Posted on 09/12/2015 7:14:35 PM PDT by 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?
Does http://www.openstreetmap.org give you what you need?
Good topic. I use:
1. Google maps at home without printing.
2. AAA maps in the car. (AAA = American Auto Association)
Thomas Guides were alway in my car before the invention of the internet in 1995 by Sir Tim Lee.
Yes, and I’ve not seen maps in stores that have the detail I want. That’s not to say they don’t exist - maybe they are in bookstores? - but, that’s pretty inconvenient, as you say.
A big advantage of many of the big name online maps is the ability to quickly map out a route of, say, 500 miles, and then zoom in to any point on that route with a scale of, say, 1 inch = 20 ft. on a typical computer monitor, and ALSO include local landmarks.
My husband has been using Delorme maps for many, many years. They are great.
I don’t trust anyone who has been here 10+ years and posted less than 100 times..../S
Good idea!
It should also work to screen capture, dump into an image viewer, crop or alter (add text?) as desired, and save or print.
I have looked at online state maps for a few states & may try more.
However, I doubt a pdf can allow one to create multi-state routes easily, for example?
They’re the BEST!
We do a lot of backroading/offroading in New England...and use the DeLorme state atlas’ all the time.
Acme Mapper. At least it’s accurate. It shows road map or Topo. Zooms into city streets.
acmemapper.com
Ha-ha, yes, I’ve posted a grand total of 31 threads. I guess I mostly like to listen and learn...
Hmmm... That’s a little better than Google (for printing) I think, but maybe not as good as Rand McNally’s site. Haven’t checked a couple of the other suggestions, yet...
What about copying the map into Powerpoint, save as a jpeg and change the contrast?
It’s not really the “fuzziness” that’s a problem, it’s the propensity to show local roads as white on a beige (etc.) background. But, your point IS well taken! Stamen, who I mentioned, isn’t too bad in some versions, about how the image prints, but, their maps are more limited in other ways.
Delorme is good - not sure I’m THAT far into it... :-)
Have you tried getting the map you want on your computer screen, taking your phone camera and snapping a photo of it on your computer and printing the photo ?
I do that using IrfanView, as noted. (If you’re not familiar with it, IV is a very fast, light, but reasonably powerful image file viewer with some image enhancement options.) But when one starts with a white road on a beige background, there’s only so much one can do, esp. if one doesn’t want to use up all their toner on nearly “black” lakes and parks.
Here are three links I found with GOOGLE using the term ‘printable maps’. The third one looked interesting.
http://nationalmap.gov/small_scale/printable.html
http://www.printableworldmap.net/
http://www.waterproofpaper.com/printable-maps/
I use IV as well and find it more useful than PP.
What level of detail do you want?
Is this for street or terrain?
Screen captures work better. The real issue is local roads (white) that are almost the same color as the background (typically beige or some other light color.) I’ve tried up to $700 (retail) printers with poor results...
(He was a poor boy too, pa-rum-pa-pa-pum...)
These were the 3 I would recommend...
I’ll check at Survivalblog.com...
Be back..
You could contact the USGS in your state....maybe they can help/guide you.
http://www.usgs.gov/contact_us/?state=VT
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