We’re going to illustrate a map. A fairly simple directive, but before we go any further we need to establish why we’re illustrating it. By illustrating we’re going to give the final product personality, flair, a bit of life. We’re going to hope that the user is drawn into it, attracted to it and once we have their attention – that they can use it.
In producing this map we’re not only illustrating, but also designing information graphics; finding that age-old balance between form and function.
You can find the Source files in the directory labeled ‘source’ that came in the files that you downloaded. You may wish to look through them briefly before we begin.
A Little Disclaimer
As a basis for my map I turned to Google Earth and happily made as many screenshots as I liked. I traced them, referred to them for place names, street names, service information etc. and this is no problem whatsoever. I was even able to use photography from contributors far and wide who publish their shots on Google Earth via Panoramio. However, in order for me to use these images for web-based tutorials I needed to comply with certain guidelines.
In accordance with their fair use policy, screenshots of Google Earth can be used as long as I clearly display their logo and the appropriate copyright statement. For photography I would have needed express permission from the individual photographers, for this reason, building photography I have used in this tut is my own, but be aware that Google Earth and Panoramio prove excellent image resources for projects such as this.
Step 1: Location, Location, Location
Owing to the fact that I’ll be using a lot of my own imagery I’ve chosen somewhere I once lived, Brielle (a town near Rotterdam in South Holland) as a subject. Of course, your subject will be of your own choosing, or better still that of a client brief. Wherever it may be, you’ll need as much visual reference as possible.
Step 2: Determine Your Composition
It may be that you’ve been asked to include certain features, certain view points or have been given precisely the area you need to focus on. Whilst deciding what your map will contain and from which angle it will be viewed try again to consider the usability.
Most people feel naturally comfortable viewing a map with North pointing upwards (I’m not even going to begin on the subject of how men and women read maps differently!) so this would usually be a good starting point. However if this angle looks like it will present design problems such as vital roads being obscured, unfamiliar views of significant buildings etc., try turning the view just off North. Your map will include a compass, so bearings shouldn’t be too problematic.
Below is the segment of Brielle which I’ve chosen to illustrate. North is currently upwards.
Step 3: Prepare Your Map Image
You’ve taken a screenshot or you have your aerial photo of the subject, now place it in Illustrator (File > Place…) on a suitably sized artboard (this illustration could get quite finely detailed, so work large). Click on the layer in the Layers panel, give it a name, lock it and determine that all images on that layer should be dimmed to 50% (or however dim you choose).
Step 4: Lay Down Some Tarmac
It actually doesn’t matter where you start drawing your map. There are certain base elements which you’ll need to concentrate on, all of which will be distributed to individual layers for improved workflow. I’m going to begin with the streets, then i’ll look at borders, water, buildings etc afterwards.
Use your Pen Tool and build simple paths along the street centerlines. Give them appropriate stroke weights as shown below. Again, to make your map informative and clear, use a limited number of stroke weights. Try to establish a standard whereby main roads have a thickness of (for example) 18pt, minor roads have a weight of 12pt, back streets a weight of 8pt and so on. I’ve given my streets a pale shade of #F7F4E8.
