Cartographer wanted
October 9, 2014 11:43 AM Subscribe
I need two or three basic maps for a book. Nothing fancy, just basic black and white, gray for water. I’m no cartographer. Any leads, suggestions, warnings, experiences would be welcome.
The places are real and I can refer the hiree to other people's past efforts. Discussions of potential cost would also be welcome.
The places are real and I can refer the hiree to other people's past efforts. Discussions of potential cost would also be welcome.
You might be able to use Stamen's map tool for this, not sure about copyright but I think it's free. It makes pretty maps if you put in coordinates.
posted by three_red_balloons at 11:48 AM on October 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by three_red_balloons at 11:48 AM on October 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: It makes pretty maps if you put in coordinates.
Interesting! I should have mentioned, however, that this is for a work of history and a lot of the landmarks have changed.
posted by BWA at 11:59 AM on October 9, 2014
Interesting! I should have mentioned, however, that this is for a work of history and a lot of the landmarks have changed.
posted by BWA at 11:59 AM on October 9, 2014
Are you near a college campus? See if the college has a GIS program (Geographic Information System) - that's the training many have for basic cartography. For example, I used to have a software on my computer called ArcGIS, with which it was relatively easy to generate maps. People in those programs, especially professors, will either know someone who can make it, or make it for you.
Or contact a college with such a program, even if they aren't close.
posted by troytroy at 12:15 PM on October 9, 2014
Or contact a college with such a program, even if they aren't close.
posted by troytroy at 12:15 PM on October 9, 2014
GIS and cartography are not the same thing, and I would lean towards someone who does design. Gretchen Peterson has written a lot of books on the design aspects of cartography, and if she doesn't take freelance projects like this, she would definitely know who would.
There's actually a big cartography conference going on right now. Here are some of the companies/freelancers who are participating. I personally think Daniel Huffman does beautiful work. Looks Andy Woodruff does mostly web stuff; not sure if he's still with Axis Maps but they do both print and web. Hans van der Maarel (Red Geographics) and Carticulate Maps have both been around for awhile. None of these people are close personal friends or anything but I have met/talked to them all.
posted by desjardins at 12:48 PM on October 9, 2014 [4 favorites]
There's actually a big cartography conference going on right now. Here are some of the companies/freelancers who are participating. I personally think Daniel Huffman does beautiful work. Looks Andy Woodruff does mostly web stuff; not sure if he's still with Axis Maps but they do both print and web. Hans van der Maarel (Red Geographics) and Carticulate Maps have both been around for awhile. None of these people are close personal friends or anything but I have met/talked to them all.
posted by desjardins at 12:48 PM on October 9, 2014 [4 favorites]
I should have mentioned, however, that this is for a work of history and a lot of the landmarks have changed.
Do you want your map to be historically accurate? If so, you should make sure that is an explicit part of the job as advertised--depending on the area, obtaining historical geographical data can sometimes be difficult, although people who use GIS, cartographers, and designers will all have different ways of going about it.
If you go with troytroy's method, you are looking for the geography department, and if there isn't one, try transportation or engineering, natural resource management, urban/regional planning, or public health. But it would probably be better to find a professional designer IMO, and desjardin's suggestions are good.
posted by epanalepsis at 12:56 PM on October 9, 2014
Do you want your map to be historically accurate? If so, you should make sure that is an explicit part of the job as advertised--depending on the area, obtaining historical geographical data can sometimes be difficult, although people who use GIS, cartographers, and designers will all have different ways of going about it.
If you go with troytroy's method, you are looking for the geography department, and if there isn't one, try transportation or engineering, natural resource management, urban/regional planning, or public health. But it would probably be better to find a professional designer IMO, and desjardin's suggestions are good.
posted by epanalepsis at 12:56 PM on October 9, 2014
I have a friend who does simple maps for books. I will memail you his contact details.
posted by scruss at 1:40 PM on October 9, 2014
posted by scruss at 1:40 PM on October 9, 2014
Mapbox Studio (aka TileMill) is a great tool for making maps like this. It lets you make Google-style maps from various data sources, including your own custom ones. The map design is set by a styling language that's a lot like web CSS, but for maps. You can make large printable versions at high resolution.
I don't know how to hire someone who can make the map for you, but there must be a community around the tool.
posted by Nelson at 1:32 AM on October 10, 2014
I don't know how to hire someone who can make the map for you, but there must be a community around the tool.
posted by Nelson at 1:32 AM on October 10, 2014
memail, i can help.
posted by j_curiouser at 1:56 AM on October 10, 2014
posted by j_curiouser at 1:56 AM on October 10, 2014
I disagree with using web tools for print work, unless you can export the map as vector files. You want someone who can do this in Adobe Illustrator or similar. Your printing company is unlikely to be willing to work with web-resolution (typically 72 dpi) files. They will look like shit.
Unless you are talking about ebooks, in which case, disregard the above.
posted by desjardins at 6:21 AM on October 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Unless you are talking about ebooks, in which case, disregard the above.
posted by desjardins at 6:21 AM on October 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: It's definitely for a hard copy bound and printed book just like Gutenberg used to make.
Oh, and no best answers only because everyone has contributed and has my gratitude.
posted by BWA at 8:51 AM on October 10, 2014
Oh, and no best answers only because everyone has contributed and has my gratitude.
posted by BWA at 8:51 AM on October 10, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by XMLicious at 11:47 AM on October 9, 2014