Inkarnate World Map Aesthetic Guide

1. Hide all layers.
2. Add filter layers (Add Layer, then Filter Layer) and keep them at the top of the Layers panel, using settings shown in the Filter Settings section.
3. Show Water (Brush). Before Inkarnate 2.0 this layer was called Background.
4. With brush tool, fill Water (Brush) with #3a7472. Painting with a color needs a paid plan.
5. Show Land (Brush). Before Inkarnate 2.0 this layer was called Foreground.
6. Set the Land Tool settings and the land layer's Land Style Options, using the settings shown in the Land Tool Settings section. Custom Land Style values need a paid plan.
7. Draw some land masses.
8. Using a smaller brush, chop up the edges. Flow water inward through inlets. Dot the coasts and waters with outcroppings and islands.
9. Add Textures with the Brush Tool. Recommended Textures for each terrain type are listed in the Recommended Textures section. Blend the textures using opacity 0.35.
10. Place stamps for mountains, hills, rocks, trees, cities, etc. See the Recommended Stamps section for the exact stamps and modifications I use for each. The Hue, Saturation, Brightness, Contrast, and Density changes need a paid plan.
11. Cut in rivers with the Land Tool in subtract mode. In the Rivers section, I detail the settings for 5 sizes of rivers, from broadest to narrowest.
    
12. Shading and shadows. This is the magic part!
    1. First, decide what direction your light will come from. I chose top-left. Use two different "Light" stamps to create a lit half and a shadow half of all elevated features: mountains, dunes, hills, etc.
    2. I put the gold stamp on the NW side of the features, and the black stamp on the SE side of the features. The exact settings for these stamps is in the Recommended Stamps section.
    3. Here is an example of a basic stamp, the Light overlays, and the finished result.
    4. When you're done, your Light layer might look like this.
    5. And your result will look like this.
    

    Light layer example:

    

    Final result:

    
13. Time for clouds. Add in cloud stamps wherever appropriate: magical or dreamy places, swampy or steamy places, stormy places, industrial places, foggy or mountainous places, etc.
    
14. Let's add a border. Use an opaque cloud stamp, and replicate it around the edges.
15. Time for labels. Use the Recommended Labels section for the fonts and styles I use.

    You're done!

Show Filters: On

Shape, Roughness, and Smooth are in the Land Tool. Enable Land Style, Stroke, Outer Shadow, and Ripples Effect are in Land Style Options, a button on the Land (Brush) layer in the right-hand panel.

Action: Subtract