Module 2: Typography

    In this week's lab, I explored different tools used to add, edit, and format typographic features on maps. I was also able to make my first map for this class. The map features various natural features in the state of Florida. Most of the features are water related (i.e. rivers, lakes, and swamps) or cities within the state. I was given the data walked through some of the tools used to create proper typography, but the final design and layout of the map was ultimately up to me as the cartographer. During the lab, I got acquainted with the label function and converting labels to annotations. By converting the labels to annotations, I was able to alter the labels with much greater detail. I also learned about the importance of setting up fields within your data to assist with labeling. For instance, I used a population range field to edit the size of city labels. This allowed me to make labels of cities with larger populations larger than cities with smaller populations. 

    As part of this week's lab, I also had to decide on three customizations to my map that differed or added to the steps outlined in the lab instructions and justify the customizations. My first customization was  to use the same color as the river features (sodalite blue) for the lakes, streams, and swamps/marshes to make the water features look uniform. I elected to use a hatched fill as opposed to a solid fill for the swamps/marshes on the map because not all areas of the swamp/marsh will remain inundated with water. There are periods of drought and flood which seasonally inundate different areas of the swamps/marshes. The hatched fill helps communicate that the area is only partially or temporarily inundated. Any permanent water features in the swamps/marshes show through the hatched fill. 

    Next, I elected to convert my rivers labels to an annotation. This allowed me to better place the labels along the river and control how they appeared on the map. For instance, the Apalachicola River label was outside the Florida counties layer’s boundary. Since the rivers are contained within the Florida counties layer. It made the most sense to have the river labels placed within that layer as well.

    Last, I added a blue background to the map and changed the florida counties layer to a darker green. The dark green of the counties layer helped emphasize the rivers present. The light blue background of the map fit nicely with the natural color scheme of other map features, and it helped provide some contrast between the legend and map elements. 

Stay tuned for next week's blog post on cartographic design!