printing digital maps

[ChrisJB]

I've recently signed up to the OS Getamap facility and today printed off my first map (1:25, 000) and I have to say I am disappointed with the result. It isn't clear enough for me and the contour lines are a struggle to see. I have used normal printer paper and had the printer set to the 'best photo' option. Thus, I am thinking of buying some top-notch waterproof paper. Will this make a significant difference to the quality of the print? It isn't cheap.
Thanks in advance.

Chris

[The Woodman]

Chris

There's a facility on the GetaMap page "You can still use the original Get-a-map service" link then use the "Print/save/Copy" tab top right of the map screen.

I use this almost on a daily basis and printed maps on a Word doc at 25.000 are fine on ordinary paper for casual / one off use. Waterproof paper will not make the print better quality. If you zoom out the resolution gets a bit hazy at A4, it depends what you're happy with. A5 is crystal sharp.

p.s. I recall this topic before - I seem to recall you want a larger map area coverage than the smaller area view using my method.

[ChrisJB]

You know, I don't know why I dabble in all this technical stuff as I invariably get hopelessly confused. I have a 1: 25, 000 map on the screen now, but I cannot see the things you talk of! If I'm understanding you correctly, is the aim to save it as a Word document then print it from there?

Chris

[The Woodman]

OK, perhaps poorly explained..

Open the original Get a Map service via the link on the home page and find the area and scale you want. Tap on PRINT/SAVE/COPY and another screen loads with the required map. Right click on the map and Save Image As to a file of your choice naming the file rather than the default gobbledygook.

Open a new Word doc, then Insert - Picture - From File and size it from there.
As I said, at 1:25000 the area covered is quite small 2x2km. 4x4km at 1:50000.

[ChrisJB]

I'll do it now! Cheers pal.

Chris

[ChrisJB]

I understand now, the 'original' version. Yes, I've used this a lot, but I've signed up to the new version, whereby you shell out thirty quid (subscription for 12 months) and it covers larger printable areas, which I thought would be more functional for me. The problem is and I think I've clearly wasted my money, I don't think the print quality is good enough, certainly for walking in remote uplands, where contour detail is an essential navigational aid.

Cheers, Chris

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

it covers larger printable areas, which I thought would be more functional for me. The problem is and I think I've clearly wasted my money, I don't think the print quality is good enough, certainly for walking in remote uplands, where contour detail is an essential navigational aid.

Cheers, Chris

I don't know if this is any help to you, but I suspect these are intended to be drawn by a CAD plotter or similar, rather than a home printer. There may be a commercial CAD Bureau somewhere near you who could print them out from file, or perhaps you have contact with an Architect's or Estates Management business who have their own plotter?

T2

[solus]

Using the "old" Get-a-Map, I save the images as described by The Woodman, then click on "Print" and there is some magic "wizard" hiding in the depths of my PC (I am a bit of a computer-numpty and don't know how it got there!) which opens up and offers a choice of sizes, for example, 4 images to an A4 sheet. Maybe there's something similar already on your computer or it came with the printer stuff?

Then if it is a relatively small area I'm after, for example, for a walk, I cut out the various images once they're printed and sellotape them together, overlapping/trimming as required, to make a map of what I need. This in a plastic folder has saved me a fair amount as I haven't needed to buy several maps for what is likely to be a one-off use! OK, a bit time consuming with the scissors and sticky tape but worth it.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

I don't know if this is any help to you, but I suspect these are intended to be drawn by a CAD plotter or similar, rather than a home printer. There may be a commercial CAD Bureau somewhere near you who could print them out from file, or perhaps you have contact with an Architect's or Estates Management business who have their own plotter?

T2

I suspect you are probably right. I just wish that the OS had been a bit more open about the quality on the average home printer. Cheers for your suggestions lads as well. I might try the sellotape idea Solus!

Chris

[RKB]

Sounds like you might have the wrong printer or save settings. If you save it, save it as either a pdf or a tiff file. Failing that, save as a jpeg with the highest resolution (lowest compression). Don't save it as a bitmap, or it will be rubbish. On your printer, make sure that you have the best resolution.

Another thing you can try is to get up the map you want, then hit 'print screen' on your keyboard (probably a key in the top right, or try ctrl and P at the same time, or ctrl and alt). This then copies what you see on your screen to the invisible clipboard, and you then paste this as an image in a graphics/editing package, or even in Word or Powerpoint. You can then crop it to the actual map, and then save as a pdf. Make sure that the image size is large (A4).

The last tip is very useful for getting images that are print protected, or dealing with poor resolution if you only have e.g. MS Paint.