CUBIZEN: Global Mapper, CityEngine & Creative Tech

Today, we conclude our series on the Map Layout Editor.

Why Use the Global Mapper Map Layout Editor?

Key Advantage of Map Layout Editor

The biggest difference between this and the standard File - Print menu we discussed previously is that the ratio of legends, north arrows, and vector elements remains consistent even if the resolution changes. In the standard "File-Print," the thickness of north arrows or lines would change whenever the resolution was altered. In the Map Layout Editor, this doesn't happen; everything maintains the exact proportions you see on the screen.

Once you've finished decorating your page, you need to either save it as an image or print it to finalize the work. Let's open the file we worked on in the last session.

First, select the File - Print menu within the Editor.

The Map Layout Print Options window will appear.

In the Page Range section, you can choose whether to print all pages, only the current page shown in the editor, or a specific range of pages. After making your selection, click OK.

Next, the standard Windows Print dialog will appear.

This part is straightforward. Select your desired printer and click OK (Confirm) to start printing. If you want to export the layout as an image file instead of printing on paper, follow the steps below.

How to Export Map Layouts as Image Files

Go to the File - Print menu again, but this time, check the box for "Print to an Image File Rather Than to a Printer." Then, click the Select... button to choose the file name and storage location.

Once you return to the print options window, select your preferred image format (BMP, JPG, PNG, or GeoTIFF) and click OK.

Interestingly, the printer selection window will pop up again. You might wonder, "Why is it asking for a printer when I want to save it as an image?"

How Printer Drivers Affect Image Resolution

The reason is that Global Mapper uses the selected printer driver's DPI and rendering settings when generating the exported image. For example, if I select my Brother printer, the image will be generated using the DPI and color profiles defined in that printer's properties. If I choose "Hancom PDF," it follows those specific settings. It may seem unusual at first, but this approach ensures consistent output quality.

How to Create a MapBook in Global Mapper

If you need to split a large map into a grid for multi-page printing, use the Create MapBook feature.

The MapBook setup window has several tabs:

General Tab Settings

• General Tab: Allows you to maintain the legend on every page even when split into a grid, or create an index page showing the grid layout.
• Tiling Tab: Defines how many rows and columns to split the map into and sets the naming convention for each tile.
• Layers Tab: Lets you choose which layers to show or hide for the MapBook pages.

Tiling Tab Settings

Layers Tab Settings

After clicking OK, you will see the index and each grid area (A1, B1, etc.) registered as new pages in the editor.

How to Export a Geospatial PDF

Finally, there is the Export to Geospatial PDF option.

A Geospatial PDF is special because it stores the coordinate system within the PDF itself. When opened in GIS-compatible software, the map automatically aligns with the correct geographic coordinates.

Geospatial PDF vs Standard PDF

Try exporting your layout as a Geospatial PDF to preserve coordinate information and improve GIS compatibility.

Conclusion

If these features are enough for your workflow, Global Mapper is a great tool. However, if you find it lacking (as many professional cartographers might), I recommend using QGIS for more advanced layout capabilities.

This concludes the Map Layout Editor tutorial series.