Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users

By Cynthia A. Brewer

Book Overview

Describing how to build balanced map layouts suited to varied mapping goals, this guide focuses on export options that suit different media and can be edited in other applications. The wide range of text characteristics needed for expert map design as well as how to improve map readability with type effects such as character spacing, leading, callouts, shadows, and halos is detailed. Tips are included for using font tools in the Windows operating system, such as creating special characters in map text, as is information on using text characteristics to indicate feature locations, categories, and hierarchies on maps. How cartographic conventions guide placement of labels for point, line, and area features are also explained.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1589480899
• ISBN13: 9781589480896
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Esri Press
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 1.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.4" x 0.5" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Map visualization 101

This book addresses all major topics needed when considering what color to assign to a group of layers, which symbols and scales to use, how to annotate maps and how to complement maps with text boxes. It is well written so it's easy reading and does not require extensive background from other fields. Getting from here to there is simple enough by scanning the chapter index. Great reference for map designers, both beginners and experienced ones.

Designing Better Maps

Since I am relatively new to the world of GIS Mapping, this book was an invaluable aid to designing more attractive maps. It's a beautifully laid-out book with lots of common-sense tips in it. Well worth the price! Linda Pierce Pray, Montana

Great overview of map design using ArcMap

This book is the first one I would recommend to the typical GIS user wanting to make better maps. Some other reviewers have commented that many of the suggestions are basic; however, I have seen countless maps that could benefit from the design suggestions presented here.

For anyone working with GIS software who has little prior training or experience in mapmaking

Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users is a guide to cartography, written in response to advances in digital mapping and geographic information system (GIS) software and illustrated throughout with map samples in color. With such increasingly widespread tools, more analysts, researchers, planners, graphic designers, and lay people lacking basic cartography training have been creating maps that appear slick on the surface but contain internal flaws due to common beginner mistakes. Designing Better Maps seeks to rectify such errors by offering a basic cartographic education for non-cartographers. Chapters cover the basics in type, color and color decisions, customizing symbols, properly designed marginal elements, and more. An easy-to-follow resource and a "must-have" for anyone working with GIS software who has little prior training or experience in mapmaking.

Great book to improve your map designs

This is a comprehensive book that covers all aspects of good map design. It is especially useful for those without a cartography or graphic design background. Unlike other map design books that cover way too much irrelevant material; it's easy to follow and gives enough information to help new and experienced GIS users create maps that are focused and easy to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to design better maps. Cindy Brewer is one of the nation's experts on cartographic design and color usage and everyone should learn from her. Check out her other book on Mapping the Census 2000 for beautiful and informative map examples.