Simplifying Lines
Simplifying Lines
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Schematic diagrams are not to scale, meaning distances between stations are not meant to be accurate. See the animation from the previous page, it shows you the differences between the geographical (real) trajectory of the TTC subway map vs. how it is portrayed on the diagrams. Notice how all the bumps and irregularities get smoothed out into straight lines. Some major bends and kinks get simplified so that stations can be evenly spaced apart.
This task will require you to think about how the locations in a map are related geographically, but examine how these relationships can be expressed as simply as possible, while still communicating some amount of useful information to your viewer.
Begin transferring your draft into Adobe Illustrator. Use the pen tool to create lines and edit the stroke thickness, cap type, corner type and apply dashed lines if desired.
You will want a consistent design style for all the lines in your diagram. Angles are generally kept the same degree throughout a diagram. You may want to use only horizontal, vertical and 45 degree diagonal lines, or try an octilinear style (see below) where angles are only drawn at 30 or 60 degree angles. In the diagram above, all lines snap to either 0°, 45°, or 90°.
Geographical
Geographical
(to scale, don't do this!)
Curvilinear
Curvilinear
(natural, slow intentional curves)
Octolinear
Octolinear
(30, 45, 60 and 90 degree angles only)
Consider what line thickness, cap style, or corner style you'll use to represent each subway line. Establish consistency, use the same style for each line, differing only the colour or a single flourish (such as a dashed line or striped line) to differ between lines.
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