Welcome to Module 2.
The focus of this module is on an introduction to the essential map elements, with emphasis on typography. That is, appropriate labeling conventions, principles, and design choices with relatively simple subject matter for the display of these elements.
First, what are the essential elements? They include but aren't always limited to the following:
Title, Scale Bar, Legend, Orientation, Frame or Neatline, Composition Information (Cartographer, Data Sources, Date).
All of these elements are presented in the map below, and in future modules we will start adding things like graticules, gridlines or other locational aides. But before getting into the map, a few key notes about typography.
The objectives here were to understand and employ different types of labels for different feature types. Specifically, points, lines, and area features. Each of these is represented through the Cities, Rivers, and Marshes presented in the map below. Each of these also has unique considerations for effective labeling.
- Point features have a hierarchy of positioning starting with the upper right of the point, and working from upper to lower on either side or top central and bottom central.
- Line features can have subtle curving or tilting to contour to the line itself, so long as the label NEVER ends up upside down.
- Area features may be large enough to fully encompass the label in a centralized manner, or it may be such that the label is external and has a tail to connect it to the areal feature.
Regardless of the feature, there are some background factors to take into account. We want to avoid placing labels over or in the way of multiple elements on the map. The placement of one should not overlap or obscure another element. Condensed areas should include inset maps or other tails to call out specific items.
Then there are specific design characteristics for the labels. for example, the usage of different font types, including serifs or not, that is the pointed tails at the end of the swish of letters. to be bold, italic, or haloed. Different types of font applications call for different emphases. In the map below, I have used Gil Sans as my primary non-serifed font choice. Italics only show up for the water features. In terms of recognizability, the Capital, County Seats, Marshes, and then Rivers are designed to be noticed in that order. This is accomplished through changes in font size as well as halos and color blending with background features to deemphasize some things from others.
Florida is the emphasis for this
map, with several larger cities (specifically the county seats) being
highlighted. Additionally, numerous significant rivers and swamplands are also
depicted. To help provide emphasis to certain features I utilized the following
customizations. A star represents the capital, as well it should. It has larger text but is still in the same font style as the county seats. Another key
design choice, I can't help but think of Green when thinking of Florida, so the
general background color for the Florida Counties is a light grassy green. But
to provide emphasis and more country context for Florida itself I added a blue
background for the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. I also utilized a bland
gray for the immediately adjoining states that are in the frame.
For label designs, the rivers have the most unique modifications. These
involved adjusting individual vertex points to allow for the words to flow
along the general pathing of the numerous snake-like riverways. There is also
significant free space not being utilized in the Gulf of Mexico area, so to
keep it from being too empty I added a text description of the map focus there. I
also particularly like the contrast of the green Florida, blue water, and tan
title and legend areas.
Thank you.
v/r
Brandon
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