map composition

Map Composition

ORMaking a Cool map

esf Laboratory for Applied GIS

2

Steps to Creating a Map1 Define the Purpose of the map

a. Audience? Professionals? Lay public?b. How will map be used?

2 Restate into a design problem3 Visualize the map4 Design solution - arrangement of

map’s image elements to facilitate communicationa. Sort of an outline

5 Graphic design


3

Map Elements used in design

• Main map• Smaller scale inset maps showing

location• Larger scale inset maps showing detail• Title of the map (usually prominent) • Subtitles• Legend (Only what is in the map!)• Scale (Only the Graphic scale. Xerox)• North Arrow (if not there up is assumed

N)


4

Map Elements used in design

• Graticule – a grid• Various text (notes, metadata, etc.)• Borders and neatlines• Symbols• Place names and labels • Photographs, Graphics• Mapped and unmapped areas (white

space)


7

Important Scale note• Scale

– A MUST!– Types

• graphic -- the scalebar• verbal -- 1” = 1 mile (watch this one)• a ratio 1/24,000 (this one too)

– Because of ubiquitous nature of Xerox machines the graphic scale is a must, the others are optional

If nothing else these indicate …Accuracy!


13

Basic rules of

Composition

Composition• How does the eye traverse the map• Balance of map – will it fall over?• Organization of map elements• Where is important stuff?• Division of space for interest• White space• Borders & neatlines• Text• Color


14


15

Focus

Field

Movement of reader’s eye - upper left to lower right


16

Composition: Planar Organization

• Balance – visual impact of arrangement

• is the map “heavy” at top, bottom, sides???

Geometriccenter

Visual center:5% of total

height aboveGeometric center --

Arrange contentaround

this point


17

Balance: Visual weight• Depends on location

– obj weight increases with distance from center

– obj at top are heavier than those at bottom– obj on right are heavier than those on left

• Depends on size (Duh!)• Depends on color, interest, and isolation

– Red>Blue, Bright>dark– complex > simple– isolated > groups

• For Example …


18

A B C

D E F


19

Which is better balanced?

A B C

D E F


20

Using Eye Movement Eye goes left to right

Generally you want the reader to see the map BEFORE seeing the legend – can’t

always do it


21

Unequal divisions of space more interesting than equal divisions


22

• St. Louis too far from visual center, balance not bad, however

• Hard to read name

Better, but a heavy on rightBalance with legend etc.


23

Location of St, Louis

Legend

-adf asdf

adfafffdsf


24


Don’t really need

since countries

are labeled


25

Size / white space problems

Is this a better balanced map?


26

Borders or Not• A dark fill works better than a light

fill in establishing a borderLocation of St, Louis

Legend

-adf asdf

adfafffdsf


Legend

-adf asdf

adfafffdsf


27

TEXT


28

Text• No more than two fonts

– Serif text, Sans Serif text• In each use the following to define

hierarchy– Normal. italic, bold, spacing, color– UPPER and lower case

• ALL UPPER CASE IS HARD TO READ• No fancy fonts• Big print for important stuff• Little print for not so important stuff


29

Using Color• Color is complex and tricky• There are definite color

preferences• There are definite color

combination preferences• There are standard color codes

(like for planning)• The map should NOT be garish!


30

Color-Price• Earth tones (Brown, green, blue)• Better than strident colors (red,

hot pink, purple) used only for small areas and for contrast or emphasis

• Pastels for larger areas, dark for highlights (focus attention)


31

More Color• Blues and greens calming

– Natural uses for water and vegetation• Reds and Oranges indicate danger• Avoid crosshatch fills – tiring• See pages 75-75 for more info


32

So• Creating maps is a creating a

document for a specific purpose -- to communicate something to the reader

• It is an iterative process• There are some basic rules or

guides that can be used – described above an in the on-line course module.


33

Summary of Guidelines1) Map layout – where are the pieces going

to go – major pieces – visual center – eye path – uneven juxtaposition of parts

a) The map area and what’s in itb) Legend placement (usually to right of map)c) Scale bar, North Arrowd) Balancee) White space

2) Map Title – Large – may not be needed


34

Summary of Guidelines3) Credits (Metadata) usually present4) Borders and neatlines.

a) Border around ALL map pieces or solid fill

b) Neatlines (or fill) around (in) various pieces

5) Color – tricky – but not garish!


