Title: Mapping Principles: Making Your Map Look Good 2006 MAGIC Symposium Kansas City, Mo April 2327, 2006
1Mapping PrinciplesMaking Your Map Look
Good!2006 MAGIC SymposiumKansas City, MoApril
23-27, 2006
- Micah CutlerGIS CoordinatorHarrison
CountyLogan, Iowa
2Overview
- Elements of a Map
- Map Design Considerations
- Map Symbols
- Principles of Color
- Text Placement
3Beginning the Design Process
When making a map, consider the following
questions
- What elements need to be included on a map?
- How should those elements look?
- How should they be arranged?
4TALDOGS
T - Title A - Author L - Legend D - Date O -
Orientation G - Grid S - Scale
This acronym will help you remember what to
include on a map.
Source South Carolina Geographic Alliance
5T Title
TALDOGS
- On a cadastral or road map, it is most likely the
name of the county or area. - On a thematic map, such as house values, it
should include the name of the area and the main
subject of the map. - Ex Eagle Ridge Subdivision
- 2003 Parcel Land Values
6A Author
TALDOGS
- The organization or person who made the map.
- This also include the source of the data if it is
different that the person who created it. - Examples
Prepared by Harrison County GIS 712-644-1324 gis_at_
harrisoncountyia.org Data compiled by the
Harrison County Assessors Office.
Prepared by Harrison County GIS 712-644-1324 gis_at_
harrisoncountyia.org
7L Legend
TALDOGS
- Explains the symbols used on the map.
- Clear and easily readable.
- Symbols should try and be the same size as they
are on the map. - Examples
8D Date
TALDOGS
- Always include when the map was created or the
date of the original data. - I include a printed date and the date of the
aerial photography, if appears on the map. - Examples
Printed 8 JUNE 2004
- Digital Orthophotography flown on March 1, 2000.
IMPORTANT NOTICE All data posted is certified as
of January 1, 2003
9O Orientation
TALDOGS
- Generally maps are drawn with North towards the
top of the map and South towards the bottom. - Very localized maps such as those for shopping
malls or parks are often oriented around the main
point of entry. - Include a north arrow, even if it seems obvious
there are a lot of poor map readers out there! - Examples
10G Grid
TALDOGS
- This is the most difficult at the county level.
- Includes latitude/longitude A-1, B-3 type grid,
etc. - My personal opinion the township and
range/section boundaries provide a location grid. - Many software programs will automatically put on
a latitude/longitude grid. - A location map (overview map) also works well.
11Overview Map
TALDOGS
- The overview map helps the map reader know where
in the county he or she is examining.
12S Scale
TALDOGS
- A map's scale is a ratio that relates a unit of
measure on a map to some number of the same units
of measure on the earth's surface.
13S Scale
TALDOGS
- The larger the number, the smaller the scale.
- A map of an area 100 miles long by 100 miles wide
drawn at a scale of 163,360 would be more than 8
feet square. To make the map a more convenient
size, either the scale used or the area covered
must be reduced.
14Disclaimers
- Its always a good idea to include a disclaimer
on your map. This one should look familiar - The Data is provided as is without warranty or
any representation of accuracy, timeliness or
completeness. The burden for determining
accuracy, completeness, timeliness ,
merchantability and fitness for or the
appropriateness for use rests solely on the
requester. Harrison County makes nor warranties,
express or implied, as to the use of the Data.
There are no implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular
purpose. The requester acknowledges and accepts
the limitations of the Data, including the fact
that the Data is dynamic and is in a constant
state of maintenance, correction and update.
15Putting it Together
- Now that you know what should go on a map, its
time to arrange the individual elements. - This is like decorating, there are some general
rules, but it all comes down to personal taste.
16Map Aesthetics
- The quality of a map is also in part an
aesthetic matter. Maps should have harmony
within themselves. An ugly map, with crude
colors, careless line work, and disagreeable,
poorly arranged lettering may be intrinsically as
accurate as a beautiful map, but it is less
likely to inspire confidence. - -John K. Wright, Map Makers Are Human,
- Geographical Review 32 (1944) 527-44.
175 Principles of Map Design
- CONCEPT BEFORE COMPILATION - Once concept is
understood, no design or content feature will be
included which does not fit it.
- HIERARCHY WITH HARMONY - Important things must
look important, and the most important thing
should look the most important. Harmony is
subliminal.
- SIMPLICITY FROM SACRIFICE Its not what you put
in that makes a great map but what you take out.
The map design stage is complete when you can
take nothing else out.
- MAXIMUM INFORMATION AT MINIMUM COST - How much
information can be gained from this map, at a
glance.
