Learn to Edit Map Text
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On a detailed map, the appearance of the text is one of most critical
aspects in the overall success of the illustration.
Obviously you have to make sure that your text is legible, but you can also
use font size and color to direct the viewer's attention. For example, if
you want to show the 10 cities where your stores are located, you can to
give those city names a large font and a bright color and make sure they are
noticed.
We construct our maps to give you maximum flexibility to control the
appearance of text. You can select and edit individual text objects, or you
can make glabal changes to entire text layers.
When you want to create an attractive map that conveys its message
effectively, make sure you understand how to use Illustrator's simple, but
powerful text tools. This short video will tell you what you need to know.
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Watch a video about working with map text.
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Coloring Your Map by Editing Fill and Stroke
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When it comes to map color, you have a tremendous amount of control over the
appearance of your map. And this is important because color doesn't just
contribute to the overall aesthetic appearance - it helps you convey the
information in your map effectively. For example, you can group significant
areas together by color, use a color key to show data, or highlight a
particular spot with a bright color.
Our maps are carefully constructed to take advantage of the power of
Ilustrator's color editing capabilities. You can select area objects such
as states or counties with color using "Fill", then further tweak the
appearance by adjusting the "Stroke".
Watch this short video to become acquainted with Fill and Stroke, and get
some ideas for conveniently selecting multiple objects.
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Watch a video about Color in our Maps
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Understanding Map Layers - Key to Working with a Map
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Maps contain a lot of information, so it's important to have the information
well organized. To help you with this, we save our map features in
logically organized feature layers. These layers make it very easy for you
to display exactly which features you want on the map, plus they are a great
assist in editing the maps.
When you open a map in Illustrator, layers are displayed in the Layers
Palette. To get accustomed to the Layers Palette and the structure of
layers in our maps, take a few moments and view this video.
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Watch a video about Layers in our Maps
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Vector Format - Best Choice for Maps!
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Maps are essentially lines, text and fill patterns, and these are best
depicted in a vector environment. Maps often contain a tremendous amount
of information, and vector format delivers unsurpassed clarity for small
font sizes, delicate boundary lines, and intricate coastlines.
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Even small details are legible on vector maps
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Vector format maps are Resolution Independent, which means they output
at the highest resolution of any printer or output device. You never
have to worry about producing a low resolution image.
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Resizing a Vector Map
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Another important advantage of vector format is that you can resize maps, larger or smaller,
with no loss of quality. No need to worry about poor resolution or bit mapped "jaggies". Once
you resize a vector map, you can rasterize it to suit web site, video or broadcast requirements.
To resize a map, use the Scale Tool. Select all so the entire map is selected. Using the Scale
Tool dialog box, enter a percentage value for your new scale in the dialog box that appears. Be
sure that you are using "Uniform" scaling so that the proportions of the map remain intact.
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Resize vector maps smaller or larger
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Separate Area Objects Enhance Creative Map Design
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There's a great advantage when the political areas of a map (eg. counties, states, and countries)
are drawn as separate objects. This allows you to select any object, then manipulate the object
independently from the rest of the map.
By editing objects independently, you can perform all sorts of design treatments to a map. For example,
you can color code states to show sales information. You can copy and paste to create custom region maps.
If you want to emphasize certain areas, you can add drop shadows or bevels. When it comes to editing objects,
the possibilities are endless!
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Select the object, then use fill or stroke to change color
To create a custom region map, select and group objects
Add a drop shadow to emphasize an object
Or use a bevel to attract attention
It's easy to add color or fill patterns to a black and white map
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Taking advantage of the individual objects provided in vector maps, see the following image for a great example
of using graduated fills. In Illustrator you can choose the colors and transition that best fits your needs.
Whether you use it to emphasise a particular area or simply as an aesthetic choice, graduated fills can enhance your map project.
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Graduated fill applied to the country's polygon
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Use an Inset Map to Help Orient Your Viewers
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Often it's helpful when talking about a specific area to create an inset map. The background map contains
a rectangle showing that illustrates the location of your subject area map.
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The Europe Map Shows the Location of the Detailed Map
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Working with vector format maps can be as simple or complex as you need.
Whether you are creating a simple web graphic or a complex trade show
display, a vector format map will give you a great looking image.
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