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How to: Print Maps
🕑 Added 2024-01-17 17:00:15 +0000 UTCWe had a recent request on the best way to print maps so here is my guide on the best way I know how:
Overview:
- The map size is indicated by it's grid size.
- A 30x30 grid map is intended to be 30"x 30" or 762mm x 762mm.
- One standard square grid is 1"x 1" or 25.4mm x 25.4mm.
- The PPI or Pixels per inch indicates the resolution of the map
- To figure out the total resolution you can examine the properties of the image or do the Math
- Overall pixel size is PPI x Grid Size in inches
- Be warned that printing to size will take plenty of ink!
- Wow, that means a 50x50 map is pretty big! We might need a bigger table to handle that.
For printing maps we have a couple of options:
- Print to scale via one large page at your local print store
- Print to scale via small pages taped together
- Print a scaled version of the map
Print to scale via one large page at your local print store
- Your local print store should have an architecture print size or a banner size
- These prints typically range up to 5'x10' or 60x120 in grid size
- The price ranges usually from $20-$150, depending on the size
- This is a great option for a city, world, or commonly used map
Print to scale via small pages taped together
- The best tool I have found for this is The Rasterbator
- Another tool is PosteRazor (allows WEBP files)
- 100% free!
- It takes the image you want printed and will break it up into several pages via the page size you select
- You can do this manually, but it is maddening to align everything with more than 6 pages
Step by Step with The Rasterbator
- Upload: the map you want to print
- Paper size: select desired paper size and orientation (US letter is the US standard size)
- Margin: Add a small Margin to the pages (1/4" or 6mm) (If you choose 0 there will be no overlapping edges or wiggle room in the print)
- Overlap: Overlap the pages by a small amount equal or less than the margin (this makes it easier to tape)
- Output size: should be auto generated
- Style: No Effects
- Raster color: Multicolor (if color print), Black (if black and white)
- Background Color: White
- Output: Enlarge
- Other: Crop Marks and Page position really help when taping!
- Complete: The file will be ready for you to download or print
- You will want to play around with the margin, overlap, and page orientation that feels right to you
- Print, cut, and tape together!
Print a scaled version of the map
- Finally, you can always print the map at half scale or smaller
- You can adjust the scale by manually adjusting in Microsoft Word or controlling the scaling via Adobe, GIMP, Photoshop, or another image editor software
- You can now print the map in the desired scale size!
Comments
Jesse B
You can also break a large map into multiple smaller maps by choosing "poster" from the print options. In my experience, PDFs opened in Adobe Acrobat have by far the best results.
patronarz
So helpful, thank you!
Alexander Moreau
Give me a shout if you have any questions or find a better way of printing maps. Happy Adventuring!
Sterling Smithson
This is PERFECT! Thank you so much!
Thomas V
Great information here!
