Developer of the award-winning PDF Maps app accepts honour at global conference focusing on the Geospatial Industry & World Economy
TORONTO, (April 25, 2012) – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher® cartographic software for Adobe® Illustrator® and Geographic Imager® geospatial tools for Adobe Photoshop®, celebrates its recognition as a mobile mapping leader at this year’s Geospatial World Forum in Amsterdam, Netherlands by winning the conference’s Geospatial World Innovation award for Mobile Mapping with its PDF Maps app and digital map store solution for the iOS platform. PDF Maps is an all-encompassing solution for the use, distribution, and sale of digital versions of paper maps to mobile devices. It includes both an app for consumers to use, discover, and purchase maps directly from and to their devices as well as a backend store to facilitate the transaction and delivery of the maps. Paired together with mobile devices that utilize GPS, such as an iPhone, the PDF Maps app provides constant access to geographic locations and points of interest without the risk of losing reception due to cell tower proximity.
Attended by more than 2,000 professionals representing government agencies, private industries, research, and academic institutions as well as developmental agencies from around the world, the Geospatial World Forum raises the awareness level of the increasing relevance of geospatial technology in everyday life. Its goal is to open the lines of communication amongst the end-users, geospatial technology experts, and policy makers in an effort to utilize spatial technologies productively in areas such as infrastructure, utilities, energy, land management, business enterprise, mining, and governance.
“Given the visibility of such a global conference, Avenza takes great honour in accepting the mobile mapping award for the technology utilized in our PDF Maps app,” said Ted Florence, president, Avenza. “Our history and expertise in developing tools for the cartographic industry along with the advances in navigation satellite systems and mobile devices have allowed us to realize our strengths and provide a navigation platform that can be used by consumers as well as private and public sectors in ways that have never been done before. We are ecstatic to be acknowledged by our peers and look forward to being part of the discussion of how geospatial technology can be further utilized in a meaningful manner.”
Competing against seven other notable products in its category from around the world, Avenza’s PDF Maps app secured the award for its revolutionary ability to acquire, display, and interact with digital maps on mobile devices and tablets. The innovative tool supports a growing database of maps featuring tens of thousands of maps authored, distributed or sold by individual cartographers, established map publishers, and government agencies. The PDF Maps app and Avenza Map Store offer a medium by which map content can be easily repurposed providing a valid revenue stream for map publishers in an era when the industry is losing its market to digital products with GPS functionality.
“Geospatial Media and Communications is dedicated to promoting application and use of geospatial technologies worldwide. In order to encourage innovative applications of geospatial technologies, the company through its publication division – Geospatial World, awards organisations from different parts of the world with the Geospatial World Excellence Awards on applications, technologies and policies,” said Sanjay Kumar of Geospatial Media. “This year, we are pleased to felicitate Avenza Systems Inc. for their innovative solution, ‘PDF Maps,’ an iOS application in the Mobile Mapping category. This innovative product is a promising solution bringing maps into mobile phones and tablet devices, and will result in better and easier usage of maps by every day users.”
To win its category, the PDF Maps app was judged on its innovativeness, practicality, social relevance of the tool in today’s world as well as the quality of documentation and availability.
Currently, Avenza’s vast PDF Maps app library covering maps for domestic and international travel and reference includes more than 55,000 USGS (United States Geological Survey) topographic maps organized by state and area. Some of the capabilities offered by the PDF Maps app:
Quickly view, zoom, pan, and read geospatial PDF, GeoTIFF, and GeoPDF® maps
Browse, preview, purchase and download professionally created maps from the Avenza Map Store from over 125 publishers and government agencies worldwide
Access and load maps through iTunes File Sharing or over a Wi-Fi or cellular network. Saved maps can be used without the need for a live network connection (offline).
View your location on the map using the built-in GPS or via Wi-Fi triangulation
Find coordinates of any location in the map, including the ability to type in a coordinate to search
Display coordinates as Lat/Long (WGS84), Lat/Long (Map Default), Northing/Easting, or Military Grid Reference System (MGRS/United States National Grid (USNG)
Add waypoints and collect/record information about locations, including photos
Export, import and share waypoints and associated data, including photos using iTunes, e-mail or Dropbox
Overlay Google search results
Measure distances and areas
Change pin colors, position, and label names
PDF Maps is available now on the iTunes App Store free of charge for personal use. For more information about the app, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com/pdf-maps. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher and free maps can be downloaded at no cost through the PDF Maps in-app map store.
