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Adobe Illustrator

Dec 26 2020

Custom Type for Call-Out Boxes

To call attention to type labels on your map, consider placing them in a custom call-out box.

But not just any box will do. Place labels in boxes painted with Adobe Illustrator’s visual effects to help them stand out, or above, other details on the map.

For this economic development map, we created a call-out box graphic style that automatically sized itself to the height and width of each text label.

Portion of final map using custom type call-out boxes
Custom call-out boxes as map labels

[Read more…] about Custom Type for Call-Out Boxes

Written by cartagram · Categorized: Adobe Illustrator, Maps

Dec 16 2020

MAPublisher in Parallels

Can you run MAPublisher on your back but in Windows 10 via Parallels virtualization? Yes. It runs quickly and reliably. Find out how to get going with MAPublisher in Windows 10 on your Mac.

Recently, I upgraded MacOS on a work computer without first verifying compatibility with Avenza MAPublisher. Predictably, when the update finished, I was greeted with an error message and a failure to load MAPublisher.

Error Loading Plugins warning
Error Loading Plugins warning

[Read more…] about MAPublisher in Parallels

Written by cartagram · Categorized: Adobe Illustrator, MAPublisher

Oct 26 2018

Vectors from Google

Importing points from Google Earth to Adobe Illustrator brings an added bonus: high-resolution vector icons make the journey, too.

In the life of a busy cartographer, Google Earth is a handy tool.

Google Earth is an effective environment to map points-of-interest or to finetune the positions of points you export from Adobe Illustrator via Avenza MAPublisher.

GOOGLE’S ICONS

But here’s a surprise: when importing a Google Earth .kml/.kmz file into Illustrator, Google’s playful icons enter your map file as editable icons.

Here’s what you can do to them.

Google icons on a map in Adobe Illustrator
Google icons on a map in Adobe Illustrator

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Written by cartagram · Categorized: Adobe Illustrator, Google Earth, Maps

Apr 01 2015

Pressing a WordPress Map into Service

WordPress is the most popular CMS for building websites. Some 30% of all websites are made with WordPress. The typical WordPress map is a Google map. But it doesn’t have to be.

Why not display a standard Google map on your webpage? The simple answer is a Google map may show information that’s unneeded or even counter-productive to your map. And graphically, it looks commonplace. Your well-designed map may prove far more effective.

To create a custom design map, consider using Avenza’s MAPublisher plug in and Adobe Illustrator for your next WordPress map.

ILLUSTRATOR & MAPUBLISHER

Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce map
Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce map

[Read more…] about Pressing a WordPress Map into Service

Written by cartagram · Categorized: Adobe Illustrator, MAPublisher, WordPress

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