[OKGIS] Book(s) on beautifying maps

[David W. Wheelock]

Hi Aaron,
 
A good place to start is to describe what specific changes you're making
in the secondary software and then see if any of those things can be
done within ArcMap.  Despite all of my complaints about ESRI software
quality, the depth of features is truly dizzying.  It may be that some
of what you want is already there.
 
If there's something that you're wondering whether if it can be done in
ArcMap, just submit the question to this group.
 
Of course, if you have support you can always call the ESRI tech support
number, 1-888-377-4575, and ask if such-and-such a thing is possible.
 
There's also the ESRI User Forums,
http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=forums.gateway, where you can
search for answers and submit questions.  To reply to a post or create a
new post requires you to create an ESRI Global Account login, but I
think that's open to anyone and doesn't require support.  Might I
suggest the forum topics under ArcGIS Desktop, "ArcMap Layers and
Symbology" and "ArcMap Page Layout".  Might be something there.
 
A good place to look for ideas is the ESRI map book gallery.  It's
ESRI's annual coffee table book of the best maps from the annual user
conference, and now they've got the last 6 years on line,
http://www.esri.com/mapmuseum/index.html.  You can also order them for
$20, or so, and some of us have old copies laying around.
 
Good luck, let us know what you find.
 
David


David Wheelock     Application Specialist     david at oda.state.ok.us 
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
2800 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4298
Phone: (405) 522-5477 FAX: (405) 522-3590
http://www.oda.state.ok.us <http://www.oda.state.ok.us/>  
"We are usually convinced more easily by reasons we have found
ourselves, 
than by those which have occurred to others." 
Pascal <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_Pascal>  
________________________________

From: okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu [mailto:okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu]
On Behalf Of Landgraf, Chad
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 3:03 PM
To: Oklahoma GIS Community
Subject: RE: [OKGIS] Book(s) on beautifying maps


Aaron:
 
You might check-out the ESRI Mapping Center website (if you haven't
already): http://mappingcenter.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=home.welcome
  
 
-Chad
 
----------------
Chad E. Landgraf
Geographic Information Systems Analyst
Center for Rural Health 
Oklahoma State University - Center for Health Sciences
1111 West 17th Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74107-1898
918.584.4376 (voice)
918.584.4391 (fax)
205.454.3074 (mobile)
http://ruralhealth.okstate.edu/
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu [mailto:okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu]
On Behalf Of Aaron Champion
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 14:27
To: Oklahoma GIS Community
Subject: [OKGIS] Book(s) on beautifying maps
 
All:
 
I had a question about improving the aesthetic quality of maps.  I've
read Tufte's "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information" several
times, but I'm more curious now about books specifically dealing with
techniques on beautifying maps created in ArcGIS.  Typically my work
flow is to build the map in ArcGIS, turn on a layer at a time and
export it as a transparent tiff or png, and do the final touchups in
Photoshop.  There are several reasons as to why I dislike this method.
 
Is anyone aware of any books on this topic, or has ESRI and the GIS
community still not clued in to the importance of visually-pleasing
(and accurate) maps?
 
Regards,
 
Aaron Champion
Association of Central Oklahoma Governments
Transportation Planning and Data Services
21 East Main Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73104-2405
P: (405) 234-2264   F: (405) 234-2200
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