Hi Folks,

I have been printing my own maps for years. I started with Softmap, then Fugawi and Memory Map. I have loved these programs because I can rescale 1:50k topos to 1:100k, to fit more on each page, select the exact areas which I want, have the edges of the maps overlap to avoid the confusion caused when switching map sheets on a trip, generate pdfs files with grid lines and coordinates, print them, double-sided, on 8.5x11" waterproof paper, and hand write (or photoshop in advance) additional notes on them like the zone and declination, etc.

All of the companies making these programs, with which I was familiar (mentioned above) have closed their doors and no longer offer these packages. I have functioning versions of much of this old software still running on an old Windows 7 computer, for many of the areas in which I travel. Is anyone aware of any modern versions of these types of map products? I am usually travelling at home here in the NWT, but it would be useful to know about these types of products for any part of the country.

I downloaded every map sheet for the entire country, about a decade ago, from the Natural Resources Canada website. I can theoretically stitch maps together using photoshop, but that would be a lot more time consuming and less efficient, especially for long trips. I once tried to load all of these downloaded maps into Fugawi, because they are supposed to be georeferenced, but I could never get them to stitch together properly. Any tips?

Thanks in advance.

Seth

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Seth
http://www.wffg.ca

I use a semi GIS program called MapViewer to stitch together the GeoTiff 1:50K maps. It works but you have to crop the files around the edges, i.e. take off all the non-map area of the sheet.

https://www.goldensoftware.com/products/mapviewer

The program has a bit of a learning curve and I couldn't say whether it is ideal for this application. But I use it for my work so I use it for this purpose too.

Kinguq.

I just download the topo's I need and crop out sections that fit 8.5 x11 sheets while maintaining scale.

http://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/nrcan_rnc ... aphic/50k/

I sometimes use Caltopo (online mapmaker), the 7.5 Topo layer includes the Canadian topo's in a seamless view. You can custom create sections and print to PDF (change the scale, level of detail etc.). Free users can print 5 pages (of you need more then you have to do groups of 5), the paid version ($20 I think) gives you unlimited page pdf's.

https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=63.1492 ... 4&z=12&b=t

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"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915

I pay the $20 for Caltopo and think it is great. You can use the 7.5 topo layer. Which I think is Canmatrix raster maps in most of Canada. It's little hidden but there is also a Toporama vector layer. You can also export Caltopo super overlays to use in Google Earth. This is an easy way to get high quality Toporama and Canmatrix overlays for use in GE. Caltopo has an excellent printing function. Any scale you want. Print up to 13x19. All kinds of grids. Georeferenced PDF's. The $20 version limits you to 15 page pdf's. After that you have to do groups like recped said.

I pay for Caltop as well. I print onto paper from https://www.riteintherain.com/ I have a colour laser printer and the maps come out great and have survived the waterproof tests Ive put them through including folded very small into my PFD pocket swam in then unfolded with no issue.

I've had great success printing on regular bond computer paper, then coating the pages with either Thompson's Water Seal (be sure to use the non-gel kind) or simply with a cheap waterproof spray from Walmart. I printed the entire 1000 mile Yukon River race route (95 pages). I put the dry spray coated pages in plastic page protector sleeves and carried them in a 3 ring binder. They have survived getting repeatedly soaked and thrown around in the bottom of the canoe for two 1000 mile races so far.

Mytopo online site lets you do much of what you want. You can rescale, select exact areas, add info etc.

I’ve only used their save and print and mail features do I’m not sure about self printing options.

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Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca

 

Well, thank so much for the suggestions. When I have a chance to follow up and look into these options
, I will post something about what end up deciding to use.

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Seth
http://www.wffg.ca