South America Reference Map

Introduction
There were three purposes of the South America Reference Map. The first purpose was to become familiar with adobe illustrator. The second purpose was to apply the five essentials of map design that showcased elements of a reference map. Those five essentials of map design include figure ground, legibility, clarity, balance, and visual hierarchy. The third purpose was to also include the map design elements of a reference map including title, scale, data, information, graticule, neat line, labels, etc.

Methods
The South America Reference Map was created using Adobe Illustrator. The original file can be seen in figure 1. Methods completed within Adobe Illustrated are listed below in bullet points.

Figure 1: Original file of the South America Reference map provided for cartographic design students by Professor Ezra Zeitler

Steps used to create the South America Reference Map

• Changed the background transparency to help the labels and boundaries show up better
• Adding and correcting labels to the rivers using the pen tool
• Changing the font color of river labels to match the color of the rivers
• River labels were italicized
• Country label font was made larger and spaced out 
• Ocean labels were spaced out
• Highlands were spaced out
• North Arrow was created by making a triangle and a rectangle
• Graticule lines were changed to a lighter color
• Country borders color was changed
• Title was created and placed in the top right corner
• Reference map was saved as a pdf as show in figure 2

Results

Figure 2 shows the first reference map that was turned in. We were given the option to redo the first reference map upon grading. The final reference map completed is shown in figure 3. 

Figure 2: Second map turned in

Figure 3: Final reference map 

DiscussionUpon completion of the South America Reference map, I became familiar with adobe illustrator. Skills learned in this exercise was organizing the layers such as adding layers, turning them on or off, and locking them to make items stay in place. Other skills learned in this project included how to use the pen tool to add labels and the smooth tool to help the labels become less rough. A final skill learned with this project is applying the effects within Illustrator including the drop shadow and inner glow.

Challenges with the South America Reference Map are listed below in bullet points

• Making the country labels legible
• Changing the graticule lines, and figuring out how to send them to the back 
• Changing the font sizes to make items legible 
• Locating where certain items actually were within South America as some of them were not correctly labeled
• Making the North Arrow

Things I would do differently if given the chance include changing the font size of labels Making the title larger and a different color. I also am not happy with where the ocean labels are located, so I would move those. 

Conclusion

The South America Reference map was a good project to introduce us to adobe illustrator. It helped me become familiar with illustrator. I also became more familiar with using the five essentials of map making to make cartographically pleasing maps.