How to Create a Map in Illustrator

Illustrator is a vector-based drawing program from Adobe.

Using Adobe Illustrator to draw a map will give you a sharp, clean and editable graphic file that is resolution independent. Illustrator gives you the flexibility of creating simple maps for directions for friends to complex detailed maps for professional printing. With Illustrator you will have many tools dedicated to vector-based drawing and editing. The files you create will also import seamlessly with many of Adobe's other graphic programs like Photoshop, InDesign and Acrobat.

Things You'll Need

• Map picture reference file

Instructions

Prepare Work Area

1. Launch Adobe Illustrator.

2. Go to the "Window" drop-down menu and make sure the "Tools" and "Layers" palettes are checked.

3. Go to the "File" drop-down menu and choose "New." Select "Letter" from the "Size" drop-down menu and click "OK."

4. Go to the "File" drop-down menu and choose "Place." Locate your file and click "Place" to insert your reference map.

5. Go to the "Layers" palette and click the "Create New Layer" icon located at the bottom of the palette. Use this layer to draw your map on.

Create Map Outline

1. Select the "Stroke" icon in the "Tools" palette and choose a bright color to make it easier to see your outlines from the reference map.

2. Select the "Fill" icon in the "Tools" palette and choose "None" to make the fill transparent. Stroke and fill settings will be changed after all outlines of map elements have been created.

3. Select the "Pen" tool and begin drawing outlines of the primary shapes (see Resources). For example, if you are creating a world map, begin by drawing outlines of the continents. Be sure to close all shapes that you want to fill with color.

Add Detail

1. Click the "New Layer" icon in the "Layers" palette to create a separate layer above the primary shapes for map details.

2. Select the "Pen" tool and draw any details you want visible on your map. For example, if you are creating a street map, draw roads and landmarks.

3. Create a new layer and select the "Text" tool from the "Tools" palette. Insert text labels to identify locations on your map. You can adjust text attributes through the "Character" palette (see Resources).

4. Create a new layer and select the "Pen" tool to add any additional detail or elements. For example, insert road signs, symbols or navigational elements. Alternatively, you can copy and paste other vector images into your map document that you may already have.

Add Color

1. Select the "Move" tool from the "Tools" palette and click on the shapes you have created. Select the shapes in groups by holding the "Shift" key and clicking objects. This will allow you to set color and stroke attributes for multiple objects at once.

2. Bring the "Fill" icon to the foreground in the "Tools" palette and double-click it.

3. Choose a color from the "Color Picker" and click "OK."

4. Bring the "Stroke" icon to the foreground in the "Tools" palette and double-click it.

5. Choose a color from the "Color Picker" and click "OK."

6. Adjust the stoke thickness and other attributes in the "Stroke" palette (see Resources).

7. Go to the "File" drop-down menu and choose "Save As." Save the file in the native .AI format to preserve editing capabilities and click "Save."

Tips & Warnings

• Use the zoom tool to get close when creating detailed shapes.

• Royalty free map images can be purchased from online stock photo sites.

• Map images are copyrighted. Be sure you have permission to use the map for tracing.

References

• Adobe Illustrator CS3: User Guide

Resources

• Adobe Illustrator CS3: Drawing with the Pen Tool
• Adobe Illustrator CS3: Type
• Adobe Illustrator CS3: Stroke an Object