I agree, Frank. You are doing it the "right" way. I never did that. I just jumped in and assumed I could noodle out how to do stuff. This turned out to be a bit of a challenge. Going to the Corel help files often got me what I wanted, but sometimes it didn't. I am all but certain that, had I invested the time, as you are, in learning the basic ropes of a complex software program, I would have experienced less frustration in my first few years of using it. As it is, I don't even know what I am missing. So, I have begun to watch a few tutorial videos.
Because A.I. and C.D. are so huge, your way will reassure you of all the things you can safely ignore in your quest to create good maps, which relieves any FOMO. This should help you focus on the elements which get you on the way to your goal in ways you can't anticipate. Finally, after you've made your first few maps, your learning curve will probably slant upward quickly.
I know the cost of a pro program for creating maps is one obstacle. I don't know whether this or the steep learning curve is more responsible for discouraging more measurers from trying one. It's probably both things. This is a shame, I think. When I was a certifier, I saw the good, bad, and ugly in measurer submitted maps. A couple I got were so bad that I knew it would take me less time to do a new one myself than to try to bring a non-artist up to speed with his/her hand-drawn map.
There are some real artists in our ranks. Take a glance at Bob Thurston's hand-drawn maps, for one example. Bob is one of a small group among our ranks who have the skills to make clear, detailed, accurate manual maps that also have some eye appeal. For a race director and his/her staff who have no familiarity with a course or the area in which it is located, this clarity and detail is obligatory. This is where digital maps do so much better for most of us.
I see more maps created with Open Office Draw these days. Taken as a whole, these maps are far better than most hand-drawn maps. While the learning curve is not as steep for O.O.D. as for the pro programs, it is nevertheless a non-trivial enterprise to get comfortable with it. Mark Neal's videos and Nathan Porch's video are all excellent. Yet, I believe the high-end programs will ultimately result in greater ease of map drawing and in greater satisfaction with the end product.
I am certain that, if I were a certifier again, I would encourage every measurer who plans to certify more than a handful of courses a year to consider taking the steps you are. Long ago, there was some discussion about getting a group license for A.I. or Corel Draw. I don't think there was sufficient interest at the time. When our new submission system comes on line later this year, we will have expanded latitude in the types and size of image files we can submit. This removes one legacy reason for not using a drawing program. I think the future will see a greater percentage of digitally-drawn maps, which is a very good thing for all involved. Maybe we'll re-visit the group license idea in the future. I volunteer to create a video on drawing with Corel when there is enough interest. Maybe you'll be ready to do one for Adobe by then!
