Map Question

Me | 9/12/15 | PaulR

[Paul R.]

Question: Does anyone here know of an online map source who provides maps that are better suited for printing on modest price (or even B&W) printers, than the usual Google, Bing, etc., maps?

Anyone who's ever printed out a map from the above sources knows what I mean. The printed maps are just too "washed out" or faded looking.

I can capture maps from the above and copy them into an image or photo viewer like IrfanView to improve them somewhat, but even then, results are poor, and often one ends up using lots of toner for bodies of water, national forests, etc., while the road images are still "light" and indistinct. Since other images print decently, and I've been through this with multiple printers over the years, I know this problem is "not just the printer", although better printers do help a little.

The best alternative I've found is a site called "stamen" that offers a variety of "toner" maps, though even those sometimes have to be zoomed in more than one might want to get a dark (for printing) line for some roads, or have road names show up. And, "directions" are not provided. (I often end up adding text to the stamen map images, then printing. That is time consuming, of course.)

Another possible, oddly, is the USGS website that displays recent earthquakes(!). Zoomed in, and with the "terrain" image properly enhanced, it's not too bad, tho' again no "directions" function is offered. (I assume USGS figures most people are not in need of directions to the latest fault that has let go!) Mostly, desired road names do seem to show up at reasonable zoom levels. But, again, here, having to mess with enhancing images is a time waster...

There may be a better zoomable maps option on the USGS website - one would think so - but, I have not stumbled into it.

SURELY, in 2015, one would think something better is out there? (No, don't tell me to get a GPS - the little screens are too distracting, for one thing, they break too easily when dropped, and sometimes they can lead one astray. Maybe I'm just old fashioned - I want a PRINTED map.)

Anyone?

[Paul R.]

Anyone?

[backwoods-engineer]

You could buy a map that’s already printed. But that’s not free.

[Big Giant Head]

I’m interested if anyone has anything as well. I print maps on occasion, and it’s usually pretty bad.

[SeeSharp]

What are you looking for that your can’t find in either the Rand McNally Road Atlas or in the Key Map Book for a given city?

[umgud]

Without regard to print quality, I’ve found google maps to have gone in the toilet, at least for me. It’s maddening.

[ThomasThomas]

Google earth

[Paul R.]

I use printed maps all the time. But they are not customizable, zoomable down to levels I often want to see, easy to add routes, etc.

Locally, maps of “townships” can be had, but are hard to read.

[kingu]

Give this a shot:

http://maps.randmcnally.com/

[Paul R.]

Yes, there is that, too. Google messed up, IMO, much like Yahoo did with their e-mail. Luckily, my local ISP has upgraded their “webmail” nicely.

[ConstantSkeptic]

The online maps available from the states’ departments of transportation is astounding. Do a Google search on:

Kansas Department of Transportation downloadable maps

for example. The Kansas Dept of Transportation offers downloadable state, county, city, etc. maps in pdf format.

A lot of these maps will be huge. The key to printing out just what you need is to zoom in on the part of the map that you want to print, then, from within Adobe Reader, select File, Print, and where it says “Pages to Print” click on the More Options, and select Current View.

I don’t know if all the states have downloadable maps, but I checked out several using the search string above and each of the states I looked at had downloadable maps.

[BJ1]

Rand McNally used to sell a six county map that I would buy every 2 or 3 years as I wore them out with use. The last year they made it (Chicagoland) was in 2006.

[kingu]

Whoa, had no idea this still existed:

http://ttp.aaa.com/TripTik/

You can print turn by turn directions that are actually readable. (must be able to handle PDF files.)

[ConstantSkeptic]

Also, if you are looking for the map of a certain city, if you go to the city’s official website, you may find a downloadable map of that city.

[brivette]

have you tried maquest?

[Paul R.]

See my #7. I have the Rand McNally Road Atlas and many state maps, most issued by said states. But, they are quite limited, and, often what detail is there is getting hard for my old eyes to read (even with new glasses, and esp. if the lighting is poor.)

A state map of Ohio, for example, or an atlas, is not going to show me where the rural driveway I’m looking for is at, local landmarks / terrain, etc.

[Vermont Lt]

The issue is you need something that is high resolution. If you start printing off the internet your printer is “guessing” the color of three out of four pixels. That is why they are fuzzy.

Do a search for high resolution maps, or “vector” images that are line drawings that will extrapolate to larger sizes.

I doubt you will find any for free.

[Paul R.]

That’s not too bad! I should be able to “gamma” and “contrast” out the “toned” background, and improve roads’ boldness at the same time, once screen captured and pasted into IrfanView. I’ll see how that prints.

Thanks!

[ETL]

I use printed maps all the time. But they are not customizable, zoomable down to levels I often want to see, easy to add routes, etc.

You could simply make zoomed copies of selected sections of a store bought map. Would be a pain in the neck if you need new maps frequently.

[Paul R.]

I’m very familiar with MapQuest. Unfortunately, when zoomed in, their maps have the common issue of “white” local roads on a light tone background. I think the Rand McNally site is going to work better. Still, thanks!

[Daffynition]

You want maps, you want DeLorme.

They're located in Yarmouth, Maine. Nicest folks on the planet. http://delorme.com/

Call them on Monday for your specific needs. You can't go wrong.