I started making maps about 3 years ago for the Interstate82 mod over at is82.com
What I have learned so far includes the following(that I can remember anyways):
I use Battlecraft for starting a map, sculpting a general layout of terrain, placing objects(except vegetation).
I am still getting my feet wet with Editor42. So far, I use it for texturing terrain, placing mass objects like trees and shrubs, terrain touch-up, and to improve the in game map's appearance.
Besides using those two programs, I can add music to maps, skyboxes from other maps, add custom objects from other maps(kind of like a thief would, but I try to get permission when I can or at least give proper credit) and a few little tricks I have learned from foOk and others in the Interstate community. Such as, proper fog begin and end, view distance, and lod distance. Also, adding load screen and thumbnail images.
I don't really know much else
I tend to be a monkey see monkey do kinda mapper, but if I sit myself down long enough I'll figure out how to get what I need done. The programs I have used for mapping in one regard or another include:
BC42
ED42
MDT 2.75
Gmake
PhotoShop(Had a trial copy, not sure what version it was, I could really use that again!)
Audacity(for converting MP3 files to WAV)
Not much but I certainly make due!!
Cheers
