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Reply to "Mapping and Drawing software"

I have been using Inkscape. It is FREE, has LAYERS and will work on both Windows and MAC.
https://inkscape.org/en/

I don't do cert maps very often, but do a lot of bike routes.

I start with getting a basic bit map of the route, from Microsoft Streets and Trips, Google Earth, or Google Maps.

Then I cut area of the image I want with the FREE Gadwin PrinScreen. A very good tool you can download here > https://www.gadwin.com/download/PrintScreen_Setup.zip

I import that into Inkscape as my first Layer. Then resizing and selecting opacity, I lock the Layer and work with lines, symbols and text on the next few layers.

It helps a lot to have a templates or a blank drawing setup with your standard paper size, for me US letter), and other configuration items already selected.

For regular projects I have templates with arrows, boxes and useful regularly used text on secondary layer set outside the printed page.
This allows me to easily drag pre-defiend and sized objects onto the drawing. Ones work area is much larger than the actual drawing, which allows parking useful stuff outside the boarders of the final work product.

I have stacks of pre-duplicated objects so pulling one off means there is more of the same for easy moving onto drawing.

It does help to have two monitors, one with the work,and one with some of the tools open, like the layer tool for easy layer selection, and the fill and stroke tool for control of the objects properties.

You should also have all the horizontal tool bars turned on, so when you go to select something quick icons for things like flip and rotate are there, and when you select points on a line, quick icons for split, link etc are readily available.

Don't be intimidated by tutorials that teach you keys strokes for this or that, it is all available through the mouse, menus and controls.
About the only keyboard commands I use are the + and - for zooming in and out.

Like all drawing tools this one has a learning curve. Learning how to size, flip and use objects, and learning property controls like stroke width, color, style and endpoint control takes time. Once mastered you have a very powerful tool.

To help there are LOTS of Inkscape tutorials both linked from within Inkscape, on Youtube, on Vemo and elsewhere on the web.
https://inkscape.org/en/learn/

I find that from import of bitmap background to finished drawing of 15 mile route, with directions and streets identified in reverse color boxes takes about 60 minutes, but maybe only about 25 minutes if working fast.

Now and again I use it for doing race maps. Once you are comfortable with Inkscape, not a problem.

The ability to lock layers, and turn layers on and off for different versions of a map is very useful.
The tool allows things to be moved between layers, and in priority on a layer.

I also use it to layout plans for starting corrals, fencing, cones, etc.

Pro tool. Major plus that it is FREE, with plentiful tutorials.
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