Illustrative maps are designed to help in effective way finding

Pictorial maps are also known as panoramic maps, illustrated maps; bird’s-eye view maps perspective maps, and Geo-pictorial maps amongst others. Unlike other types of maps pictorial maps show a landscape in a more artistic and less technical style. The specialty of these maps is that they can be drawn on varied topics like legendary figures, historical events, or local agricultural products. They can be used to depict a wide range of terrain which includes an entire continent to a college campus. These maps are drawn by specialized illustrators and artists.

These maps depict an area as it appears when viewed from above at an oblique angle. While regular maps try to give a correct representation of distances in scale format, pictorial maps lay stress on landmarks and use a mixture of different scales in representing a terrain. This is done to make a site look more identical and thereby highly recognizable. As showing architectural illustrations, street patterns, and landscape in the right perspective is just not possible maintaining the right scales, so the illustrations usually ignore a scaled depiction. Panoramic maps lay stress on objects and style. So they include plenty of childlike caricature to beautiful landscape graphic. Once completed, they look highly attractive and accurate.

Illustrated maps are created at a drafting table. Things needed initially include resources provided by clients, pencils, and ink to sketch it on a preliminary level. This is usually sent for review. Once approved the pencil or ink image is mixed with electronic watercolor based painting techniques. This unique technique brings the images to life. The images are usually created in groups and layers. This leaves it open to alteration. Clients find this useful as it helps them to update it regularly.

Birds-eye view map have their utility in terms of vivid depiction. But it has its own limitations. While illustrating an area many buildings or trees get obscured by larger ones in front. Again these maps can be useful to people depending on its oblique presentation. People entering from the opposite side of the laid out view may find navigating a little difficult. However this problem, to an extent is overcome by the fact that people love to navigate through landmark knowledge – which is vividly depicted no matter from which side you enter the area. So they are also well known as human way finding maps.

The objective of all illustrative maps is to assist in effective way finding. The idea is to lay out before the reader an overview of the particular area and then provide options to magnify the features that the reader wants to zoom in on.  This two fold approach helps to retain the beauty of the map artwork, while focusing on drill-down information. It also serves the purpose of cross linking options. The illustrations can even be enriched with 360° flash or take close in on departments as well as provide in-depth information web pages.

This technology can also be upgraded to touch screen facility for information kiosk applications. Navigating through an unknown terrain just cannot get simpler.