Cartography Criteria

This category includes the production of maps in a medieval or renaissance style.

DOCUMENTATION(3-30 points. SCORED 1-10 then MULTIPLY BY 3) Must have at least a 3x5 card (or A6 paper). More is acceptable, although one page should be more than enough, not including visuals and bibliography. 2 pages for exceptionally detailed and in-depth work. The best documentation will cover what they did in period, what the creator did in the project, and why the difference (if any). It will also explain any conscious compromises made, and provide footnotes, illustrations, and references, as well as any original research or experimentation as it applies to the project. Give score based on the following:
• A minimum of a 3 x 5 (A6) card with some of the following: Identification / description / use of the entry. Date and place/country of origin entry is modeled on, and style of cartography, reference
• Materials used in the project (type of inks and paper)
• Skills (necessary to complete the project)
• Methods and Tools used during the process (type of pens, type of ink, other tools)
• Research (country, period of origin, typical characteristics, etc.) Description of style or school characteristics or discussion of logic applied to design of entry.
• Artistic design

AUTHENTICITY (0-20 points) [SCORE 0-10 and then DOUBLE THE SCORE]
• 0: Blatantly modern (Ex. modern in alphabet design or materials, such as lined paper)
• 1: Out of period piece, but some knowledge of what would have been correct.
• 2: Use of period looking or actual period lettering style and map depiction.
• 3: Use of calligraphy pen and period-looking ink on period looking paper or parchment paper. Steel nib pens or fountain pens are all right. No use of felt tip pens. Apparent knowledge or application of period practice.
• 4: Generally period, with some obviously modern elements, or obvious mixture of elements for different cultures or periods (ex. Gothic lettering with early Italian style depiction)
• 5-6: Lettering, period; materials period or reasonable equivalents; overall period style and execution, with minor inconsistencies (ex. layout ) Drawn in a period style so a period navigator could use it.
• 7-8: Minor flaws in period fashion and perspective (not necessarily to modern scale), but done with period materials.
• 9-10: Above, plus special effort to achieve total period effect (Ex. Looks like a period map with countries, waters, cities, etc, named and put in proper period perspective); special effort to make entirely authentic and appropriate

COMPLEXITY (1-10 points) Rank the ambition of the entry, not the workmanship, keeping in mind that not all period items are complex. Judge on a scale of 1-10 based on the following::
• Layout, margins and spacing and.
• Difficulty/variety of design elements used
• Difficulty of depiction and perspective styles, color changes, use of pen flourishes and other enhancements
• Difficulty/variety of materials (ink, pens/nibs for lettering and map depiction, pigments, parchment or paper, etc.)
• Difficulty of composition tried (layout, proportion, balance, etc.)
• Scope of undertaking (size of work relative to amount of detail)
• Difficulty/variety of techniques attempted-charted, mapped, drawn, colored
• Extent of original work or ideas

WORKMANSHIP (3-30 points. SCORE 1-10 then MULTIPLY BY 3) Rank the quality of execution and success of the entry on a scale 1-10, based on the following:
• Use of effective layout, margins, spacing and nibs for style of lettering and map perspective.
• Lines straight, letters well spaced, forms consistent
• Control of medium (neatness, ink density, etc.)
• Letter and work spacing
• Design: period aesthetics, motifs, design (note: period sense of balance and proportion is not necessarily the same as modern) etc
• General proportioning (layout, proportion, balance, margins, etc.)
• Successful integration of personal embellishments and symbolism
• Form/Function: does it do what it should do and look as it should look?
• Period styling or personalization or special embellishment

AESTHETIC VALUE (1-10 points) Evaluate the work as a whole, rating the aesthetic effect and appeal beyond the mere technical proficiency. Consider how you react to the entry (intuitive response) and other items not previously addressed.