35

4 0 4 8 12 16 Miles

BlewHylewRdlewis N

EW

S

Lewis Roads and Hydro

4 0 4 8 12 16 Miles

BlewHylewRdlewis N

EW

S



36

4 0 4 8 12 16 Miles

BlewHylewRdlewis N

EW

S

Lewis Roads and HydroLewis Roads and Hydro

N

EW

S

BlewHylewRdlewis

10 0 10 Miles

Blah balh blahBlah blah blahBlah blah blah


37

By Eustis B. Nifkin , Inc. Syracuse NY 10/10/05


N

EW

S

BlewHylewRdlewis

10 0 10 Miles


HydrologyLewis CountyHydrologyState & Cnty Highways


38

By Eustis B. Nifkin , Inc. Syracuse NY 10/10/05


N

EW

S

BlewHylewRdlewis

10 0 10 Miles


HydrologyLewis CountyHydrologyState & Cnty Highways

This map illustrates the a;dj;fa a;dljf a;dlfj aljdf a;sdf asdjf a;sdufdafdsf paseuef a;df;a ap[ef a;sduf asdfo aosdf [asdfi asdoif a[dsf [asdifdfi asdifd asdf


39

Things I discovered• The next maps you see took

several hours for the basic map• A really good map takes time• Turning on labels is ok but you

have no control (or limited control)• Convert to annotation allows

individual manipulation of the labels


40

£¤3

HARRISVILLE

WEST TURIN

TURIN

LEYDEN

HARRISVILLE

DIANA

PICKNEY

DENMARK

CROGHAN

GREIG

WATSON

LEWIS

OSCEOLALYONSDALE

MARTINSBURG

NEW BREMEN

MONTAGUE

LOWVILLE

LOWVILLE

CONSTABLEVILLE

LYONS FALLS

CROGHAN

PORT LEYDEN

£¤26

£¤12

£¤12

£¤12D

£¤410

£¤26

£¤12

£¤26

£¤177

£¤812

£¤126

• The basic map as it appears in map view

• Questions– Legend– Title– N arrow– Scale bar– Metadata– Neatlines

• Lewis is a bad shape because of upper left


41

Making a map• The basic map w/

title and N arrow• Where’s the

edge?• It was saved with

a Transparent fill. • No border to hold

the composition together!

£¤3HARRISVILLE

WEST TURIN

TURIN

LEYDEN

HARRISVILLE

DIANA

PICKNEY

DENMARK

CROGHAN

GREIG

WATSON

LEWIS

OSCEOLALYONSDALE

MARTINSBURG

NEW BREMEN

MONTAGUE

LOWVILLE

LOWVILLE

CONSTABLEVILLE

LYONS FALLS

CROGHAN

PORT LEYDEN

£¤26

£¤12

£¤12

£¤12D

£¤410

£¤26

£¤12

£¤26

£¤177

£¤812

£¤126

-Lewis County, NY: Towns and Villages


42

Making a map• The basic map w/

title and N arrow• Where’s the

edge?• It was saved as

Transparent• But the faint

border keeps it all together.

£¤3

HARRISVILLE

WEST TURIN

TURIN

LEYDEN

HARRISVILLE

DIANA

PICKNEY

DENMARK

CROGHAN

GREIG

WATSON

LEWIS

OSCEOLALYONSDALE

MARTINSBURG

NEW BREMEN

MONTAGUE

LOWVILLE

LOWVILLE

CONSTABLEVILLE

LYONS FALLS

CROGHAN

PORT LEYDEN

£¤26

£¤12

£¤12

£¤12D

£¤410

£¤26

£¤12

£¤26

£¤177

£¤812

£¤126


0 4 8 12 162Miles

0 4 8 12 162Miles

Where did thatcome from?Text and scale always stuck in middle of map


43

Making a map• Added more stuff

but background is still transparent

• Balance does not look too bad

£¤3

HARRISVILLE

WEST TURIN

TURIN

LEYDEN

HARRISVILLE

DIANA

PICKNEY

DENMARK

CROGHAN

GREIG

WATSON

LEWIS

OSCEOLALYONSDALE

MARTINSBURG

NEW BREMEN

MONTAGUE

LOWVILLE

LOWVILLE

CONSTABLEVILLE

LYONS FALLS

CROGHAN

PORT LEYDEN

£¤26

£¤12

£¤12

£¤12D

£¤410

£¤26

£¤12

£¤26

£¤177

£¤812

£¤126


0 4 8 12 162Miles

0 4 8 12 162Miles

This map showsthe Lewis County

Towns and Villagesserved by State

hightways. It was generatedfrom 1998 NFLII data (towns)and 2005 ALIS data. Map wasprepared by E.B. Nifkin andAssociates, Syracuse, NY10/10/2005


44

Making a map• Oops!• Put in a border

around map• It came up with a fill

color of yellow• Click on it and select

properties to fix• And where did the

second scale come from?

£¤3HARRISVILLE

WEST TURIN

TURIN

LEYDEN

HARRISVILLE

DIANA

PICKNEY

DENMARK

CROGHAN

GREIG

WATSON

LEWIS

OSCEOLALYONSDALE

MARTINSBURG

NEW BREMEN

MONTAGUE

LOWVILLE

LOWVILLE

CONSTABLEVILLE

LYONS FALLS

CROGHAN

PORT LEYDEN

£¤26

£¤12

£¤12

£¤12D

£¤410

£¤26

£¤12

£¤26

£¤177

£¤812

£¤126


0 4 8 12 162Miles

0 4 8 12 162Miles





45

Making a map• Ah!• Better• But kind of garish• But

– Balance good– White space OK– Legend?