More about Avenza Systems Inc.
Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training, and consulting services. For more information visit www.avenza.com.
For further information contact:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com
– Includes new import and export formats for spatial imagery –
Toronto, ON, April 2, 2012 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher® cartographic software for Adobe Illustrator® and PDF Maps for Apple iOS, is pleased to announce the release of Geographic Imager 3.5 for Adobe Photoshop. This release is encompasses new support for import and export of spatial imagery formats.
“We’re delighted to release Geographic Imager 3.5 with even more format support,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza. “We’ve included several new formats to import and export that our users will find very useful. We’ve also added some priority fixes based on user requests and feedback,” he added.
Additional Geographic Imager 3.5 features
New import support for MrSID/MG4 LiDAR (*.sid) format [raster and LiDAR data (as DTM)].
New export support for ERDAS IMAGINE (*.img) raster format.
Channel management dialog box for easy control of channel mapping and assignment of color roles for false-composite multiband imagery.
More about Geographic Imager for Adobe Photoshop
Geographic Imager is powerful software for working with spatial imagery in Adobe Photoshop that leverages the superior image editing capabilities of this raster-based image-editing software and transforms it into a powerful spatial imagery editing tool. Work with satellite imagery, aerial photography, orthophotos, and DEMs in GeoTIFF and other major GIS image formats using Adobe Photoshop features such as transparencies, filters, and image adjustments while maintaining georeferencing and support for hundreds of coordinate systems and projections.
Geographic Imager 3.5 is available immediately free of charge to all Geographic Imager Maintenance Program members and at prices starting at US$319 for non-maintenance members. Academic and volume license pricing are also available.
More about Avenza Systems Inc.
Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac, Windows and Apple mobile device users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.
For further information contact:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com
– Newest release offers many enhancements and features including the new Georeferencer tool –
Toronto, ON, March 28, 2012 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of the PDF Maps app for iOS and geospatial plugins for Adobe Creative Suite, including Geographic Imager for Adobe Photoshop, is pleased to announce the release of MAPublisher 8.7 for Adobe Illustrator. This release includes a number of enhancements to existing features, such as Grids & Graticules, and some new ones, such as the Georeferencer tool.
The Grids & Graticules tool was redesigned to offer an almost endless level of customization for index grids, graticules, and measured grids. Many new options are available including the ability to create a grid collection (multiple grids), intersects, align tick marks, and apply special formatting and styles to grid labels.
“We’re delighted to release MAPublisher 8.7 and to provide many new and sought-after features to the Adobe Illustrator cartographic and GIS environment,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza. “We are excited to enhance our tool lineup so that they better serve our users. The Georeferencer tool is the only one of its kind that exists in the Adobe Illustrator environment. The fact that MAPublisher users can now easily and effortlessly georeference their data in a graphics environment is an extremely powerful innovation,” he added.
Enhancements and new features of MAPublisher 8.7
Grids & Graticules tool received major enhancements. Multiple grids can be created and layered to form a grid collection for a highly customized look – fine tune the look of grid lines, borders, tick marks, style labeling and more. Save grid settings to configuration files and share them with others who can load them.
New Georeferencer tool provides the ability to give spatial properties to a non-referenced map by establishing a relationship between page locations in the document and world locations sourced from an online map service, another open document, or manual entry.
The Buffer Area tool has the new ability to buffer areas. Redesigned the Label Features dialog box for easier label management.
Text Utilities has a new Merge text utility which provides the ability to merge multiple lines of text into a single text object.
More about MAPublisher for Illustrator
MAPublisher for Illustrator is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics capabilities of this graphics design software for working with GIS data and producing high-quality maps with efficiency.
