You don’t have to be an art prodigy to create Illustrated Maps nor do you require extraordinary creativity. You just have to ensure that you have all the information to make your map accurate, reliable and at the same time, engaging. You will also need creativity and imagination to create a map that you can use on your next travel. Here are some tips for a successful map project:
Choose an area
One of the things to consider is the area from which you will make a map for. For first timers, you can choose your city or even your community as you are familiar with it. You can move to other less familiar areas when you have gained a level of expertise in map making.
The main objective in creating maps is to guide the user for him to get to his target point faster and without getting lost along the way. You cannot achieve that if the illustrated map you are using falls short on information. Make a good research about the area. You can also refer to old or existing maps as reference.
Specify relevant landmarks
List down the landmarks in your area that you will create illustrations for. Include significant points such as parks, cathedrals or churches, rivers, mountains, valleys and such.
Gather or create images
You can add images to your map in different ways. For hard copy of Illustrated Maps, you can cut and paste images to the map or you can also draw the landmarks if you have drawing skills. You can find ideas online for inspiration. If you are making an online or soft map, you can Photoshop images to the map or another option is to create hyperlinks to make it easier for you to view the images of landmarks and other relevant information.
Create paths or routes
When you have the images of landmarks, connect them with main roads, pathways or lanes that will represent the actual topography of your area. Place a legend at the bottom or side of the map.
To make your Illustrated Maps more interesting, add colors and other embellishments to emphasize landmarks and road patterns.