Benefits of Using a Graphics Application for Mapping

Format for printing
  • Ability to update portions of a layer or legend by selecting one or more individual map objects based on attribute (MAPublisher) or color/pattern/symbol (Adobe Illustrator) and then reapplying a new color/symbol. No deleting and then re-adding of the relevant map elements/layers. In practical terms this means that if you just added a roads layer/element to your map and then realized that one of your road line symbols didn't look right, all you would have to do is select for that class of road symbol and change it. No need to delete, recode and redrape your roads. Even easier using the MAPublisher legend filters you need only modify the legend for your roads and "render" to update the roads as desired.
  • Redrawing of the affected map objects is automatic and impacts only on the redrawn portion and possibly some immediately affected portions of adjacent layers. No need to wait around while the entire map is re-drawn or refreshed. This applies to text as well as to vector data.
  • Broad and flexible choice of text, fonts, styles, sizes and enhancement features (e.g. haloing)
  • Enables PostScript pattern fills and complex vector strokes. You can sample colors from imagery and apply precisely to vector data.
  • Even with complex colors you can easily and accurately create color ramps with differing depths/intensity. 10%, 20% etc. These can be set as individual colors on a palette or as a gradient across mapped feature(s).
  • You easily turn on and off selected layers of a map to speed drawing. This can be done through either turning off specified layers or limiting the display of selected layers to simple vectors with all symbology removed. Not only will this speed the handling of the map, it lets you easily use underlying vectors for reference with no distraction or distortion caused by mapping symbology.
  • Viewing "generalization" parameters can be set at any size so that your text or graphics will be automatically symbolized by grayed areas for layout (or any other) purposes. This facilitates design and layout and speeds the drawing of highly detailed maps.
  • Symbology is accurately proportional to the map area you have "zoomed" into. What you see is what you get.
  • Colors displayed on screen accurately reflect the colors as they will be printed. Again, what you see is what you get.
  • Better symbology (e.g. road treatments and cartographic symbols) than traditional GIS software can currently offer
  • In additon to standard zooming and panning capabailities, users have the option of viewing the details on a map at the actual size at which they will be plotted/printed.
  • Users have the option of saving individual "views" to facilitate editing or viewing of defined portions of the map. No more searching around for a particular area that one wishes to display.
  • Border rulers with adjustable guidelines and multi-combination alignment tools are available for use in aligning any map objects.
  • There is an ungrouping as well as a grouping functionality. When grouped you still retain the option of separately accessing, querying and otherwise working with the individual components of a map group.
  • Individual but related map objects can be "stored" together by groups or by layers or both within the graphic file. This provides additonal control and support in handling and organizing the map components.
  • When copying or cutting/pasting map objects/elements, you have the option of deciding to paste the new object in "front" or "behind" the copied element(s) at the time of pasting.