Hi folks, I am Christmas shopping for my partner's 13 year old, and am looking to get him something that will encourage his love of maps. The first time I met him, he quizzed me on locations of countries, and I recently found out that when he's bored in class, he draws maps of Europe from memory (currently have one posted up on my fridge).

He already has a globe and a world map for his bedroom. I'm hoping to find something that leans into the creative side of mapmaking, or that digs into showing geopolitical changes over time (he seems especially interested in Europe).

Any ideas would be very appreciated. Thank you!

This might be off topic, but I just finished listening to the first season of an audio drama called TRAP STREET. Maps are a big part of the mystery and I love what I've heard so far. Before I start season two, have any of you listened to it? I'm asking because so many podcasts start off great and then the quality drops off in future seasons. (No spoilers, please.)

Hello, i would like to know if someone can help me about learning how to draw mountains. I don't want it to be in fantasy style but maybe something more realistic. Those mountains chain are on a world map so no need to be ultra detailed but somehing that show that's a mountain.

I found a map that is exactly what I want but it looks like its a photo of the original print and I can't manipulate it due to it being low res. Any leads on something similar?

My main question is why have atlases from the past couple years (2023 & 2024) not updated the borders in between UA & RU?

From looking at world atlases published in the 1940s, it seems that the maps included the then-contemporary boundaries of the warring states--not the exact front lines of World War Second down to the precise kilometer, per se, but the general areas which the opposing belligerents controlled. I also saw a globe from the 1930s which had the Chaco Boreal in South America hatched with the words "disputed area." Further, I was able to flip through a map in the back of a 2024 world Almanac which had Peninsula Crimea hatched and labeled "disputed area."

So there is clearly a historical and modern precedent for publishing updated globes and maps which show where contested areas (warzones) are. Why, then, do most modern atlases in 2024 not showing at the current situation in UA/RU, where the general areas of control (Luganska, Donechyna, Zaporizhka, and Khersonska) have been stagnant and unchanging basically since late 2022? They do it for Crimea, why not the other 4?

Hello all!

I looking for advice of finding a maker of quality functional bronze compasses. My sibling absolutely loves maps and exploring wilderness and I thought finding him a good compass would be a good idea for Christmas!

However I’m having some difficulty sorting the cheap flimsy stuff from the quality makers. Does anyone have a recommendation? I’ve said bronze but it doesn’t have to be bronze specifically, though it’s preferred as I believe he’d appreciate the time worm/antiquated feel and look of the bronze! But functionality is most important! I’m hoping to find as durable and functional a model as I can!

Thank you for your time!

I am a gis analyst with quite a bit of experience in cartography already. I typically use arcpro then export to illustrator and photoshop. I am a motivated self teacher and watch a lot of tutorials to improve my skills. However, I do well in a formal setting and am looking to grow my skill set specifically in adobe products. Do folks have suggestions for online graphic design courses or something similar? I took an advanced cartography class in school and don’t want to focus on gis, strictly design. I could use more formal education around design principles and getting better at photoshop/illustrator. In my opinion, the best cartographer are those that have both the gis skills and the art/graphic design. Basically, if I wanted to do freelance or get a dream job at natgeo, I want to fill in those gaps to help me get there. Any other similar insight of suggestions given my situation would be great. Thanks!

While walking today I thought it would be nice if I coukd map my neighbourhood but I do not know where to start.and I also want to make maps exclusively on paper

Hi all

I am currently making an interactive map using the leaflet package, and am trying to costuming the legends without using html widgets.

I have two questions-

1. can I change the size of the legends?

2. can I make it so that the legends for base layers are invisible unless the layer is activated?

Again- I am hoping to do this in base leaflet without using HTML widgets.

Thanks 🖤

It's not strictly a cartography question, but I am looking for a way to mass-produce a wall map that I've designed. The dimensions of the project are 48" x 36", and the artwork has some very fine details, for example, toponyms in 4pt font. Does anyone have recommendations on who could print this?

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but I'm hoping someone can help me. I'm looking to find an original print map of Palestine that pre-dates Israeli occupation. It's a gift for a loved one who is a Palestinian Muslim, so it's important to me that I find the right kind of thing. I'd love to find one in Arabic, but I'm English speaking and this is already a difficult task, considering the politics involved in maps. I should mention though that the language doesn't matter too much, he's shown an interest in maps that simply acknowledge Palestine. If anybody could point me in the right direction, I'd be incredibly grateful! :)

I have heard that History was written by who had and stole the best maps of the world. Empires rise and fall all because of cartography well; I am hooked by that idea and was looking for books that go into the subject of Espionage, Maps and their making. Non fiction of course; but if there is a Historical Fiction that is an accurate Dramatization i am open to that too. Thanks in Advance and Godspeed.

Nothing in particular to add except a virtual wave at fellow sub members in Tacoma this week. My second year attending, and the community and cartography are excellent yet again.

Hello r/cartography!

We’re an arts non-profit based in New York’s Finger Lakes, focused on folk art and traditional crafts, and we’re looking to hire a talented cartographer/artist to create a regional map for us. We recently applied for a grant to update our maps and signage, and we’d love to bring someone on board who can add a creative touch to this project.

We’re commissioning a map of our local region to give out to tourists, showcasing some cool spots and attractions in the area. The map should capture the charm of the Finger Lakes and have a handmade quality to the design, though it can be created digitally.

To help guide the project, we’ve gathered some style inspiration on Pinterest (but we're open to your artistic vision, don't feel limited by this) and a Google Map with some of the key locations we’d like included (not a final list, but to get a sense of the region). The timeline is flexible, with the goal of having the map ready by early spring 2025.

If this sounds like a fit for you, please reach out to us at programs@folkartguild.org with a few examples of your work and your rates. I don’t check Reddit DMs frequently, so email is the best way to get in touch.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

I would need these for a project where i want to overlay existing real topography contour maps based on actual real data in a visual map in illustrator / photoshop. I did similar things with qgis for countries shapes, but couldn't find topographical contour layers to add on top. Any help from any source would be appreciated.

Thank you!