7 replies to this topic

[David Medeiros]

Although work has been suspended due to the budget impasse here in California, I'm still interested in getting some feedback on one of the Sub Basin maps I've done for the Sacramento Watershed Project. This map represents the next level down from the Main Sac Watershed map I posted previously.

I'm interested in opinions on everything but in particular: color choices and type style and sizes. Issues I already know this map has are a few unlabeled lakes, some missing knock outs, orphaned street at top of map, and no line work out side of CA. The only big change I have planned that I have not made yet is to screen back Nevada.

My big issues right now are getting the river lines to show up clearly in print while not upping the line size anymore (if I do I get an abrupt visual change where the lake polygons meet the river lines). River type is also causing me problems. I'd prefer to keep the water type matching the water fill and line color, but may have to darken it.

See the "Feather River Basin" link in top right of Gallery page for a higher quality PDF (23MBs):
www.mapbliss.com

Attached Files

•  B3_feather.pdf   946.76K   222 downloads

[BioGeoMan]

Thanks David

I am concerned that the watershed area is a bit too dark and that the subbasin boundaries are also difficult to see. I think if you lighten up the watershed area, your stream segments and annotation will show up a bit better, hence not forcing you to darken them any further. what do you think about labeling Honey Lake and Lake Tahoe within the waterbodies? Labeling them outside gives them a disconnected feel and you have plenty of space within.

Also, it seems there is a lot of space on either side of the watershed area, maybe you should consider a portrait layout instead of a landscape layout. The watershed area is more vertical than horizontal...just a thought.

I like they grayscale hillshade and your choice of font, very clean, yet not "ordinary". The color scheme is great, but again, I think the watershed area is a bit too dark.

Thanks again,
M.

[David Medeiros]

Thanks David

I am concerned that the watershed area is a bit too dark and that the subbasin boundaries are also difficult to see. I think if you lighten up the watershed area, your stream segments and annotation will show up a bit better, hence not forcing you to darken them any further. what do you think about labeling Honey Lake and Lake Tahoe within the waterbodies? Labeling them outside gives them a disconnected feel and you have plenty of space within.

Also, it seems there is a lot of space on either side of the watershed area, maybe you should consider a portrait layout instead of a landscape layout. The watershed area is more vertical than horizontal...just a thought.

I like they grayscale hillshade and your choice of font, very clean, yet not "ordinary". The color scheme is great, but again, I think the watershed area is a bit too dark.

Thanks again,
M.

I think your right on watershed color being too dark, I'll try a lighter shade.

The book the maps go into is landscape (though I may lobby to change it since most of the maps will be longer N to S).

I would normally label large bodies of water in the area fill, but here that required a type color change that I didn't like. I have not tried K/O type however and that may look ok.

thanks

[Rick Dey]

With the darkness of the water fill you are using white type in those two lakes should work well.

The first thing that caught my eye was the state border at an angle, and the opposite angle you usually see it at when it is twisted on a map. I realize that you are probably using a projection that has it's standard meridian out in the center of the state, and that you may want to keep a consistent projection through the whole series of maps but that twisted north orientation just hit me. I'd consider normalizing each of the maps as you go along. (Sure, easy for me to say, I'm not the one that gets to tweak each of them.)

Sorry to hear that the budget impasse is affecting you. I think it's time we took the California legislature and Governor out and not only stopped paying them but locked them all up in jail until they actually did the job they were elected to do.

[David Medeiros]

With the darkness of the water fill you are using white type in those two lakes should work well.

The first thing that caught my eye was the state border at an angle, and the opposite angle you usually see it at when it is twisted on a map. I realize that you are probably using a projection that has it's standard meridian out in the center of the state, and that you may want to keep a consistent projection through the whole series of maps but that twisted north orientation just hit me. I'd consider normalizing each of the maps as you go along. (Sure, easy for me to say, I'm not the one that gets to tweak each of them.)

Sorry to hear that the budget impasse is affecting you. I think it's time we took the California legislature and Governor out and not only stopped paying them but locked them all up in jail until they actually did the job they were elected to do.

The projection is NAD 83 UTM (zone 10). It's the native projection of the SRWP data, not that I can't just re-project it in MAPub. My real limitation is Natural Scene Designer, Which also exports in NAD 83 UTM. I went cheap and bought the version that does not re-project, I may upgrade later if it's a issue. Looking over the maps of the watershed as a whole I don't think it will mater much.

Of course I'm not getting paid for any of the work I'm doing right now and thats another reason not to make any big changes! If you'd have asked me last year if I thought the morons in Sacramento not passing the budget on time (as happens every budget) would affect me directly I would have said "never". Never say never.

Anyway, I made some changes to the. K/O type for big lakes and increased the main fill transparency. Much better I think, thanks all.

Attached Files

•  B3_feather3.pdf   947.64K   96 downloads

[Esther Mandeno]

Don't get me started on the state, I worked for California State Parks for 12 years. We were always on the verge of being laid off and our budget was constantly getting cut. C'est la vie...

Anyway, I wonder, how would it look if you reversed the shades? Meaning, darken (but not as dark as the current watershed of interest) the background and have the watershed in the whitish/gray? Just a thought.

[MapMedia]

David, Excellent map!!

Since all of the important detail (text mainly) is within the watershed of interest, having a lighter background will improve readability - so reversing the contrast to tinted exterior, white interior may work wonders.
Then you can shade the water a blue, and give in a more "open" feel.

I am happy with the fonts you have chosen, and like the shadowing here and there, though remove the transparency of title block - it should be 100% legible with no interference, despite artistic whims - I have learned this the hard way.

Do you work for the Sacramento River Project?

-Chris

[David Medeiros]

David, Excellent map!!

Since all of the important detail (text mainly) is within the watershed of interest, having a lighter background will improve readability - so reversing the contrast to tinted exterior, white interior may work wonders.
Then you can shade the water a blue, and give in a more "open" feel.

I am happy with the fonts you have chosen, and like the shadowing here and there, though remove the transparency of title block - it should be 100% legible with no interference, despite artistic whims - I have learned this the hard way.

Do you work for the Sacramento River Project?

-Chris

Thanks for the title recommendation. Your right, I shouldn't be showing roads through there. I'll try a version with reversed tint to see what that looks like as well. My gut says I won't like it, but you never know.

I do (or did) work for the Sac Watershed Project. I guess I technically still do but our funding is suspended. I'm not sure what the chances are we will actually be cut once the budget is passed. I hope to be back at it soon, it's interesting work and is really challenging me to learn new techniques and focus what I learned from the guys and gals at CSAA. What's your connection to them?