8 replies to this topic

[Hans van der Maarel]

Reposting an announcement that got lost in the downtime...



I've created a set of cartographic symbols that can be used in Illustrator CS. It's available as a free download here

Comments would be most welcome.

[ELeFevre]

Thanks for the symbol set, Hans. What did you use to create them?

[Hans van der Maarel]

Erin,

I did them in Illustrator CS. It's surprisingly easy actually. The only thing to remember is to convert all texts to paths before making it a symbol. These were all taken from various maps, including Dutch Topographic Service, UK Ordnance Survey and a Michelin road atlas of the USA.

The main reason I did them is because MAPublisher finally moved away from using Truetype fonts for symbols, so it's now finally possible to do symbols with more than one color. I still vividly remember creating my previous symbolset in Fontographer, 4 years ago.

Also, one of my clients recently asked whether or not there was a 'standard set of map symbols' that we should use on their maps.

[Rob]

Hans,

You should be careful copying symbols from other people's maps. Many, especially from large private companies, are most likely copyrighted which would legally preclude you from using them. Map companies make a lot of money suing people who steal there work. That's why you should always compiled from three sources. Just a heads up.

Totes

[Hans van der Maarel]

Totes,

You've got a point there, but I'm not sure whether it would be possible to copyright a map symbol. The map itself, yes, but symbols?

Anyway, most of them came off of a (Dutch) Topographic Service map and I'm pretty sure they won't mind. After all, I'm not asking money for it.

[Nick Springer]

I beleive the USGS even publishes their symbols for use in Illustrator. I'll try to dig up the link. The USGS material is public domain and I would assume that the (Dutch) Topographic Service is as well.

Your right though about copying symbols from a private map company. Those would definitely be protected.

[Hans van der Maarel]

Not sure about the USGS, but the NPS does.

As far as the Dutch Topographical Service goes, their agreements only cover the use of the *data*, not the style of the map. In fact, in the past I've been asked several times to produce maps in that style and even right now I'm supporting a customer who does that.

[Rob]

USGS etc. are nothing to worry about. Distributing a Michelin road atlas symbol is a different story. Maybe it's just in the U.S., but people do get sued over this type of thing. And yes, many people copyright their map symbols so when they put effort into a good design people can't copy them for free!

totes

[Hans van der Maarel]

Well, I did check that one just now and I couldn't find any mentioning of a copyright on the symbology.