ADVANCED
TYPOGRAPHY
Cartographic Design for GIS (Geog. 340)
Prof. Hugh Howard
American River College
SPECIFIC
TYPOGRAPHIC
GUIDELINES:
All Features
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
•
Orient type horizontally
– Except when labeling a map that has
curved parallels, in which case the type
should be oriented with the parallels
Graticule with curved parallels
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
•
Orient type horizontally (cont.)
– Except when labeling diagonal or curved
features, in which case the type should
reflect the orientation of the features
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
•
Avoid overprinting and, when
necessary, minimize its effects
– Overprinting occurs when type is placed
on top of a map feature, obscuring the
type and making it difficult to read
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
•
The effects of overprinting can be
minimized through the use of
– Mask
– Halo
– Callout
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
•
A mask is a polygon placed below
type, but above the mapped area
– Masks can sometimes obscure too much
of the mapped area
– Masks can be specified with the same
color as the underlying area
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
•
A halo is an extended outline of letters
– Haloes cover less of the underlying
mapped area than masks, while still
allowing the type to be read
– Don’t make haloes so thick that they
attract undue attention
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
•
Callouts are a combination of mask
and leader line
– Callouts are effective, but should be used
with caution
– They are visually dominant and can
overshadow other map elements
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
•
Ensure that all type labels are placed
so that they are clearly associated with
the features they represent
• Place larger type labels first, followed
by intermediate, and then smaller
labels
SPECIFIC
TYPOGRAPHIC
GUIDELINES:
Point Features
POINT FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
Avoid overprinting when placing labels
– Choose locations based on the “sequence
of preferred locations”
Sequence of Preferred Locations
POINT FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
Do not allow map features to come
between a point symbol and its label
– Place the label close to the symbol, even
if it means choosing a less preferred
location
POINT FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
If the sequence of preferred locations
does not provide a suitable option
– Consider using a mask, halo, or callout
– Or use a simple leader line
Leader lines for point symbols should be very thin,
not include an arrowhead, and point to the center of the point
symbol without actually touching it.
POINT FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
Multiple-line (stacked) labels should be
placed according to the sequence of
preferred locations
– Individual lines of type should be
horizontally aligned or centered
Emphasizes the association between the label and point symbol
POINT FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
Point symbols on land that are close to
coastlines
– Should be labeled entirely on land
•
Point symbols that touch coastlines
– Should be labeled either entirely on land
or entirely on water (avoid overprinting)
POINT FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
The previous guidelines should be
followed as closely as possible
– In practice, it is often impossible to adhere
to all guidelines simultaneously
Poorly-Placed Labels
Well-Placed Labels
POINT FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
Do not exaggerate letter or word
spacing when labeling point features
– Exaggerated spacing weakens the
association between symbol and label
Inappropriate Spacing
Appropriate Spacing
SPECIFIC
TYPOGRAPHIC
GUIDELINES:
Linear Features
LINEAR FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
Place labels above linear features
close to, but not touching them
– Descenders (lower extensions of g, y,
etc.) should just clear the line symbol
– Type is placed above linear features
An exception to placing
type above line
LINEAR FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
When labeling linear features that have
complex curves, follow the general
trend of the feature
– Type that curves too much is difficult to
read
LINEAR FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
Very long linear features can be
labeled more than once
– Multiple labels are preferred to
exaggerated letter and word spacing
LINEAR FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
Labels should be placed upright
– Labels should read from left to right
– Type that is absolutely vertical should be
readable from the right side of the page
SPECIFIC
TYPOGRAPHIC
GUIDELINES:
Areal Features
AREAL FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
If areal features are large enough to
contain a label, visually center the label
within the feature
– Follow the general trend
of areal features that have
complex curves
– Use all-uppercase type
when labeling areal
features
AREAL FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
Exaggerated letter and word spacing
can be used to emphasize areal extent
– Works best with all-uppercase type
– Lowercase type tends to look disjointed
when exaggerated spacing is applied
Appropriate Spacing
Inappropriate Spacing
AREAL FEATURE GUIDELINES
•
Leading can also be exaggerated to
emphasize areal extent
– Leading should not be so great that the
relationship between lines of type is lost
AREAL FEATURE GUIDELINES
• Linear features represented as areas
should be labeled as areal features
AREAL FEATURE GUIDELINES
• Areal features that are too small to
contain a label should be labeled as
point symbols
– Refer to guidelines for point symbols
– Other options are available…
AREAL FEATURE GUIDELINES
• Leader lines can be used with areal
features
Leader lines for areal symbols should be very thin,
not include an arrowhead, and enter the symbol to a certain extent.
LABELING SMALL AREAS
Treat as a point symbol
Overprint, but use a halo
Reduce character spacing
Use “narrow” style typeface
Abbreviate
Reduce type size
Treat as point symbol,
w/ areal leader line
Be consistent with your approach!
