Map Design 29
in very rare cases, such as cartoon maps or some pictorial maps. In addition to being
hard
on the eyes, wave patterns are considered childish and trite.
Color or
tone are the best choices to distinguish land and water. Blue for water
features is the most common convention, although even ocher has been used. Black
oceans have been used effectively on maps, but there is risk that the water areas are
given too much prominence and stand out as the figure when this is done. A gray tone
applied to water areas is usually effective on black-and-white maps.
Drop shadows
appear to raise the land area and thus distinguish land from water or figure from
ground.
the search for solutions
Creating a map is solving a spatial problem. How do I show these data most effec-
tively or how do I tell this story? In fact, there are usually a number of different solu-
fIgURe 2.11.
A well-known optical illusion. Is the figure a vase or two profiles?
Seal
Beach
Huntington
Beach
Costa
Mesa
New Port
Beach
Balboa
Laguna
Beach
South
Laguna
San
Clemente
fIgURe 2.12.
The land–water distinction is unclear on this figure.
30
MaP Design
tions that will work. In some cases, using two or more maps will be effective. For the
Internet, one might create a multimedia or animated presentation. There is no single
“best” map. If a single correct way to make a map existed, the topographic maps
of all countries would look alike. An examination of these maps shows that while
they share some features, there is a vast difference between Swiss, American, Dutch,
German, and Mexican topographic maps, for example. Each country itself has deter-
mined what is most suitable for the maps of its area. While some might argue that
one is more attractive than another, it doesn’t hold that a “less attractive” map is
wrong, poorly designed, or unsuited to the task. Swiss topographic maps represent
the mountainous terrain of Switzerland beautifully, but the same techniques would
not work on the flat topography of the Netherlands.
Once the cartographic problem is identified and understood, the search for solu-
tions can begin. Preliminary “thumbnail” sketches can be of great help, even when
making maps with the aid of an illustration or GIS program. These sketches help to
create a graphic outline for the map. In the earliest stage, they may appear to be noth-
ing more than doodles, but as the plan takes shape, these doodles can be expanded
to form the layout of the map. Such sketches are not a waste of time; they are visual
thinking (Figure 2.14). Computers, of course, allow quick tryout of solutions since
elements can be moved easily.
Decisions are made at this time not only about the positions of the various ele-
ments, but also about the kinds of symbols to be used, color, map scale, and style and
size of type. Decision making does not end here. At each stage of the mapping process
Water Lining
Stippling
Line Patterns
Wave Patterns
Drop Shadow
Tone
fIgURe 2.13.
Ways of distinguishing between figure and ground (land–water).
Map Design 31
it is worthwhile to analyze the design and fine-tune it if necessary to ensure that all
elements are working harmoniously.
