How to turn a map into a globe?

November 16, 2006 10:15 AM

Mapmaking: I want to make my own globe. Does anyone know of any software or method (for winXP, cheaper/free is better) that will take an image of the map (ie cylindrical projection), and turn it into a paper template ready to print, cut, and stick onto a sphere - BUT - preferably one that is centred on the poles, like commercially-made globes, rather than the (much less effective) strips centred on the equator. Failing that, anything that works :)

I have access to photoshop 7 and Maya 7, if there are plugins or something for it.

posted by -harlequin- to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

You could do it in matlab.. It is a pretty straight forward mapping. You could make it centre wherever you want, I suppose..

What you need is the map projection equations. This site describes the process. Also, it has an inverse mercator projection equation, which is a start. All you need from there is the equation which projects from longitude/latitude onto strips.
posted by Chuckles at 7:13 PM on November 16, 2006

This page at Radical Cartography is a source for finding different projections.

Would it be madness to suggest using two halves of an Azimuthal Equidsitant-projection map, one centered at each pole, cut into little slices as in your example, and then glued together at the Equator?
posted by mdonley at 7:15 PM on November 16, 2006

Here's an applet that lets you play with different projections, pretty cool! Looks like they provide the source code too.
posted by Chuckles at 7:19 PM on November 16, 2006