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Illustrator Project - Making a Map

All the Illustrator Projects build on skills covered in our Illustrator Guides (PDFs).

Starting from an aerial photograph

This technique can be very helpful when you want to highlight certain areas of a photo, or if you want a simplified version of the view from an aerial photograph.

1. In a blank Illustrator document, go to the File menu, and select Place…
2. Find the image file you want to use as a basis for your map, and click "Place". The image should appear in your Illustrator document.
3. Make a new layer to work on, and lock the layer that the photo was placed on, so that you can trace the photo without repeatedly selecting it.
4. Using the Pencil tool, trace lines of roads, rivers, and traintracks. Use the Pencil tool to outline irregular shapes such as lakes.
5. Use the Shape tools to outline regular shapes such as buildings and other human-made structures.
   Remember that you can combine several simple shapes or use the Pen tool, to replicate the outline of a more complex structure.
   
6. Change the properties of your paths to color or shade rivers, lakes, buildings and roads. A dashed line can be used as a lane divider, or to represent rail lines.
7. Use the Text tool to add legends and labels.
8. Unlock the layer containing the original photo, and delete the photo.
9. Save as an Illustrator document for print use, or export a .gif file (for web use), or a .wmf file (for use with Microsoft Office).

Other sources of maps

Geographic Information System (GIS) software can frequently create maps for you, based on existing geographic and statistical information. You can even create customized demographic maps. The University Library Spatial And Numeric Data Services group can help you to create a map like this.

GIS-generated maps can often be saved in formats that Illustrator can edit - this may let you embellish your map in unique ways.

You can also scan in an existing map. To edit or embellish a scanned picture, use PhotoShop. To trace or simplify the map (as with an aerial photo), try the techniques outlined above.