A (poor) map that we will vectorizeIf you would like to make or
translate maps but don't know where to start, this guide is for
you. If you would like to begin making vector graphics but you are
not yet fluent with Inkscape, making maps is excellent practice.
To make maps you don't need to know how to draw. The only talent
you'll need is patience and the ability to follow a series of steps.
Sadly, the majority of maps available are in png, gif, or jpg (which
is to say raster [1] formats) and at poor resolution. This has many
disadvantages:
* Although they don't look too bad at small sizes on web pages,
enlarging raster images reveals artifacts. They may be impossible
to print at an acceptable size.
* To translate [2] them it's necessary to erase lettering [3],
taking care not to disturb the borders in the process. There is no
convenient means to do this.
* In general, it's not possible to modify them conveniently; it's
necessary to keep adjusting and correcting.
These problems are solved by using vector graphics. Basically, while
raster graphics contain information about color at each point, vector
graphics contain parameters that define the shapes (see related
articles below). Inkscape [4] is a free program to work with vector
graphics, and it is the program used in this guide.
!! Steps !!
!! Preliminaries !!
Take a good look at the map of Ireland [5] above. It has several
problems:
* The colors are very strong.
* The letters are very difficult to read
* The borders do not have the same width everywhere.
* The border between Northern and Southern Ireland is not apparent.
* Open Inkscape [6] and import the map (File-> Import). You should
see the image and a white rectangle with a black border. This
rectangle is called _the page_. The page is the area where the
drawing will show. It would be nice if the drawing occupied the
entire page (File->Document Properties->Fit page to selection).
* Learn to select objects. Simply click on an object or click any
point and drag until a rectangle forms. Whatever is inside will be
selected. You will see a dashed border with arrows surrounding it.
If you click on the arrows, you resize the object. If you click on
a selected object the arrows change to allow you to rotate the
object.
!! Create The Base !!
Create a base. Create the base. To see better, the map has been
filled with green. In practice it's better not to fill it, so you
can see clearly what you're tracing.]] Draw with the Bezier pen
tool (shift+F6). It's more useful than the pencil tool. This tool
has two modes – you can go along clicking to make a polygonal
line with nodes at the vertices, or you can click and drag to
make Bezier curves. If you drag, you will see that a line appears
at each node that drives the shape of the curve. It doesn't
matter if you don't do it perfectly at first. You can retouch it
later. In any case, if you don't like where you put a node, you
can eliminate the last node you drew by pressing the delete key.
* For making maps [7], it is often sufficient to make polygonal
lines.
* It's usually a good idea to zoom in on the area where you're
working (magnifying tool).
* In the example, polygonal lines have been used to trace the
outline of the island of Ireland.
The violet outline divides the base(green) in two. [8] Map
after division into all the regions.Use transparent shapes. In
the examples shown, the objects are colored to distinguish them,
but it is more practical to use transparent objects, so that you
can follow what you are tracing on the original map. Everything
that has to do with the fill and outline color is in
Object->Fill and stroke.
!! Divisions !!
Divide this base shape into the regions that fit into it. Use the
division tool (Path->Division). This tool divides one shape in two,
using another shape. Trace the shape of one of the borders. Then you
will have two objects. They will be in order, so that the uppermost
shapes cover the lower ones (if they are not transparent). It is
important that the object that will divide the island be _above_ the
island. To ensure that this is so, use Object->Raise (PgUp). Select
both objects. Click on one and then the other while holding down the
shift key. Create a division: Path->Division. You should now have two
objects.
* This is the basic process for dividing maps into regions. Continue
with the same process to divide the map as many times as necessary
to get a mosaic of regions.
* Although it almost always possible to make maps simply by
dividing, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a look at the other
other options in the Path menu (union, intersection, divide path,
etc.), because they are _very_ useful.
!! Fill And Border Colors !!
After coloring the regions.Color the regions. When you have the
map cut into regions, it is time to color it. The color and style
of each piece are properties of the objects. To change them,
select the object and open the Fill and Stroke dialog
(Shift+Ctrl+F). There are various options. The two that are of
interest are:
* The x indicates no fill (or no border).
* The rectangle with flat color is to add flat colors to the image.
There are various tabs to adjust the color using the red green and
blue values (RGB); the hue, saturation, and value (HSV); the cyan,
magenta, yellow and black (CMYK); or the color wheel. There is
also a section for opacity, because objects can have a level of
opacity or they can be left fully or partially transparent, so
that you can see objects below them.
* You can also color objects by importing (File->Import) an image
with the colors that you want and, selecting an object and using
the dropper tool to select colors from the imported image. If you
like the colors from the map at:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Mapa_del_Valle_de_Albaida.svg
[9], you can use them in the map you are creating, as done in this
example.
* Choose soft colors so that you will be able to have good contrast
when writing over them with black letters. Use colors that are not
too saturated. Remember that retinas must last a lifetime.
* Give the border the same properties as the filling and something
more. Choosing the color value, give a gray value to all the
regions (select all the regions and choose a border color in the
stroke color tab}. In the stroke style tab, you can also select
the line thickness and style.
!! Grouping Regions !!
* After creating a thicker border to show Northern
Ireland.Sometimes it is necessary to set off groups of regions, as
by using a thicker border. In this case, mark a thick line for the
coastline of the island and another to demarcate Northern Ireland.
Select all the objects that are part of the same group, duplicate
them (ctrl+d) and unify them (Path->Union). The duplication is
necessary to keep the original regions separate for one part and
unify the other. Once you have this new object, you can remove the
fill or give it a very transparent fill and a thicker border.
* Look at the image, showing the result of having done this with
Northern Ireland and the entire island. Place the object showing
the complete island is now in a lower layer (use the "End" button
on your keyboard), so that the border only shows when it crosses
the island.
* After changing the shade of the fill for Northern
Ireland.Using the wheel in the fill and stroke window, change the
color of the regions without changing the saturation or intensity.
* Cut the border that delineates Northern Ireland so that it stops
at the ocean and doesn't follow the coast of Northern Ireland.
Create a shape that covers the shape of the stroke you wish to
eliminate and then use the tool Path->Cut Path. This will divide
the border into two pieces so that you can erase (type delete) the
border you don't want.
!! Things You\'ll Need !!
* Inkscape. You can download it for free at http://www.inkscape.org
[10]. It has a free license.
* A digital map to vectorize
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
Links:
------
[1] http://www.wikihow.com/Understand-Vector-Graphics
[2] http://www.wikihow.com/Translate-a-wikiHow-Article
[3] http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Text-from-a-Photo-in-Photoshop
[4] http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Inkscape
[5] http://www.wikihow.com/Register-to-Vote-in-Ireland
[6] http://www.wikihow.com/Trace-an-Image-Using-Inkscape
[7] http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Map
[8] http://www.wikihow.com/Image:Tutorial_mapas_2.png
[9] http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Mapa_del_Valle_de_Albaida.svg
[10] http://www.inkscape.org
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