Hi all,
Just after some assistants with some map files,I converted them to bitmap file format by the mapping software. I need to cut them into 4, then print them.
They are very detailed maps but are over a large area and even printed on A3 I am unable to read town names.

Any help most welcomed.

Cheers,
hairy.

Hello,

Could you describe better your requirements, could you post sample files, or drafts of what you want?

General ideas:
- Related with inkscape... it's better to export to pdf, if the maps doesn't have special features, like embedded photographs, or filters
- Inkscape have extensions to put PRINT MARKS, which are of good help to cut and/or align designs that can't enter in standard page sizes (A4, A3)

- About maps too big... We must think in scales and standards. Which scale you can read in your maps? Like (1:50 0000, or 1/100). Depending of the scale, you have to resize your texts... if possible. Also, get a general guess of what size of paper could be...
- I never used, but... There must be a guide of size of texts, related to size of paper.... Lazur, are you there?

Hi there,

Don't know if there is a standard focusing on map styles.
Here was a topic on iso standard lettering; probably related only on the minimal letter height, 0,35 mm -on paper.

Governmental maps, masterplans have a unique format in each country I guess.
Here is an example on what they are using around.
Messed up on legibility, and there is not a scale it would look right.
Probably to avoid unauthorized copying.

hairy wrote:Just after some assistants with some map files,I converted them to bitmap file format by the mapping software.

By converting to a raster format you lose the possibility to change the size of the texts after.

I need to cut them into 4, then print them.

So you have a large png/tiff/jpg/similar that you want to "slice up" for printing?

They are very detailed maps but are over a large area and even printed on A3 I am unable to read town names.

Is there no restriction on the printed map's scale?
Since you don't have it as vectors, you can only scale up the whole image at once and print a larger map, with larger lettering.
-Meaning more than 4 A3 prints.-

So you have a large png/tiff/jpg/similar that you want to "slice up" for printing?


Yep that's the one.
I need to just have a backup on hand when the mapping software goes belly up, plus it is good to sit around the camp fire at night and plan the next days trip.

Cheers,
hairy.

There are some extensions like web slicer (that I never used) but would basically do that task.

Would rather match the scale of the image with the page size manually.

This is the concept in a nutshell:
Draw a 100mm/100mm rectangle and zoom it until it is displayed at it's true size on screen,
then scale the raster image up until the lettering is legible.

After the scale is adjusted, change the page borders to A3 size, and place the raster image where necessary and save as pdf.
Remember that the printers may not be capable to full page printing, so overlap the areas a bit.

Thank you will try it
Cheers,
hairy.