Developer of rayshader here: If you're interested in some of the thought process and details that went into creating and developing the package, I have a series of blog posts detailing them here (in order of appearance):

http://tylermw.com/throwing-shade/ HN comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17065264

http://www.tylermw.com/making-beautiful-maps/ HN comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17424061

http://www.tylermw.com/3d-maps-with-rayshader/ HN comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17697046

http://www.tylermw.com/3d-printing-rayshader/ HN comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17851229

http://www.tylermw.com/portrait-mode-data/ HN comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18282640