48
MaP Design
7.
The primary rule is clarity. These guidelines are not designed to be fol-
lowed slavishly if the result is confusing.
masks, halos, and callouts
Masks are rectangles
that are placed under the type,
but over the other graphics,
creating special space for the lettering. These must be used with care because if they
are too large they can obscure the underlying map information.
Callouts are masks
with
leader lines that point to the feature. Although many shapes are available for
callouts, simple ones are best. Unless there is a definite purpose, the cartoon balloon
fIgURe 3.5.
Regional names are spread to show extent.
fIgURe 3.6.
Mountain ranges are spread to show extent.
Text Material and Typography 49
style should be avoided.
Halos extend the outline of letters much like a drop shadow
and make the lettering stand out (Figure 3.8).
geogRAPhIc nAmes
The spelling of foreign place-names on maps can be a challenge. There are two
aspects to this problem: (1) transliterating names that are not in the Latin alphabet,
such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, or Russian names, and (2) using names
that, although in the Latin alphabet, are not the commonly used names in English,
such as Wien for Vienna and Lisboa for Lisbon.
Non-Latin alphabet names may be transliterated according to guidelines speci-
fied by various agencies, but the correct local name and the name commonly used in
the United States may be different. The local name may be unrecognizable to U.S.
map users. If the map is to be used only in this country, there is normally no difficulty
with using conventional anglicized names, but if the map is intended for international
distribution, clearly the correct local name should be given priority, and the conven-
tional name may be placed in parentheses. However, one must use caution here as
international political incidents have been created by a map company or agency using
the “wrong” name for a disputed place or territory.
A constant problem is that names are not static
and may be changed for any
number of reasons. New governments or even chambers of commerce alter names
Town
Town
Town
Town
fIgURe 3.7.
Names of point locations are not spread out and should not be on the same line
as the symbol.
MASK
HALO
HALO
CALLOUT
fIgURe 3.8.
Callouts, masks, and halos can be useful when the background varies in tone
or color.
50 MaP Design
to honor heroes, to reflect different ideals, to gain publicity, or to change an image.
Thus, Ho Chi Minh City was formerly Saigon and St. Petersburg was formerly Lenin-
grad. Many small towns in the Mother Lode area of California were originally given
bawdy names by the miners, but as the towns became respectable, their names were
changed. The town of Hot Springs in New Mexico changed its name in 1950 to Truth
or Consequences because of a popular game show of the time.
A common error is including an English term that means the same as a part of
the foreign name, such as Rio Grande River or Cape Cabo San Lucas. Table 3.1 lists
some common foreign physical terms.
In the United States, the Board of Geographical Names is responsible for estab-
lishing guidelines on the spelling of names and will answer questions about names.