MAPublisher 8.7 for Illustrator is available free of charge to all MAPublisher customers with an active maintenance subscription and as an upgrade for non-maintenance users at US$599. New licenses are US$1399. MAPublisher FME Auto is available as an add-on to MAPublisher 8.7 at prices starting at US$399 per license. Academic, floating and volume pricing is also available. Prices include one year of full maintenance. Visit www.avenza.com/mapublisher for more details.
More about Avenza Systems Inc.
Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services as well as the PDF Maps app for purchasing and using maps on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices, including GeoPDF and geospatial PDF files. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.
For further information contact:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com
Growing Number of Established Map Vendors Select Avenza as its Digital Marketplace for Mobile Devices
TORONTO, (February 14, 2012) – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher® cartographic software for Adobe® Illustrator® and Geographic Imager® geospatial tools for Adobe Photoshop®, announces its latest achievement for its award-winning PDF Maps app with the number of Avenza Map Store vendors topping 100. Avenza brings mobile map technology to the forefront of Apple iOS devices and map producers are strengthening the trend by offering their once static maps through this new digitial marketplace.
The PDF Maps app is an all-encompassing solution for the use, distribution and sale of digital versions of paper maps to mobile devices. It includes both an app for consumers to use, discover and purchase maps directly from their devices as well as an in-app store to facilitate the transaction and delivery of maps. Think of it as iTunes or iBooks for maps.
The Avenza Map Store continues to grow and features tens of thousands of maps authored, distributed and sold by individual cartographers, established map publishers, and government agencies. The in-app marketplace provides a new mobile e-commerce venue that allows those in the industry to have access to more than 200 million Apple iOS users seeking information about specific maps.
“We’re working hard and continuing to build our community of vendors,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza Systems Inc. “The PDF Maps app is a great platform and many companies are finally seeing how easy it is to make their maps accessible to consumers. We invite all map publishers to become a part of our vendor network.”
The PDF Maps app recently won the International Map Trade Association best mapping product in the world for 2011. Tens of thousands of users are taking advantage of geospatial technology that allows them to view maps, utilize GPS, measure real world locations, and collect and share placemarks. It has become the ultimate accessory for travelers and adventurers where Internet bandwidth is not available or is cost-prohibitive when cellular roaming.
PDF Maps is available now on the iTunes App Store free of charge for personal use. For more information about the app, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com/pdf-maps. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher and free maps can be downloaded at no cost through the PDF Maps in-app map store.
More about Avenza Systems Inc.
Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. For more information visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com.
For further information contact:
Tel: 416-487-5116 ● Email: info@avenza.com ● Web: www.avenza.com
– Now includes advanced spatial data import options –
Toronto, ON, January 23, 2012 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher® cartographic software for Adobe Illustrator® and PDF Maps for Apple iOS, is pleased to announce the release of Geographic Imager 3.4 for Adobe Photoshop. This release is fully compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS5.1, which is also known as Adobe Photoshop 12.1 in Adobe CS5.5, as well as Adobe Photoshop 12.0.4 in Adobe CS5.
“We’re delighted to release Geographic Imager 3.4 with even more format support,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza. “We’ve also included new options to import and export images, providing users with even more ways to streamline and improve their data editing work flow. In addition, included are some priority fixes based on user requests and feedback,” he added.
Additional Geographic Imager 3.4 features
Fully compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS5.1 (also known as Photoshop 12.1 in Adobe CS5.5) in both 32 and 64 bit
New import support for ERDAS IMAGINE (.img), Esri ArcInfo Binary Float Grid (.flt), and “DEM” grayscale GeoTIFF (*.tif) formats, including ability to import georeferenced images from Web Map Service (WMS) sources
New export support for BigTIFF, ECW (up to 0.5 GB), and NITF formats
Major enhancements to Advanced Import, including options to:
import multiple files of differing formats
resample and crop images prior to import
modify bands/channel color mapping and select specific channels to import for multiband/hyperband images
mosaic and import images as layers into existing documents specify and adjust DEM and DTM information and combine multiple DEM files on import
Enhanced Quick Save feature for quick format conversion
New ability to measure areas in images using the Adobe Photoshop Measurement Log panel
Various bug fixes and user experience enhancements
More about Geographic Imager for Adobe Photoshop
Geographic Imager is powerful software for working with spatial imagery in Adobe Photoshop that leverages the superior image editing capabilities of this raster-based image-editing software and transforms it into a powerful spatial imagery editing tool. Work with satellite imagery, aerial photography, orthophotos, and DEMs in GeoTIFF and other major GIS image formats using Adobe Photoshop features such as transparencies, filters, and image adjustments while maintaining georeferencing and support for hundreds of coordinate systems and projections.
