Owning It: Design: Projects: Map
Create a Map of a place you know well using publicly available data.
- How do I effectively represent spatial information?
What am I making?
A visualization map of a place with at least 10 locations mapped, a title, and a legend if you're showing different categories of places
Example Map page like you would make for this assignment
Google Image search: "Photoshop Map" and "Photoshop Google Map" show many examples and some have tutorials linked
How do I make it?
Photoshop tutorials:
Advanced and in-depth techniques for digital map augmentation from Upstairs
Totally different assignment, but very cool demonstration of how to digitally generate terrain!
and similar video, less detail and more symbols
Some post-processing ideas - make it look like a unfolded map with creases! from envatotuts+
Steps
Pick a place you know well or want to know well.
Make a list of at least 10 different spots in that place you will plot on your map. Look at an online map if needed!
Download (or Screenshot) a basemap image from one of these sources:
CalTopo, click the Print icon to generate a PDF
In Google Drive, you can go to + New then More then Google My Maps to get different varieties of backgrounds for Google Maps data
There are other mapping sites available!
Use Photoshop or Photopea to open the downloaded PNG, JPG, or PDF file
Experiment with Layer menu, New Adjustment Layer menu, and Levels (and others) to enhance the look of the base map
Use the Custom Shape tools to mark 10 or more locations on the map
You can use different shapes for different kinds of locations; if so, create a legend explaining which is which
Use the Text tools to add a larger map Title and any other phrases needed such as Location Names and Legend Symbol Names
Use the Layer menu, Group Layers command to group any shapes and text you want to have the same look and effects
Experiment with Blending Modes such as Multiply on different layers to help with visualization
Experiment with Layer Effects such as Drop Shadow, Stroke, and Outer Glow on different layers to help with visualization
File menu: Save in your Period folder
File menu: Export menu: Export As... and use the JPG format, High resolution
On Google Sites, under Pages, create a new page called Map.
Add your downloaded Map image.
Write about a skill you learned with Photoshop - Blending Modes and Layer Effects are good examples! - explain how you made it work effectively!
When done, push the Publish button, review the settings, and publish.
Then click the chain-link button, Copy the link for your page, and turn in the link.
Grading
10 or more locations mapped clearly
Title that is related to the content in the map
Map is not overly cluttered; zoom in or reposition the base map to help with this
Effectively use Blending Modes and Layer Effects to help with clarity and visual pop
Career Connections
Maps are needed in many situations for finding our way around -- graphic design skills can make them easier and more desirable to use