I am looking for an alternative software product for cartography other than ArcGIS and Adobe Illustrator. The graphic quality in ArcGIS outputs is substantially poor when compared to outputs in illustrator, yet illustrator is not a true cartographic software package. Any open source? Any extensions to ArcGIS or Illustrator that would enhance performance? Read a couple referrals to MAPublisher in other forums, yet this package is too expensive ($2000+).
[GIS] Alternative cartographic software programs
cartographysoftware-recommendations
Related Solutions
You need TypeBrewer - from the site:
TypeBrewer: A Map Design Help Tool for Selecting Typography
TypeBrewer is a free help tool that gives non-specialist mapmakers a chance to explore typography in a semi-structured environment. It is not mapmaking software. Instead of providing the functionality of a graphic design program or GIS, TypeBrewer offers a quick and easy way to explore typographic alternatives and see the impact that various elements of type have on the overall look and feel of a map. TypeBrewer is designed for mapmakers who want to learn more about map typography and get practical design specifications for starting a map project.
Only downside is that you need flash to make it work :-(
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Hidden drawings in Swiss national maps
Further to the maps shown in the Swiss Review article in the question there are more from Interactive maps
On map 254 again and north-west of the town of Interlaken, a face is drawn on the rock face. Like the spider, it can actually be seen horizontally on the ground. This spot attracts many curiosity-seekers (see how it looks like on the field). Its name reflects that of the summit, a bit higher on the “Harderkulm” map. Its author is cartographer Friedrich Siegfried, who specialises in relief representation.
National map to 1:50,000 scale, 254 Interlaken, edition 1981, 2'631'950, 1'171'661
At the end of the 1990s, he also drew a climber ascending an Italian slope. According to the way they are divided up, Swiss maps sometimes cover the territory of neighbouring countries. His presence is apparently owed to a lack of information and data from the Italian geographical services, which the cartographer covered in an artistic manner. Interestingly, this climber still appears in the current edition of the 1:100 000 scale map.
National map to 1:100,000 scale, 39 Flüelapass, edtion 2001, 2'820'756, 1'158'735
Credit for providing the link: @Luke
Easter eggs / copyright traps
There are loads of hidden details in maps but not necessarily as jokes, but often traps against plagiarism. For instance, many Bartholemew maps in the UK have tiny cul-de-sacs added where they don't exist in real life.
The Ordnance survey is rumoured to introduce specific values to attributes or features and so on.
It has also been heard that cartographers add details or change attributes, not as jokes, but through boredom or personal vanity. Credit: @MappaGnosis
These are sometimes called Easter eggs in American English. Credit: @mkennedy
See also
The Fake Places That Only Exist to Catch Copycat Mapmakers
Credit: @Mapperz linking to blog post by Sarah Zang`
From comment by @Michael Stimson
In one instance a co-worker signed his name in the seaside rocks.
Another a house of worship whose denomination couldn't be verified was classified as 'Galivanting Kalithumpians', verification arrived after publishing so the 1st edition had such labelled on the map.
There was a map series published (10k I think) with a drawing of a lady on the front cover... the lady's bust line increased with every edition until it was quite unrealistic, when the practice was discovered and halted.
Credit: @Michael Stimson
Your World Map is Hiding Something
Not really jokes but I found this website quite fun: http://metrocosm.com/mercator/
The interactive graphic at the bottom of the page is a great training tool to demonstrate the concept of projection.
Credit: @Joseph
Unusual place names
Although not strictly 'Cartographic Jokes', probably more inhabitants sense of humour, here are some maps of unusual place names that can be quite engaging and entertaining. Credit: @jbalk
Australia:
From https://marvellousmaps.com/shop/stgs-marvellous-map-of-actual-australian-place-names
(Scroll through on the website to see more screenshots)
UK:
From https://marvellousmaps.com/shop/oldschoolclassic
(Scroll through on the website to see more screenshots)
USA:
https://marvellousmaps.com/shop/stgs-marvelous-map-of-genuine-american-place-names
(Scroll through on the website to see more screenshots)
World:
https://marvellousmaps.com/shop/rudeworldmap
(Scroll through on the website to see more screenshots)
"Spelled her name with the rivers " Anecdotally, @jbalk has heard about a cartographer that spelled her name with the rivers she was mapping for a USA road map she was working on. (Currently unreferenced)
What your favorite map projection says about you
From: XKCD Comic https://xkcd.com/977/ Credit: @jbalk
Best Answer
I've tried (not professionaly) MAPublisher. For what I could assess, it greatly improves the workflow for professional map design. I mean, truly professional.
Most people work with a GIS software and then export it to a graphics package. What Ian described is that you can work with any GIS software that exports to SVG and then import it in a design software, such as Illy, Corel Draw, Inkscape, etc.
The OS solution that I would recomend is that same as iant: QGIS + Inkscape. The two softwares together aren't as powerful as ArcGIS + Illustrator but you can create amazing maps with it.
edit oh and one ArcGIS extension that WILL improve quality and production is Maplex. It has a different labelling engine and it is fantastic. It can do amazing things for you, since it automagically places 90% of the labels for you, has great font/style control, etc.