£¤3

HARRISVILLE

WEST TURIN

TURIN

LEYDEN

HARRISVILLE

DIANA

PICKNEY

DENMARK

CROGHAN

GREIG

WATSON

LEWIS

OSCEOLALYONSDALE

MARTINSBURG

NEW BREMEN

MONTAGUE

LOWVILLE

LOWVILLE

CONSTABLEVILLE

LYONS FALLS

CROGHAN

PORT LEYDEN

£¤26

£¤12

£¤12

£¤12D

£¤410

£¤26

£¤12

£¤26

£¤177

£¤812

£¤126


0 4 8 12 162Miles

0 4 8 12 162Miles





46

Making a map• Aaah• Better• Still don’t like the

hole where the N arrow is

• Could put a legend there but this map does not need a legend

£¤3

HARRISVILLE

WEST TURIN

TURIN

LEYDEN

HARRISVILLE

DIANA

PICKNEY

DENMARK

CROGHAN

GREIG

WATSON

LEWIS

OSCEOLALYONSDALE

MARTINSBURG

NEW BREMEN

MONTAGUE

LOWVILLE

LOWVILLE

CONSTABLEVILLE

LYONS FALLS

CROGHAN

PORT LEYDEN

£¤26

£¤12

£¤12

£¤12D

£¤410

£¤26

£¤12

£¤26

£¤177

£¤812

£¤126


0 4 8 12 162Miles

0 4 8 12 162Miles





47

Making a map• Here is another

approach• Landscape• Harder to do

because map has to be smaller

• So– Added more text– Added a highway

legend after classifying the highways

• Ech

£¤3HARRISVILLE

WEST TURIN

TURIN

LEYDEN

HARRISVILLE

DIANA

PICKNEYDENMARK

CROGHAN

GREIG

WATSON

LEWIS

OSCEOLA LYONSDALE

MARTINSBURG

NEW BREMEN

MONTAGUE

LOWVILLE

LOWVILLE

CONSTABLEVILLE

LYONS FALLS

CROGHAN

PORT LEYDEN

£¤26

£¤12

£¤12

£¤12D

£¤410

£¤26

£¤12

£¤26

£¤177

£¤812

£¤126

-

0 4 8 12 162Miles

This map shows the Lewis CountyTowns and Villages served by Statehightways. It was generated from 1998NFLII data (towns) and 2005 ALIS data.Map was prepared by E.B. Nifkin andAssociates, Syracuse, NY 10/10/2005asd -aea 'aekr ' sda apeora 'fkgl;dieoaod apdope apdap pao[g[g[o[s[pprsgspf spopgisr pfigpiriri9rei;spsirpiprpsgpg-r-e-erfkks;vkpspsptiskkkkbspitipspsriti

Lewis County, NY

State Highway NumbersStatehighwaysHWY_NUM

12

126

12D

177

26

294

3

410

812


48

• Hummmm

£¤3HARRISVILLE

WEST TURIN

TURIN

LEYDEN

HARRISVILLE

DIANA

PICKNEY

DENMARKCROGHAN

GREIG

WATSON

LEWIS

OSCEOLA LYONSDALE

MARTINSBURG

NEW BREMEN

MONTAGUE

LOWVILLE

LOWVILLE

CONSTABLEVILLE

LYONS FALLS

CROGHAN

PORT LEYDEN

£¤26

£¤12

£¤12

£¤12D

£¤410

£¤26

£¤12

£¤26

£¤177

£¤812

£¤126

-

0 4 8 12 162Miles

This map shows the Lewis CountyTowns and Villages served by Statehightways. It was generated from 1998NFLII data (towns) and 2005 ALIS data.Map was prepared by E.B. Nifkin andAssociates, Syracuse, NY 10/10/2005asd -aea 'aekr ' sda apeora 'fkgl;dieoaod apdope apdap pao[g[g[o[s[pprsgspf spopgisr pfigpiriri9rei;spsirpiprpsgpg-r-e-erfkks;vkpspsptiskkkkbspitipspsriti

Lewis County, NY

State Highway NumbersStatehighwaysHWY_NUM

12

126

12D

177

26

294

3

410

812


51

Booby Trap• When you make scale bar it is grayed

out?• Why?

– You didn’t set map and distance units• If there are no map units then ArcGIS

has no idea what they are ---probably no metadata

• If map units are m and you don’t want scale bar in meters then you have to set the distance units

• Where?

map composition

Documents

applied gis3map elements

applied gis5the elements

applied gis4map elements

applied gis10the elements

applied gis11the elements

applied gis9the elements

applied gis6the elements

applied gis8the elements