Geographic Imager 3.4 is available immediately free of charge to all Geographic Imager Maintenance Program members and at prices starting at US$319 for non-maintenance members. Academic and volume license pricing are also available.
More about Avenza Systems Inc.
Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac, Windows and Apple mobile device users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.
For further information contact:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com
Latest feature enables users to share recorded trip details and exact route information with others via iTunes, Dropbox, email or weblink
TORONTO, (January 10, 2012) – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher® cartographic software for Adobe® Illustrator® and Geographic Imager® geospatial tools for Adobe Photoshop®, announces its latest social sharing feature to its award-winning PDF Maps app with the introduction of waypoint importing and exporting which allows users who have recorded specific map points of interest the ability to share them with others in minutes. A distinguishing technology in its own right, Avenza brings PDF Maps to a social level enabling consumers to not just tell of their travel adventures but download exact point information via iTunes, Dropbox, email or a weblink, so others can experience it in the same way.
Presently, the PDF Maps app takes advantage of geospatial technology that allows travelers to view and measure real world locations and attributes. Paired together with mobile devices that utilize GPS, such as an iPhone or iPad, the PDF Maps app provides constant access to geographic locations and even points of interest without the risk of losing reception due to cell tower proximity – making it the ultimate traveling accessory for those that are enthusiastic about travel or anywhere internet bandwidth is not available or is cost-prohibitive when roaming internationally.
Because data has become a social and interactive process, Avenza has provided the ability to share travel information with others with the addition of waypoint importing and exporting in the PDF Maps app. Waypoints are associated with data that a user can connect to, such as a photo of a location. This information can be exported from the PDF Maps app as well as imported by others into any map upon which those points may lie. The ability to import and export information is not exclusive to only PDF Maps app consumers. In addition to creating points in PDF Maps on an iOS device, consumers can also create them in Google Earth or other software that supports KML/KMZ export, including Avenza’s software products for Adobe Creative Suite.
“I’ve often heard people say, ‘traveling is better when done with a friend who’s been there, because they know the best spots to go to.’ Because PDF Maps app works with the iOS device’s GPS system, it’s just like having your own personal guide,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza Systems Inc. “People often spend hours explaining to friends where they ate, the hotel they stayed at or the best places for entertainment, especially when a friend will be visiting the exact same city you just came from. Now friends and colleagues can provide some background to the storytelling by sharing the waypoints you recorded on your own trip giving them exact directions, pictures and even tips while on route.”
The PDF Maps app supports a growing database of maps featuring tens of thousands of maps authored, distributed or sold by individual cartographers, established map publishers, and government agencies. The marketplace provides a new e-commerce venue that allows those in the industry to have access to more than 200 million Apple iOS users seeking information about specific maps.
“The digital map store has finally arrived and this app does it with ease,” said Peter Lennon, President, International Map Trade Association (IMTA) International. “The app is simple and efficient and will do most things you would ever want when using a map. IMTA judges chose this as the best mapping product in the world for 2011 and in using it, consumers will see why.”
PDF Maps is available now on the iTunes App Store free of charge for personal use. For more information about the app, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com/pdf-maps. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher and free maps remain free to users through the PDF Maps in-app map store.
More about Avenza Systems Inc.
Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. For more information visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com.
For further information contact:
Tel: 416-487-5116 ● Email: info@avenza.com ● Web: www.avenza.com
– Newest MAPublisher® release connects with Safe Software’s FME –
Toronto, ON, January 3, 2012 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of the PDF Maps app for iOS and geospatial plugins for Adobe Creative Suite, including Geographic Imager for Adobe Photoshop, is pleased to announce that with the release of MAPublisher 8.6 for Adobe Illustrator, support for FME Desktop by Safe Software is now available.
