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?
I found that during my most recent trips across the country ( on back roads—no interstates) I found most AAA maps were really good. I also had a GPS that had up to date maps for every half-assed back trail I could fnd myself on. On a couple of occasions, just being able to push the “ get me out of here” button was worth the price.
What are you using these for? Driving? Hiking? Biking/ motorcycling?
That would help a lot.
M4L maps
“Street” most often.
Occasionally, I go “in” to max zoom on Google or Bing. I think the Rand McNally site may match that - haven’t checked closely yet (busy with family and responding on my thread tonight!)
I also haven’t checked all the other suggestions, but, the Rand McNally site MAY be the most practical answer at present...
I just tried a fairly high zoom on Rand McNally (local streets trace out in dark grey “outline”); screen captured that and pasted the image into IV; then color corrected with gamma @ .37 and contrast and saturation cranked up a bit. Looks promising, except bodies of water are going to be pretty dark. Definitely better than Google, for printing.
Driving.
Just thought of something...
If you could use something like photoshop elements you can convert the map to monochrome (greyscale or B&W) then really push the contrast.
If you aren’t so concerned with colors, and just the roads that might work. YOu might even try inverting the colors.
No, I think you're out of luck.
Wow, really getting a lot of replies! :-)
I tried this question on a car (enthusiast) forum and did not get a single reply.
Actually, I do often manipulate maps as greyscale - IrfanView has an easy command for it, inversions, etc. It’s really a good little program, though not a “pro” photo editor. The biggest problem with the gamma and / or contrast “push” is that then one often wastes a lot of toner on lakes and parks or (yikes!) National Forests...
Thanks everyone! (I’m not asking to shut off discussion / ideas - I just have to go eat very late supper (almost 11 pm here) B4 my wife throws the food at me!)
Ditto, De Lorme even shows oil lease roads. I use Street Atlas often.
I use PhotoShop to darken the color or even change the color.
Doesn’t matter if it’s a map or an photo.
IV has it’s limits. Because it’s free.
This may sound crazy and imperfect, but I would get the map looking as I want it to look, then put appropriately-sized textboxes from the Notepad or Textfile over the water or national parks, take a screen shot, and print that out.
Your map would look strange, but this would save on ink.
My printer puts so much ink on a solid color that the paper feels damp and ripples, so I know what you mean!
pfl
Give ACME MAPPER 2.1 a try.
I have always had real good luck with the quality off my printer.
It’s on line, so just type in acme mapper 2.1
The best maps in my neck of the woods come from the travel info centers. They have full size printed maps of counties for free. They show land marks and all the little back roads. Pick up several so you can mark on them. Don’t discard the old editions when new ones are published because you never know if you might need to find an old road.
It once gave me dire warnings about driving 75 mph through an Iowa cornfield because it didn't show the new expressway.
You might be able to find one on eBay.
I go to the State for the best printable maps.
Often the Parks and the Marine Board.
Counties often have Geodata sites as part of their planning department that are accurate to inches that you can print too.
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