If you wish to submit a map, there are 2 different topics to consider: Technical constraints and Balancing/Fairness.

It may also be wise to save any "project" files you have (if using Photoshop, Gimp, or something similar) so it's easy to make changes; you may also wish to separate the background / foreground (as well as part of those) onto separate layers.

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Technical Considerations
While the technical side of creating a map is fairly simple, most of these are iron cast.

• 1 block = 1 pixel
• All current in-game maps have a width of 300px
• height: 82-120px - All current maps have a minimum height of 82px and a maximum height of 120px. While these might have some flexibility, maps should probably stay within these dimensions. Most maps are either 108px or 120px
• Maps are composed of two images. A background (no transparency, and purely decorative) and a foreground (opaque pixels count as solid blocks, while transparent pixels allow players to walk through them (no blocks)). Please see the "Example" tab on what to actually submit.
• Note that on the foreground all blocks with even a little transparency are solid; as such, if you use a blur / brush tool, be sure to remove any unwanted, barely visible pixels (a magic wand tool with different thresholds can make this easier).
• All maps have 2 spawn points, and flag maps have a flag, as well as an additional flag and set of spawn points if it's a 2-flag map.
• Spawn points will remove any blocks within their area when placed, so if it's important for particular blocks to be present, leave plenty of space around it. Spawn points take up 8x7px
• While they don't destroy blocks within their bounds, it should be noted flags are around ~33x16.5px

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Balancing and Fairness (for consideration)
When creating a map, one of the most important things to consider is making sure it fun to play while still remaining challenging but fair (often known as "balancing"). While making a maps fun and interesting, keep these issues in mind:

• Fairness of spawn locations - Considering all aspects of a map, how fair are the starting positions for each team? If the flag is in the air, one team should not be above and right next to it if the other team would have to use conj to access it while also having to do a lot of digging.
• Fairness for new players - While maps shouldn't necessarily be tailored to make it super easy for new players, it should still be balanced for each team (consider making it easy for both teams to get there without to much effort; and don't make a ramp for one team, while making a giant pit in the way for another without possibly balancing it in some other regard.
• 2-flag maps - When creating a 2-flag map, try to consider the ramifications of the placement of the second flag. Don't forget much of the ground may be destroyed before it's spawned. Also, avoid spawning flags at the location of the defending/attacking teams previous spawn, as this can make a map with fair teams nearly unplayable (especially if not much time was left on the first capture). While making the first flag biased for one team while making the second biased for another is alright in moderation, don't make the first flag so biased that the second flag never even shows up.
• Environment - consider the surrounding landscape and it's effect on gameplay. Does one team have to do a lot of digging? Is a particular area on the maps a little to easy / hard to defend (especially if the opposing team has the opposite situation).
• Consider unexpected "originality" - Both beginners and veterans alike will often find way to break / take advantage of a map that you may not have considered at first glance. Make sure your map is playable even if players do unexpected things (even if you design a map in mind for players to go down, what happens if they go straight / up?)
• Contrast - When designing a map, remember to make it obvious what's part of the background and what isn't. Make sure the colors for the background and foreground aren't similar, don't make the background colors too "loud", and don't make the background to "busy".
  

When you submit a map, you should include 4 images, the type (game mode) your map is, and a description of any specifics, as well as things you've considered and why it a fun and balanced map. The images to include are: The completed map, the foreground, the background, and the completed map with "landmarks" listed on it (spawn points and flags [if applicable]). Note that the position of landmarks can be a specific as you want (but try to make sure they are still visible). And make sure you state what spawn(s) are the defending team's vs the attacking teams (if applicable).

The "foreground" of a map is important, as it's what defines what is a collide-able block and what is not a block. If using MS Paint or a similar program, you will not be able to save the foreground with transparency. To do this, you'll need to use a program that allows for an alpha/transparent layer (there's many free ones, including online image editors), import the foreground into it, and then remove the pixels you don't want to be blocks from the foreground.

Here's an example using Map 2:
Here is a "toxic waste" map with some trees:

Complete map.	Complete map with important things marked.
Foreground to show where the solid blocks are.	Background to show what's purely decorative.