“We’re delighted to have worked with Safe Software to create the MAPublisher FME Auto add-on to bring support for both FME and the FFS file format into the MAPublisher and Illustrator environment,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza. “The fact that FME users can now easily and effortlessly move their data into the MAPublisher design environment is an extremely powerful innovation and will greatly improve workflow efficiencies for our mutual users,” he added.
With the new MAPublisher® FME Auto™ add-on, users of MAPublisher and FME Desktop can automatically transfer the results of an FME workflow directly to the MAPublisher and Adobe Illustrator environment complete with styling and layout. In addition MAPublisher users can now import the FME FFS file format. The bridge between the data processing environment of FME and the design and publishing environment of Adobe Illustrator and MAPublisher has finally been built.
“We are very pleased to have worked with Avenza to integrate FME support for their powerful and widely used MAPublisher product and to build the bridge between our two very important parts of the mapping and GIS workflow,” said Dale Lutz, Co-Founder and Vice-President of Development, Safe Software. “We look forward to seeing the efficiencies and enhanced workflow capabilities that our mutual users will undoubtedly enjoy,” he added.
More about MAPublisher FME Auto
MAPublisher FME Auto is a new add-on that connects the GIS data processing environment of FME Desktop to the cartographic design and publishing environment MAPublisher and Adobe Illustrator. MAPublisher FME Auto provides FME Desktop with an Adobe Illustrator – MAPublisher writer. In FME Desktop, the writer may be used to translate GIS data formats for use with MAPublisher. It is now possible to create workflows in FME and then use pre-designed Adobe Illustrator templates, auto-assigned layers, and prepared MAP Themes to generate maps with much improved efficiency and ease.
MAPublisher FME Auto is available as an add-on to MAPublisher 8.6 at prices starting at US$399 per license. Academic, floating and volume pricing is also available. Prices include one year of full maintenance. Visit www.avenza.com/mapublisher/fme-auto for more details.
More about MAPublisher 8.6 for Adobe Illustrator
MAPublisher for Illustrator is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics capabilities of this graphics design software for working with GIS data and producing high-quality maps with efficiency.
MAPublisher 8.6 for Illustrator is available free of charge to all MAPublisher customers with an active maintenance subscription and as an upgrade for non-maintenance users at US$599. New licenses are US$1399. Visit www.avenza.com/mapublisher for more details.
More about Avenza Systems Inc.
Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services as well as the PDF Maps app for purchasing and using maps on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices, including GeoPDF and geospatial PDF files. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.
For further information contact:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com
– New Class Features Thematic mapping, Geospatial PDF creation and LabelPro –
Toronto, ON, December 19, 2011 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher cartographic software for Adobe Illustrator and Geographic Imager spatial tools for Adobe Photoshop, and PDF Maps for Apple iOS, is pleased to announce the 2012 schedule for its comprehensive 2-day MAPublisher training course. This 2-day class offers in-depth MAPublisher training that will enable MAPublisher users to maximize their use of MAPublisher and fully exploit its features and power.
MAPublisher training is offered in hands-on computer labs at locations around North America. Training is also available onsite at customers’ locations and online in which case certain aspects of the course will be tailored especially for the specific organization and workflow.
Features of the 2012 round of MAPublisher classes will be instructed on the latest MAPublisher release starting with the new version 8.6 and will include content on creating interactive data-rich Flash maps, geospatial PDFs, and interactive waypoint layers for PDF Maps iOS app, thematic mapping functionality, and MAPublisher LabelPro advanced text placement.
“Thanks to your excellent MAPublisher instruction in San Diego, I have hit the ground running in developing the maps needed for two current projects”, said Richard Cole of Texas A&M University.
2012 MAPublisher Training Dates & Locations
Houston, TX – February 16 & 17
Washington, DC – March 29 & 30
Ottawa, ON – April 19 & 20
Denver, CO – May 17 & 18
San Diego, CA – July 26 & 27
Philadelphia, PA – September 13 & 14
Atlanta, GA – November 8 & 9
Course details
The cost is US$1,000 per person. Discounts are available for 3 or more attendees from the same organization and for returning students desiring a refresher or update.
