CUBIZEN: Global Mapper, CityEngine & Creative Tech

Once you have completed your work in Global Mapper, the next step is to either print it for a report or save it as an image. This is a crucial step in communicating your GIS analysis results.

Understanding Global Mapper Print Options

There are two primary methods for outputting your work in Global Mapper:

1. File - Print: Using the standard Print menu (Note: This method is generally less recommended because the size of vector elements and legends changes based on the output resolution).
2. Map Layout Editor: Adjusting the layout professionally before printing (Recommended for high-quality reports).

In this tutorial, we will focus on the first method: the File > Print menu.

To follow along, you can use the sample file provided below (Note: In a real scenario, you would download the 'Print.zip' file. This is a sample proprietary data file for Global Mapper.

Download the sample dataset (Print.zip) (Verified and safe file for Global Mapper.)

After opening the file, you will see a map similar to the one shown above. Please note that the legend might look large in this capture because the screen was scaled down.

Print Preview and Resolution Effects

Print Preview Workflow

Print Preview Before Output

Go to File -> Print Preview to see how your map will look before the actual printing starts.

When you select Print Preview, a tip window might appear recommending the Map Layout Editor for full control over the design. For now, just click OK.

Global Mapper Print Settings Configuration

In the Print Options dialog, you will see the General tab where you can configure the basic settings:

General Print Options Overview

• Header/Footer: Enter the text to be displayed at the top and bottom of the page.
• Print in Black and White: Prints the map in grayscale.
• Use White Background Color: Forces the background to be white.
• Print to Scale: Allows you to specify a specific map scale for the output.
• Extra Margin Around Printout: Sets the page margins.
• Print To File: Saves the output as an image file (BMP, JPG, PNG, TIF). The resolution is linked to your printer settings in File - Print Setup.

Defining Print Bounds in Global Mapper

The Print Bounds tab allows you to define the specific area of the data you want to print.

Selecting Print Area (Visible or Custom Extent)

• All Loaded Data: Sets the print range to include all currently loaded datasets.
• All Data Visible On Screen: Prints only what is currently visible in the workspace.
• Draw a Box: Allows you to manually click and drag to define the print area.
• Use Layer Bounds: Sets the range based on the boundaries of a specific layer.

After finishing these settings, click OK.

Final Preview and Limitations

Limitations of File Print Method

The preview will show exactly what will be printed. You can see the header ("Test") and footer ("Map") applied.

Next, adjust the output quality in Print Setup and review the result in Print Preview.

Why Map Layout Editor is Recommended

One major drawback of using the basic Print menu is that you cannot manually adjust the thickness of lines, the size of points, the north arrow, the scale bar, or text sizes. They are automatically scaled based on the resolution specified in File - Print Setup.

Because of this lack of control, most professional users bypass the simple Print menu and use the Map Layout Editor instead. Since this basic method is rarely used for final outputs, we've covered it briefly today.

That's all for today!