2 replies to this topic

[rockieshome]

Hello everyone,

I suppose many of us have encountered this wee item and it may have been discussed here but I'll ask again.

I'm not altogether sure whether the simple scaling function in AI preserves the spatial characteristice either raster or vector data originally exported from ArcMap. As an e.g., let's say I have numerous layers of data such as hill-shading, hydrology, cadastral, transportation that I'm exporting at a specific map scale from ArcMap. I proceed to bring all layers into AI, build the map and deliver the final map product to my graphics department for integration into their layout.

Then, some time down the road, the graphics folks wish to re-purpose the map into another product, but need to make the original map smaller and suggest that simply using the scaling functionality of AI to modify the layer features will accomplish this task just as well as going back to the original ArcMap project and re-exporting all the data at a new scale.

I made sure to suggest that they use a specific numerical scaling value in AI rather than physically repositioning anchors on-the-fly, and expressed some reservations that AI does not preserve spatial attributes without distortion as well as a specifically designed application such as ArcMap. My concerns are somewhat alleviated by the fact that the map will not be used for navigational purposes but primarily for orientation to points of interest features. That said, something is still bothering me about relying on AI to do something that I've always relied on ArcMap to do.

There's no scale bar on the map in need of consideration...

I may be unnecessarily favouring one app. over another, but I want to be sure. Anyone with definitive answers? Or, is this a no-brainer?

Many thanks for any advice you can pass along!

Cheers,

R

[David Medeiros]

Not sure if I'm missing some extra complexity in your situation or not but if you're asking whether or not a simple scale reduction in AI (via the menu not free transform) will preserve the spatial relation ship of the art work being scaled, the answer is yes.

I have frequently worked with various input layers to an AI file where they all had to scaled differently to fit the AI extent or where the AI extent was later rescaled and new GIS layers brought in and they all matched jsut fine as long as the projections were the same (this is not using MAPub BTW).

Unless using MAPub AI does not preserve any spatial attributes of the art work being scaled of course, but it will do just fine keeping the spatial relationships the same.

[rockieshome]

Thanks for that... I suspected the simple answer was a yes... to a long-winded question! And no additional complexities that I'm aware of. But I wanted to be sure.

I've generally only varied map scale within ArcGIS and then used AI at fixed scales for the rest of the development process. And, using AI for a relatively short time of only a couple years, I've rarely had to use it to vary the scale of a previouse map project; instead, I usually just re-exported data from ArcMap to a new AI project.

Now I can confidentally sally forth to new realms!

Regards,