This is a hands-on course in a computer lab. Computers and required software will be provided.
Attendees will learn how to use the most powerful features of MAPublisher as well as all the new features of the latest versions of MAPublisher.
MAPublisher for Illustrator on Windows is the focus of the course. Mac users will also benefit from the content and are encouraged to attend.
Attendees are encouraged to send in and/or bring their own data and time will be devoted to working with specific user-supplied data and workflows.
Who Should Attend
cartographers using GIS data
existing MAPublisher users who want to experience the new features of the latest version of MAPublisher
existing MAPublisher users who want to get the most out of their MAPublisher license
GIS professionals who want to produce better quality maps
anyone making maps that wants to leverage the benefits of this powerful software
More about MAPublisher
MAPublisher for Illustrator is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics capabilities of these graphics design applications. Full details are available at www.avenza.com/mapublisher.
More about Avenza Systems Inc.
Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.
– Newest release offers many new features including support for Safe Software’s FME –
Toronto, ON, December 12, 2011 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of the PDF Maps app for iOS and geospatial plugins for Adobe Creative Suite, including Geographic Imager for Adobe Photoshop, is pleased to announce the release of MAPublisher 8.6 for Adobe Illustrator. In addition to a large number of new features and enhancements to existing ones, this release is the first version of MAPublisher to offer support for Safe Software FME Desktop product.
With the new MAPublisher FME Auto add-on, users of MAPublisher and FME Desktop can automatically transfer the results of an FME workflow directly to the MAPublisher and Adobe Illustrator environment complete with styling and layout. In addition MAPublisher users can now import the FME FFS file format. The bridge between the data processing environment of FME and the design/publishing environment of Adobe Illustrator and MAPublisher has finally been built.
“We’re delighted to release MAPublisher 8.6 and to provide so many new and sought-after features to the Adobe Illustrator cartographic and GIS environment,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza. “We are extremely pleased to announce our association with Safe Software to bring support for both FME and the FFS file format into the MAPublisher/Illustrator environment. The fact that FME users can now easily and effortlessly move their data into the MAPublisher design environment is an extremely powerful innovation,” he added.
Major New Features of MAPublisher 8.6
Import FFS Format – import support for Safe Software’s FFS file format (Windows only)
MAPublisher FME Auto – direct the results of an FME process directly to the MAPublisher environment complete with styling and layout (add-on MAPublisher FME Auto license required. Windows only).
Crop to Shape – improved Vector Crop functionality. Now crop using exact location and dimensions.
Merge Layers – combine MAP Layers of the same feature type into a new MAP layer based on attribute values.
MAP Locations – create temporary spatial place marks for use with other MAPublisher tools and functions.
Area Plotter – create new rectangle or ellipse polygons on MAP layers using page or world coordinates.
Improved KML/KMZ export – easily create waypoint layers for use in the PDF Maps iOS app.
Create Halo – create halo graphic styles and apply halos to MAP layers.
Scale and Rotate by Attribute – scale and rotate art objects using specified values or the target layer’s attributes.
MAPublisher Log – view detailed processing information about used MAPublisher tools and operations.
And many more enhancements, user interface improvements and bug fixes.
More about MAPublisher for Illustrator
MAPublisher for Illustrator is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics capabilities of this graphics design software for working with GIS data and producing high-quality maps with efficiency.
MAPublisher 8.6 for Illustrator is available free of charge to all MAPublisher customers with an active maintenance subscription and as an upgrade for non-maintenance users at US$599. New licenses are US$1399. MAPublisher FME Auto is available as an add-on to MAPublisher 8.6 at prices starting at US$399 per license. Academic, floating and volume pricing is also available. Prices include one year of full maintenance. Visit www.avenza.com/mapublisher for more details.
More about Avenza Systems Inc.
Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services as well as the PDF Maps app for purchasing and using maps on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices, including GeoPDF and geospatial PDF files. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.
