iPad Pros

Making Maps with Jason McFadden (iPad Pros - 0234)

Oct 9, 2025
Jason McFadden, a structural designer and cartography enthusiast, dives into the art of fantasy map-making using an iPad and Procreate. He shares his journey from a childhood fascination with paper maps to creating intricate digital landscapes. Discover how MapEffects brushes transformed his mapping experience and the tools he loves for crafting cities, dungeons, and expansive worlds. McFadden also discusses the unique challenges of being left-handed in digital art and how he incorporates maps into storytelling and gaming.
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ANECDOTE

From CAD Workstation To Creative iPad

  • Jason has owned five iPads and uses an iPad Air M2 with 256GB and Pencil Pro for creative work.
  • He balances heavy PC work (AutoCAD, structural design) with tablet-based creativity and reading.
ANECDOTE

Paper Maps Sparked A Hobby

  • Jason grew up navigating with paper maps and still enjoys cartography as a hobby.
  • That old habit inspired him to start building fantasy maps to visualize worldbuilding for stories.
ADVICE

Use MapEffects With Procreate

  • Try Procreate plus MapEffects brushes to speed up fantasy map creation and lower the learning curve.
  • Start with free MapEffects brushes to test workflow before buying larger bundles.
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