Vector Shapes and Vineyard Map Design?

[Silentbronco]

I work at a small consulting company and my boss recently asked me to make some maps using photoshop. However, I am generally inexperienced with photoshop and do not fully understand how to make the maps look perfect.

My questions:
What settings would increase the accuracy of my vector shape lines? I waste loads of time making sure lines are straight, is there any way to speed this up? I tried using the grid setting, but that didn't help.

For example, the attached drake.psd file. I do not understand how to link shapes for a less choppy line instead I just draw two different shapes with similar points and the shapes directly adjacent to one another usually look wrong and It is very obvious. The block division between PN3 and PN4 blocks is a perfect example, I couldn't get the shapes exactly similar so I had to approximate. How can I make this more exact?

-SB

 

[Silentbronco]

Sorry for the double post. New and I don't how to edit my submission...

What would be some general design improvements I could make to the map?

 

[ibclare]

This being Photoshop, there are any number of ways to do this, but you will need to make guidelines so that you know the angles of the lines.

You can create rectangles using the shape tool set to path or if you have a fill color - as it appears you want - make that your FG color. Make your shape the approximate size but longer. Use the transform tool to line it up properly. Activate the selection of the perimeter shape (ctl/cmd click on its thumbnail) and add a mask to the rectangular shape tool and ctl/cmd + I to invert it. I think the cleanest way to outline the shape is to use the layer fx option at the bottom of the layer panel and add stroke, choosing line width and color.

Another, probably simpler, way is to use the polygonal lasso and make these lines, and you wan't have to transform them because you can initially make them at the correct angle and placement. Use the same technique making the rectangle larger, activating perimeter selection and masking the unwanted rectangle parts, then adding layer stroke.

The shape tool will create it's own layer; you make a new layer for the lasso tool selection.

The pen tool will work nicely as well, but requires you to learn, especially if you are going to duplicate the exact edge of the perimeter, but it will do a beautiful job. I wouldn't go that route unless you are going to make a lot of these. If you are, I would recommend using a simple method for the immediate maps, and learn the pen tool simultaneously. Once you're familiar with it, try doing it with the pen tool. If you can't get the hang of it, nothing lost. You can always keep trying.

If you need a tutorial, I can do this later, but I'm on my way out the door soon.

 

[Silentbronco]

I would like to learn how to use the pen tool since I have upwards of 80 ranches to make maps for. Currently I am using the pen to outline and separate the different blocks. However, the lines are hard to keep straight and when I need to be exact, the lines often look incorrect and poor. I would like to learn how to duplicate the exact edge of the perimeter. A tutorial, if you have the time, would be awesome.