- ENGAGE THE EMOTION TO ENGAGE THE UNDERSTANDING -
Only when the reader engages the emotion, the
desire, will they be receptive to the map's
message. We are not just prettying maps up. The
philosophy is simple, beauty (aesthetics) focuses
the attention. - Focusing the attention is the purpose of map
design! - - Society of Cartographers
18So What is a Good Map?
- To really focus, you need to ask yourself these
questions - What is the goal of the map?
- Who will read the map?
- Where will the map be used?
- What data is available for the composition of the
map? - What resources are available in terms of both
time and equipment?
19Map Composition
- Good map composition should
- Stress the purpose of the map.
- Direct the map readers attention.
- Coordinate the base and thematic elements of the
map. - Maintain good cartographic conventions (TALDOGS).
- COMMUNICATE.
20Simplify or Detail?
depends on the scale and size of the final
product.
21Design Considerations
- Visual Balance use the natural shape of your
county or region.
- Look for white space that allows for text
placement.
22Figure and Ground Organization
- People tend to organize the visual field into
- Figures important objects
- Grounds things less important
- Use contrast distinguish important from
unimportant parts.
23Contrast
- Lines labels, borders, neatlines, political
boundaries, symbols, etc. - Line character type and color
- Line weight thickness
- Texture or pattern
- Color
- Visual acuity (measures the size threshold at
which the eye can distinguish or read) - Dont want symbols and text too small or too big
24Text Contrast
- Masking text and symbols works well for giving
importance and clarity.
- Notice the text Woodbine and road names.
25Contrast
- The shading for water along the coastline
provides nice contrast to the land.
- Also notice that the text label for the water is
italicized.
26Hierarchy
- Contrast, shading, color, and text masking are
all techniques used to create hierarchy.
- The focus or most important part of the map
jumps out at you first.
27Map Symbols
- Take time to research commonly-used symbols and
conventions. - Use line weights and colors to make your symbols
stand out.
28Map Symbols in ESRI Software
- ESRI software comes with tons of symbols for
lines, points, and polygons. - Often these symbols can be modified slightly to
get the exact look you are after.
29Why Use Color?
- Color simplifies and clarifies, as well as
unifies various map elements. - Color affects the general perceptibility of the
map. - Color elicits subjective reactions to the map.
People respond to colors it creates mood.
30Color Wheel
- Many believe that providing complementary colors
in a composition establishes stability. - Complementary colors are opposite on the color
wheel.
31Color Balance
- Use color balance so that dominant colors
occupying large areas do not overpower the
remainder of the map. - Since areas are fixed in geography, only choice
of color is possible when planning balance. - Remember what is pleasant to one map reader may
not be pleasant to another.
32Map Lettering
- Map lettering should be viewed first as a
functional symbol, only secondarily as an
aesthetic object. - Need to consider
- Selection of lettering type
- Placement on map
33Choosing Text Style
- When considering text styles, keep the following
points in mind - Legibility of individual letters (dont want to
confuse c and e or i and j). - Avoid extremely bold forms.
- Dont use decorative typefaces too difficult to
read.
This would not be a good choice. Neither would
this.
34Point Label Placement
- Chart at the right shows the preferred order of
text placement around a point. - Text should be horizontal if possible.
- Town names should be located on the side of the
river on which the town is located.
35Examples of Point Label Placements
36Linear Feature Label Placement
- Linear features rivers, streams, roads,
railroads, paths, airlines, etc. - Repeat as often as necessary to facilitate its
identification. - Ideal location is along a horizontal stretch.
- Prefer italicized labels for hydrology features.
37Labeling vs. Annotation
- Annotation MUCH higher time investment, but can
be used repeatedly - Labeling useful when printing one-use maps at
many different scales
38Areal Features Label Placement
- Ideally, put the label entirely inside the
polygon feature. - Dont hyphenate names.
- If lettering is not horizontal, make sure it
deviates significantly, so that its placement
wont look like a mistake. - Never position text so that parts are upside down.
39Areal Features Label Placement
40Title and Legend Text
- Titles are generally most important largest
type size. - May position title or title boxes overlapping
other features. - Legend materials medium reflect their position
in the hierarchy. - Map sources, notes, etc. in the smallest type
size.
41Title Placement
42What Id like you to remember
- TALDOGS
- Know your audience/purpose
- Examine good maps and adopt/ adapt similar
colors, layouts, etc. - Good map design takes practice and lots of
revisions - Map design is subjective but we know ugly maps
when we see them
43Questions? Comments? Opinions? Thank you!
- Micah CutlerGIS Coordinator
- Harrison County, Iowa
- 712-644-1324
- gis_at_harrisoncountyia.org
- This presentation can be found at
- http//igic.gis.iastate.edu/resources/aboutGIS/
- Keywords cartography, presentation