This is a VIP map (although It could potentially work well as a domination map) and places both teams about the same distance on each side of the map. Both spawn points are about as easily defend able, with both sides having plenty of space to move around. both sides have to do some digging (or use conj) to get to the other team, and neither is placed in such a way that it has much of an advantage. The right side of the tree on the right can serve as a possible base, while the left side offers a fence for protection, with a possible base at the bottom left.

These are not official submissions! But are listed to show people's ideas that's don't fit submission standards (right dimensions, background/foreground, etc). Like submissions, the newest ideas are on top, with updates counting as "bumps".

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By: +Supergrunt

This map is a remake too...

The grey lines allow players to climb, even if you try with stairs it's not the same thing (+ it's too big ! ) .

SPAS-12 in that kind of map (because unbreakable map and no conj) are just useless... unless they take cover somewhere, without reticle bloom the first who shoot win.

SPAS-12 users CAN'T rush and you can't avoid snipers (we talk about walls ? ) .

It's possible but with snipers (op) and SPAS-12 users (useless) it's very very hard.

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By: Jjaakkee

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By: +Supergrunt

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By: Cheddarfist

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By: +Supergrunt

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By: Cheddarfist

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Submissions are posted here for people to view. The most recent will be at the top, although improvements to previous maps will count as a "bump" (but "necro bumping" a map with a very slight change will not be bumped).

Type - Map Name (optional) [Date] (Updated: Date)
By: <username>
Dimensions: 300x<height>px
<images>
Description

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Flag (2) - Ship [20 May 2016]
By: Cheddarfist
Dimensions (shrunk): 300x138px

This is a capture the flag map. The green line represents which direction might the players go.


Flag (1) - Volcano [19 May 2015]
By: fewfre
Dimensions: 300x108px
Imgur Album
This is a single Flag map with muted color for the background, and brighter reds / dark colors for the foreground. Top left purple is attacking team, bottom right blue is the defending. Initially the attacking team has the higher ground, but as the ground gets shot up they will fall below were they have to walk up just like defending team. Optionally, the defending team could start on the right side of the screen near the top.

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VIP - Cavern [10 May 2015]
By: fewfre
Dimensions: 300x120px
Imgur Album
This is an "ice" / cavern themed map, where each VIP starts on either end of the map. Many people will go right down to bottom center, and even for those who don't and go to the top and dig across the top, many will funnel down right into the mass of people fighting bellow as the top of the map gets destroyed from fighting. The bottom corners of the maps have some little caverns for the heck of it, and making it easier to dig tunnels for those that wish to.

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Domination - Chase [10 May 2015]
By: fewfre
Dimensions: 300x108px
Imgur Album
An attempt to have a "fair" domination map where 1 team starts out above the other. I have a filled in area between the spawns, with an easy way for the below team to go up and to the left to retreat. For above, while the "pros" will do whatever they want, the beginners can follow the path, and be potentially ambushed by the team below, taking away part of the "advantage" given by the team on top (except for those smart enough to dig).

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Domination - Cubes [21 April 2015]
By: fewfre
Dimensions: 300x108px
Background source
Imgur Album
This is a domination map with lines forming shapes. The main design of this map is having the whole map be separated into small chunks separated by thin lines. As they are thin, anyone who wishes may fairly easily shot through the blocks (sticking the barrel of the gun past it) or even clear it away easily. Yet it also greats a fence of sorts, making it hard for people to chase you without following your path, while also making it hard to run away without cornering yourself. It provides predictably placed footing, so even beginners should be able to spend some time off the bottom of the map until people start falling through and shooting up.

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Flag (2) - Airplane [19 April 2015]
By: fewfre
Dimensions: 300x90px
Imgur Album
This is a 2 flag map that takes place on clouds and an airplane (purple:defending, orange:attacking, green:flag). Both flags are on the airplane, as it's contrast will draw players to it. For the first flag, both spawns and the flag are on the bottom half of the map, with some digging required, but no conj 100% necessary. Most beginners will mostly likely follow the terrain to the flag. For the second flag, all the action takes place on the top half of the map. At least initially, all players should be able to easily get to the flag without conj. The flag also has a cloud above it to add a bit of a challenge to the attackers. While some people may eventually fall down, most people would most likely end up near the original flag, which is right below the second one. The setup of both set of spawns should fairly well limit the amount / ease of spawn killing.

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