The Maps

The maps in this site were created referencing a combination of satellite images from Google Earth and maps in the references attached to each post. The tools used in creating the maps were Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. Hundreds of hours of research and design went into the development of each map. Each is a wholly original work, so they are copyrighted and protected by invisible Digimarc watermarks.

Light Source on the Maps / The Optical Illusion of Shadows

I have received some complaints that the shadows rendered on the maps, particularly those indicating elevations on the ground, are confusing. Some say that they misinterpret valleys as hills, and vice versa. Normally, when we look at a 3D image, the conventional rendering puts the light source in the upper left (making shadows fall to the lower right). However, I have put the light source in my maps to conform to the position of the sun at the latitude of each battlefield. So battlefields in the northern hemisphere would have their light sources coming from the south, and those in the southern hemisphere (e.g. Gqokli Hill and Isandlwana) from the north, rendering the shadows accordingly. Once you adjust your perception to where you are on the battlefield, the 3D rendering should snap into place.

Two Levels of Map

Each battle has two maps; the one posted is a low resolution map showing the position of each unit as a stylized symbol, and a high resolution version for sale, a 1:3600 scale version, where 1 px = 1 yd. 

Lo-Res Maps

Even in the lo-res posted battle maps, the troop formations are rendered in their actual scale size, showing the real-world footprint of each unit according to its contemporary spacing and formation. In typical maps, formations have traditionally been represented in out-of scale rectangles that only give a vague idea about how the unit was deployed and how much space it took up. I've sought to be more precise than that. It is important to me to see how much area an army actually occupied. Sometimes, given the strengths reported by sources, and the breadth of the ground, I've found that the armies would not have been able to fit into the space, which has led me to question the accepted deployment.

Hi-Res Maps to Order

I offer hi-res versions of these maps (1 px < =1 yd") for personal use.   Here is an example of what they look like blown up:



These detailed maps may be ordered as hi-res PDFs, JPGs (or any format you need) by contacting Jeff Berry at jeff@peoplesbranding.com. Cost is $30 (US) to download from an FTP site like Dropbox (they are usually 150 Mb to 1 Gb, depending on the size of the battle). I do not, as yet, have a shopping cart set up, but I can accept payment via PayPal. I have two levels of hi-res maps for sale:

  • A) Terrain map only, without troops -- $30 (US)
  • B) Map with stylized troop symbols (as posted) --$30 (US)

I would ask that, in using these maps you respect the copyright of the Jeffery P. Berry Trust. They are for private use and reference purposes only and not to be reproduced or re-posted, though feel free to link to them. Should you wish to use them to publish in your own book, article, game, website, or blog, please contact me or an authorized representative of the Jeffery P. Berry Trust to negotiate usage terms and licensing. Jeffery.berry@comcast.net.





Copyright 2024, Jeffery P. Berry Trust. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced or re-posted without permission the the Jeffery P. Berry Trust. However, feel free to link to this site from other, related sites for the purposes of sharing information.



9 comments:

  1. I have to say these are some of the most beautiful military maps I have ever seen, they are a pleasure to behold.

    I work as a cartographer for a military publishing house and these are inspirational.

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  2. High praise, indeed, George. Thank you. I'm humbled that I have inspired you

    I myself have been making and fascinated with maps since I was a kid. And I have professional experience from when I was in Naval Intelligence, making tactical and situational maps for my air wing and for embarked flag commands on my ship. It was one of many parts of that job that were fun.

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    1. I too am ex-Navy, Royal Navy, albeit a radio operator, joined in '68 at fifteen.

      I also looked at your blogs, I like your sense of humour. All the best.

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  3. With all due respect, most of these battles are not "obscure" at all, but were major encounters. Your maps are exemplary and add so much value to this blog. Too many books simply lack good maps! Cheers.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Some of them aren't "obscure", that is true. But to the vast majority of my readers, most are. As I have said too many times in the intros to these, the obscurity in most cases is in my idiomatic take, as I derive perverse pleasure in taking an iconoclast's position.

      Besides, I had to pick a name for the site, and as my first battles were fairly obscure (at least to people not familiar with the War of the Austrian Succession) it felt like a good name.

      Still, with due respect back, thank you for your compliments on my maps. Those were and are the primary reason for the site. I love doing them. And I love writing, too.

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  4. Even the less-than-obscure battles benefit from this kind of coverage. For the wargamer, this blog is an excellent resource. I wouldn't complain if "biggies" such as Waterloo, Austerlitz, Borodino or Auersatedt-Jena got this treatment.

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    1. Thank you, Paul, for your endorsement and your link. I'm glad you get the value of my increasingly misnamed blog.

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  5. Wonderful work deserves acclaim. We hope for more

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