AUTOMATED
TYPE PLACEMENT
(Labeling)
AUTO. TYPE PLACEMENT
•
Labeling software has been developed
for automatically positioning type, often
within the context of a GIS
– Places labels for map features as
opposed to positioning map elements
composed of type, such as the title
– Employs cartographic expert systems,
which make decisions based on rules and
guidelines obtained from cartographic
experts
AUTO. TYPE PLACEMENT
•
The biggest advantage of labeling
software is its ability to save time
– Manual type placement is one of the most
time-consuming aspects of cartography
•
Problems with labeling software
– Time is required to “train” the software
– Optimal solutions are computer-intensive
– The finished product normally requires
substantial interactive editing
AUTO. TYPE PLACEMENT
•
Examples of labeling software
– Standard labeling engine in ArcMap
– Maplex (standalone) and Maplex for
ArcGIS (extension)
– Label-EZ (standalone)
LABELING
with the
STANDARD ArcGIS
LABELING ENGINE
STANDARD LABELING
•
•
•
ArcMap places labels automatically
according to a series of rules
Labels cannot be selected
Labels cannot be individually edited
– For content or style
•
Labels and label placement can
change dynamically when panning and
zooming
STANDARD LABELING
•
Labels do not scale in unison with
changes in map scale…
STANDARD LABELING
•
Unless you set a reference scale
– “The scale at which 12 pt type is 12 pt”
STANDARD LABELING
•
Setting a reference scale makes labels
sensitive to scale changes
STANDARD LABELING
•
General procedure
– Turn on labels
– Open the Labeling toolbar
– Open the Label Manager
LABELING
with the
MAPLEX for ArcGIS
LABELING ENGINE
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Switch to the Maplex engine
MAPLEX LABELING
•
The basic procedure is the same
– But Maplex offers more sophisticated
placement options
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Three feature classes to be labeled
– Fire stations, streets, and water bodies
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Format the label expression using the
Label Manager
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Format text with VBScript & ArcMap tags
"<BOL>" & [LANDMARK] & "</BOL>" & vbNewLine &
"<FNT size='10'>" & [ADDRESS] & "</FNT>"
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Many formatting options, but not
necessarily the ones you need (TCase)
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Help with formatting
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/d1wf56tt(VS.85).aspx
MAPLEX LABELING
•
More formatting
– Haloes
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Better, but placement is poor, and two
labels are stacked…
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Stacking is turned off, and advanced
placement properties are accessed
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Apply the “sequence of preferred
locations”
– When labeling point
symbols
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Placement is improved, and stacking is
removed
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Label a second feature class (streets)
– And let the conflicts begin
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Concatenate fields
[Name] & “ “ & [TYPE]
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Conditions deteriorate further
– Apply a positioning rule
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Set label repetition interval
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Duplicates are reduced (and haloes
added)
MAPLEX LABELING
•
Label a third feature class (hydro feat’s)
– Time to convert to annotation
WORKING with
ANNOTATION
ANNOTATION
•
•
An alternate form of type
Unlike labels, annotation can be
– Selected
– Individually edited for content and style
•
Unlike labels, annotation does not
– Move dynamically when panning and
zooming
•
Labels can be converted to annotation
– For fine tuning after automated labeling
ANNOTATION
•
Converting labels to annotation
ANNOTATION
•
Can be stored in the map (ArcMap
document, or *.mxd)
– Good for small amounts of text that only
need to be used in a single .mxd
– “Map” annotation can be edited outside of
an edit session
– Similar to graphics, or type added using
the New Text tool on the Drawing toolbar
ANNOTATION
•
Can be stored in a geodatabase (*.mdb,
*.gdb, etc.)
– Good for large amounts of text that can be
used in multiple ArcMap documents
– “Geodatabase” annotation requires that
you be in an editing session to alter
– Annotation appears as a layer in the TOC
ANNOTATION
•
Select geodatabase annotation and
delete (focus Data Frame first…)
ANNOTATION
•
Use the Editor toolbar, together with the
Annotation Attributes dialog box (for
geodatabase anno.)
ANNOTATION
•
Hydro features are manually positioned
– Maplex also offers automated options
ANNOTATION
•
Typographical problems still remain…
– How much time do you have?
TIPS FOR LABELING
AREAS
LABELING AREAS
•
Default labeling style
LABELING AREAS
•
Convert to upper case
UCase([STATE_NAME])
LABELING AREAS
•
Exaggerate letter/word spacing
LABELING AREAS
•
Screen back (it’s base information)
(Water labels
should be
100% Cyan)
TIPS FOR FILTERING
LABELS
FILTERING LABELS
•
Use VBScript in label expression
–
To show only certain labels
Function FindLabel ([CNTRYNAME])
if ([CNTRYNAME] = "France" OR [CNTRYNAME] = "Italy") then
FindLabel = Ucase([CNTRYNAME])
end if
End Function
FILTERING LABELS
•
Use VBScript in label expression
–
To hide certain labels
Function FindLabel ([CNTRYNAME])
if ([CNTRYNAME] <> "France") then
FindLabel = Ucase([CNTRYNAME])
end if
End Function
ADVANCED
TYPOGRAPHY
Cartographic Design for GIS (Geog. 340)
Prof. Hugh Howard
American River College