For further information contact: Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com
Developer of the PDF Maps app seizes the highest honor with the IMTA Global Award
TORONTO, (December 6, 2011) – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher® cartographic software for Adobe® Illustrator® and Geographic Imager® geospatial tools for Adobe Photoshop®, celebrates its world-wide recognition from the International Map Trade Association (IMTA) as a top producer of cartographic software and innovative technology winning the coveted ‘IMTA Global Award’ at its November conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Accepting the award with its pioneering PDF Maps app, Avenza received the sought-after honor which recognizes the best products from three international Map Trade Association Regions. It is determined only once every few years from a list of mapping industry awardees –the best of the best– from retailers of atlases and manufacturers of globes to developers of geographic information systems.
Along with taking home the highest accolade, Avenza Systems also secured the ‘Graham Stanton Award of Excellence’ –given to the best ‘product’ that stands out from seven individual categories, and the award for ‘Best Maps for Multimedia Application’ with its PDF Maps app on the iOS platform. PDF Maps leverages geospatial technology that allows travelers to view and measure real world locations and attributes. Paired together with mobile devices that utilize GPS, such as an iPhone, the PDF Maps app provides constant access to geographic locations and points of interest without the risk of losing reception due to cell tower proximity.
“The Avenza PDF Maps app is a wonderful and innovative new solution for delivering digital GPS-enabled maps to smartphones and tablet devices and on that, I am sure, all publishers will eagerly adopt,” said Peter Davis, president, IMTA, Asia-Pacific. “The growing trend for the use of an embedded, iTunes-like, digital map store is a revolution that promises to change the way in which maps are purchased and delivered in the 21st century.”
The PDF Maps app supports a growing database of maps featuring tens of thousands of maps authored, distributed or sold by individual cartographers, established map publishers, and government agencies. The marketplace provides a new e-commerce venue that allows those in the industry to have access to more than 200 million Apple iOS users seeking information about specific maps.
Avenza’s PDF Maps app and Map Store offer a medium by which map content can be easily repurposed providing a valid revenue stream for map publishers in an era when the industry is losing its market to digital products with GPS functionality. Publishers can upload intelligent PDF maps or GeoTIFFs – with or without the aid of Avenza’s cartographic map software – eliminating the publisher’s need to reprint costly annual updates to paper maps. Pricing of each uploaded map is determined by publishers not Avenza Systems. Maps that are available for sale can be purchased through the Avenza Map Store much like how music, videos, and books are currently purchased through iTunes.
“We are overjoyed and humbled to receive this tremendous acknowledgment from our peers in the mapping industry and I’m delighted to see that both publishers and consumers are finding so much use for the PDF Maps app,” said Ted Florence, president, Avenza. “This app and embedded map store solution is a revolutionary tool for acquiring, displaying and interacting with digital maps on mobile devices and tablets and it’s a key component which complements our other software products, integrating it with map production and publishing workflows.”
Currently, Avenza’s vast PDF Maps app library covering maps for domestic and international travel includes more than 55,000 USGS (United States Geological Survey) topographic maps organized by state and area. All maps available through the map store offer the following capabilities:
Read geospatial PDF, GeoTIFF, and GeoPDF® maps
Access and load maps through iTunes File Sharing or over a Wi-Fi or cellular network. Saved maps can be used without the need for a live network connection (offline).
Browse, preview, purchase and download professionally created maps from the Avenza Map Store
Quickly view, zoom and pan maps using gestures (pinch, drag and flick, double tap)
View your location on the map using the built-in GPS device or via Wi-Fi triangulation
Find coordinate of any location in the map, including the ability to type in a coordinate to search
Display coordinates as Lat/Long (WGS84), Lat/Long (Map Default), Northing/Easting, or Military Grid Reference System (MGRS/United States National Grid (USNG)
Add waypoints and collect/record information about locations, including photos
Export, import and share waypoints and associated data, including photos using iTunes, e-mail or Dropbox
Change pin colors, position and label namesMap rendering in higher resolution
Overlay Google search results
Measure distances and areas
Open current map extents in the Maps app
PDF Maps is available now on the iTunes App Store free of charge for personal use. For more information about the app, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com/pdf-maps. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher and free maps remain free to users through the PDF Maps in-app map store.
More about Avenza Systems Inc.
Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. For more information visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com.
