Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users [Paperback]

Cynthia Brewer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1589480899 | ISBN-13: 978-1589480896 | Publication Date: July 1, 2005

Describing how to build balanced map layouts suited to varied mapping goals, this guide focuses on export options that suit different media and can be edited in other applications. The wide range of text characteristics needed for expert map design as well as how to improve map readability with type effects such as character spacing, leading, callouts, shadows, and halos is detailed. Tips are included for using font tools in the Windows operating system, such as creating special characters in map text, as is information on using text characteristics to indicate feature locations, categories, and hierarchies on maps. How cartographic conventions guide placement of labels for point, line, and area features are also explained.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cynthia A. Brewer is map and atlas design consultant for the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Cancer Institute, the National Center for Health Statistics, and National Park Service. She is an associate professor of geography and applied cartography at Pennsylvania State University and the designer and editor of ColorBrewer, a web tool for selecting map color schemes. She lives in State College, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: ESRI Press (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589480899
• ISBN-13: 978-1589480896
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Cartography
  • #9 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Geography > Information Systems
  • #32 in Books > Computers & Technology > Graphic Design > Interface Design

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars ESRI Puts out another vague book..., August 28, 2005

By 

D. Lanier (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users (Paperback)

I don't know how many of the people that will be reading this review have ever bought a book from ESRI. Let it be said that their books are usually for the beginning and lower-intermediate class of GIS users. I purchased this book before it was even published in the hopes that it would break that norm and offer something like the description states. From everything that their marketing wizards say about the book, one would expect a quality map design product that would really highlite layout, composition, etc. Wrong.

Advanced users, or anyone who even thinks they have the slightest notion on map design, do not buy this book! Chances are if you think to yourself, "I make pretty decent maps", then you will gain nothing from this book. This book should only be purchased by beginning users or people who have been told that their maps look like absolute crap. If you make north arrows that take up 1/4 of your map, you need this book. If you are a little wary about your ability to choose color, do not buy this book. Instead, focus on buying books in the Art section that will help you improve your color understanding and picking abilities.

There is very little information of use in here for advanced users, that is why I am rating this so low. This is an acceptable book for beginners, though not the best I have seen. Again, my gripe with ESRI is that they pull together just enough vague information to publish a book on a subject without really telling you anything that you couldn't figure out on your own.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to improve your map designs, October 10, 2005

By 

K. Kurland (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users (Paperback)

This is a comprehensive book that covers all aspects of good map design. It is especially useful for those without a cartography or graphic design background. Unlike other map design books that cover way too much irrelevant material; it's easy to follow and gives enough information to help new and experienced GIS users create maps that are focused and easy to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to design better maps.

Cindy Brewer is one of the nation's experts on cartographic design and color usage and everyone should learn from her. Check out her other book on Mapping the Census 2000 for beautiful and informative map examples.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For anyone working with GIS software who has little prior training or experience in mapmaking, November 12, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users (Paperback)

Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users is a guide to cartography, written in response to advances in digital mapping and geographic information system (GIS) software and illustrated throughout with map samples in color. With such increasingly widespread tools, more analysts, researchers, planners, graphic designers, and lay people lacking basic cartography training have been creating maps that appear slick on the surface but contain internal flaws due to common beginner mistakes. Designing Better Maps seeks to rectify such errors by offering a basic cartographic education for non-cartographers. Chapters cover the basics in type, color and color decisions, customizing symbols, properly designed marginal elements, and more. An easy-to-follow resource and a "must-have" for anyone working with GIS software who has little prior training or experience in mapmaking.