixels
- Color Mode: RGB
- Resolution: 72 dpi
I have unearthed the very FIRST map I did. As you can see, the size of it was not very big. Well, compared to today’s standards of image sizes.
For this map, I just wanted a quick version of the FFVII map and then transform it into globe form. Then later added the Lifestream. Looking back on this, I’m actually quite surprised with the amount of details I had on the map since you could only see half of the land mass when transferred into the globe shape. I suppose if you were to quickly look at the top view of the map, you could potentially see which Final Fantasy map this would be.
This was actually a part of a very separate Final Fantasy VII project that I wanted to do which you can find in a separate post eventually…
THE BEGINNING OF THE DREAM PROJECT | 2015
- Image Size: 1600×1200 pixels
- Color Mode: RGB
- Resolution: 72 dpi
It was a start. It wasn’t pretty but it was a start to say the least. I had thought at the time that I was just going to keep this as a digital image. Looking at the old file now, I just think back and wonder…why’d I do that? I then decided to change it up, but still with the mind set that this was going to be a digital only project to make as a background wallpaper or something.
IT’S STILL A DIGITAL PROJECT? | 2015-2016
- Image Size: 4200×2550 pixels (14×8.5 in)
- Color Mode: RGB
- Resolution: 300 dpi
Still thinking this will be a digital project, I’m still working in RGB but upped the size of the canvas and worked with 300 dpi. This time I actually had some progress done on the Northern Crater and I was really happy with how that part turned out. But then sometime during this map, I wasn’t really happy with the quality of it overall. The overall land mass shape, was what I was not happy with it, as there were some parts of the map that were missing and I knew that would bug the hell out of me if I didn’t fix it. I had also noticed when I would zoom in at 200%, that the document was pixelized. Right then I knew, that it had to be redone.
Looking back at this file today, I can see how more simplified I made some of the mountains and shading and colors that I put down.
THIS IS IT! | 2017
- Image Size: 7200×5400 pixels (24×18 in)
- Color Mode: CMYK
- Resolution: 300 dpi
This is where I finally decided that I would commit to this project fully and make it so that I can print it out when I eventually finished. I remember deciding on sizing based on typical frame sizes. Might as well make it pretty big at this point. So, I decided to make it a 24×18 inch image. I also made sure my document was set before I even started doing anything because this was the 3rd time I’m having to start over on this damn map!
I also wanted to make sure I had a good amount of colors that I was happy with for the different areas of the map, starting at Midgar, then the Cosmo Canyon area and then the bright blue ice colors of the Northern Crater.
After going through the colors, I then retraced the various land masses in Adobe Illustrator. I spent a little more time making sure I had all the land mass that I wanted and to fix any lines and curves to make it look a little more natural. Having the vector base really helped while I was laying it all out back into Photoshop. Resizing it to see how big or small I can make it without quality loss. Why didn’t I just do that last time? derp.
LITTLE TO NO PROGRESS | 2018-2019
- Image Size: 7200×5400 pixels (24×18 in)
- Color Mode: CMYK
- Resolution: 300 dpi
This was when I was starting to have doubts about this project. I would once in awhile reopen my old map files and try to work on little bits here and there but I just wasn’t into it. Whether it be work, sports, gaming or life in general, it just felt as if I couldn’t just sit down and get some of this done. Also, I thought for the longest time that my hardware and Adobe was holding me back as it kept lagging as I worked or I kept thinking maybe I needed to upgrade my graphics card. I didn’t know what to do.
I just felt really down and as I’ve said before, I wasn’t even sure I’d be good enough to see this project through to the end.
CONTINUATION! | 2020
- Image Size: 7200×5400 pixels (24×18 in)
- Color Mode: CMYK
- Resolution: 300 dpi
It’s 2020 and I decided to actually get serious and get more progress done on this map! I even splurged and upgraded to a new display drawing tablet.
So far throughout the history of the map, I’ve only ever worked on the Midgar area. That is until recently when I was able to finish The Temple of the Ancients, added the fort of Fort Condor and half of Mideel island. There’s still so much more to go on the map but at least I feel better and motivated to keep moving forward.
SOME PROGRESS MADE | 2021-2022
- Image Size: 7200×5400 pixels (24×18 in)
- Color Mode: CMYK
- Resolution: 300 dpi
And here I thought things would start to progress a little more but things happened. I left my old job, challenges with mental health and seeking therapy. My current desktop PC is starting to show its age and despite it all trying to work with it. It’s still working but doing some very basic gaming and everyday computing and browsing.
Some positives did happen. I decided in order to continue my map progress, I needed a new machine to work on. It’s been really great so far and far better than what my desktop PC is capable of. I hope to make significant progress on this map in 2022. I’ve been feeling motivated again despite the constant mental health challenges I still currently face but I hope that this map will give me a lift. Leaving my old job for a new one, significantly improved that.
Map history gallery from then to now
