Campaign Map Tip 1 – Printing Grid Lines with Inkscape

Inkscape is a Vector drawing program which is rather cool for creating RPG Campaign Maps (both the program Inkscape, and Vector graphics), the only trouble I’ve had with it so far, is that I couldn’t figure out how to print the grid lines — which for RPG basically makes the program useless if you can’t do this…. awk!

It was a bit confusing, because Inkscape, like just about every other graphic design program, as a View->Grids function that you can set as a drawing aid, but nothing in there suggests a way to keep that grid in the Save or Print process.  However, they have a whole different function just for making grids as part of the map you are making.

Advice/Tip : Don’t use the View->Grid function. Use the layers when you start making your map. Create a new layer, then inside that lay, create your grid with the Effects->Render->Grid function. Set your spacing for the grid, and say OK… then Lock the grid layer, so it doesn’t move around on you — then save the file.

Now you have the grid on the page to use as a drawing aid, as well as being the grid you are going to print with your map for RPG movement and description.

As you make layers and put on the objects which model your campaign description, your grid is going to be covered up… simply raise the layer of the map grid up, so that it lays on top of everything else. If you do it this way, you won’t have the hassle of trying to match up the grid to the drawing later… which I just found out is a bit of a pain — and I’m actually redrawing a few things so that it matches the grid right now — yes.. as I’m writing this… awk!

You can also set the Opacity of the grid layer, so it looks nice… good touch there for the map.

Making maps is a pain — but, got to have them.