Map making time frame

It all depends on the course. I can do some 5k maps in an hour, while some take two hours. Half-marathon maps can be a couple hours, to four hours. Marathon maps may take up to 6 hours, depending on configuration and lane restrictions.

Ouch! Color me green with envy, my maps take me forever compared to those times.

Yes, the detailed maps of start, finish, and turn-arounds are definitely the most time consuming part of the process. I have given a good bit of thought about how to make templates for this to help speed up the process, but it isn't easy because there seems to be something unique about each one.

Mark, the only things I keep on my templates are all the layers, and items that are on every map - mile marks, elevation profile box, disclaimer and shortest-possible-route blurbs, and the certificate info. The rest is all made from scratch, drawn over the satellite-image background.

Digital is faster, I think.

I know digital is faster for me. Part of the reason is that I can use either a template or a file of ready-to-drop-in items that I need on most if not all maps.

Having said this, I just finished a Half Marathon map that almost drove me nuts because of all the turns, street name changes and discrepancies between sources, lane restrictions, and unnamed paths. This took many hours. Frederick Half Map

For a simple loop or out-and-back 5K 5K Map , I can knock out a digital map in about 2.5 hours.

I lost track of the time on the Half map I just know this took way more time than the measurement.

I don't have layers or templates like the rest of you, as I use PowerPoint. But I do re-use maps if most of a route has already been drawn somewhere else, for another measurement. I can create a 5k map (in total) in about 2 to 10 hours, depending on the location of the course and the obstacles. More turns, more time; theme park, LOTS more time. Going digital was the largest help, as making changes didn't mean I started from scratch when I made an error or didn't like the way the map was laid out on the page.

I actually like the map making part of the process, as it gives me a creative outlet. I think that puts me in the minority with this August company of measurers. It only becomes a chore if there is a need to rush the job.

quote:

Originally posted by Lyman Jordan:
I know digital is faster for me. Part of the reason is that I can use either a template or a file of ready-to-drop-in items that I need on most if not all maps.

Having said this, I just finished a Half Marathon map that almost drove me nuts because of all the turns, street name changes and discrepancies between sources, lane restrictions, and unnamed paths. This took many hours. Frederick Half Map

For a simple loop or out-and-back 5K, I can knock out a digital map in about 2.5 hours. 5K Map

I lost track of the time on the Half map. I just know this took way more time than the measurement.

PS: Thanks to Justin for pointing out that my prior map links were broken. They are fixed now.

I just finished a map using Open Office Draw. I am very impressed with the software. It was easy to learn, free, and created a very professional map. I think I spent about 3 hrs on the 5k map. That included learning the software. Thanks to this forum I now have a new tool that I'd recommend to anyone that produces simple non-scale maps.

My maps take me much too long for the price I charge.

When I'm working at the pixel level in GIMP to remove every trace of white along the border of a client's logo so that no white shows up against the color background it can take me over an hour just on this task.
It's a bit of an obsession for me and possibly not healthy.

For me, the map is the tangible deliverable to the client and I just can't live with something that I'm not completely proud of. Many of them have the map blown up onto a poster board for display at packet pick-up and race day and this really highlights the level of detailed effort that I put into it. Much the same as Toni Youngman stated, it's a creative outlet for me.

It's really not a difference between 5K or marathon that dictates the time it takes. It's more about the detail of the area being covered. Shortest time - 3-4 hours, Longest 8+

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Russell:
Mark, the only things I keep on my templates are all the layers, and items that are on every map - mile marks, elevation profile box, disclaimer and shortest-possible-route blurbs, and the certificate info. The rest is all made from scratch, drawn over the satellite-image background.

Saving layers on some of these common items is a great idea. I have just been pulling them from previous maps for reuse. It would also help keep layers more organized. Sometimes I start out organized but then forget to change layers and it all goes out the window. It can be time consuming trying to find the correct layer to unlock in order to edit an item.
Digital is faster, I think.

Nathan, I know what you are talking about when it comes to making logos appear properly on maps, especially when you are using a color background. The programs that Duane and I use, for instance, have an editing process which can usually remove image backgrounds. Unfortunately, Office Draw doesn't, to my knowledge.

This is a lot of work you are doing. I welcome you to email me any image any time. I will process it to remove the background and send it back to you. Of course, it helps to request your client to provide you with a vector image file for all logos before you start your maps.

I work with GIMP to remove the backgrounds. What are you using? GIMP does an ok job but sometimes there are small amounts of white along the borders that need cleaned up. I'll start asking for vector image files as well.

Corel and Adobe have "Trace bitmap" features that remove backgrounds. It takes some time and practice with some images. About 70% of the time, I would say, it does a good job in less than 2 or 3 minutes.