Map Illustrations
A well designed map illustration is one of the most important parts of a great interactive campus map. First appearances have a large impact on how long someone will spend exploring your map, and the first thing they will see is the map illustration. nuCloud has partnered with professional cartography firms who specialize in map illustrations and have years of experience with campus maps in particular.
The decisions that you need to make around a map design are pretty straightforward, but keep in mind that many of these decisions also effect final pricing.
What else will you use the map for?
We believe this is the first and most important question to decide. If you plan on using your map illustration for other types of signage like billboards or print material then you will want your map designed using vector images. If the only purpose of the map is for digital purposes that will not need to be sized much larger or printed then Raster could be your best option for its added richness and textures.
- Learn more about the differences between vector and raster Images.
- Learn 10 things that you can do with your campus illustration.
What type of a map design do you want?
There are many different types of maps that you can create. The following questions will help you come to a better conclusion about what you want.
- Is there a specific map that you have seen and would like something very similar?
- Do you want a 2D or 3D map?
- Do you want a map of a Floor Diagram, City/Area or Campus Map?
- Do you want a map that is cartoon-style?
How many buildings/locations will the map have?
The number of buildings or locations is a standard question when putting together a quote.
What reference material will I need to provide?
The type of reference material needed completely depends on the type of map. For a Floor Diagram then we will need blueprints or AutoCAD files of the interior of the building. For a campus map depending on the style, we will need current high-resolution oblique aerial photography and/or site plans. Satellite imagery and any previous examples of map illustrations are also helpful.
Also some of our cartographers like to make an in person visit to gain a better feeling of the area and shoot their own photography.
Is it important to own the copyright of the completed artwork?
A map illustration is a true piece of art. Because of this some cartographers prefer to maintain the copyrights to their work. This is something that you should be aware when making a decision.