Hi, I am new using FME for cartography and I am not sure how can I create those elements in a raster map (north, graticule of coordinates, scale bar), I am currently using Mapnik rasterizer transformer to represent my raster and vector layers, and some labels, but I can't see how can I go from that to a complete map with all its elements. Thanks in advance!
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How to create a graticule, north arrow and scale bar in a cartographic representation
+2Best answer by chrisatsafe
There are some transformers available that can help you with this but might not be as refined as the tools gazza mentioned. For example, one user has uploaded the ScaleBar transformer on the FME Hub. Personally I haven't used it myself so I'm not very familiar with it but you might be able to make use of that.
With regards to graticule lines, perhaps you could use a 2DGridAccumulator and a pair of LineBuilders (group by set to row in one, column in the other)? You could also extract the coordinates and create labels for the axis of your choosing. In the attached workspace, I have it placing labels on the bottom and right axis. From there, you could offset the labels, etc., etc.
Haven't tried the north arrow but hopefully that gives you a couple of ideas!
+6- Contributor
Safe themselves say that "Although FME is capable of creating cartographic elements, such as labels, it is not intended to be used for cartographic purposes".
Although all the elements to create a complete map could be done with FME alone you are probably better off with the combination of FME and MapPublisher. See https://www.avenza.com/mapublisher/fme-auto/
+2gazza wrote:
Safe themselves say that "Although FME is capable of creating cartographic elements, such as labels, it is not intended to be used for cartographic purposes".
Although all the elements to create a complete map could be done with FME alone you are probably better off with the combination of FME and MapPublisher. See https://www.avenza.com/mapublisher/fme-auto/
Thanks for the information, I didn't know about that. But, although is a good option what I am intending to do is to generate a map from an automation in FME Server, so I am not able to style the map out of FME, I am trying to make it automatic, simpler but automatic.
+2- Contributor
- Best Answer
There are some transformers available that can help you with this but might not be as refined as the tools gazza mentioned. For example, one user has uploaded the ScaleBar transformer on the FME Hub. Personally I haven't used it myself so I'm not very familiar with it but you might be able to make use of that.
With regards to graticule lines, perhaps you could use a 2DGridAccumulator and a pair of LineBuilders (group by set to row in one, column in the other)? You could also extract the coordinates and create labels for the axis of your choosing. In the attached workspace, I have it placing labels on the bottom and right axis. From there, you could offset the labels, etc., etc.
Haven't tried the north arrow but hopefully that gives you a couple of ideas!
+2chrisatsafe wrote:
There are some transformers available that can help you with this but might not be as refined as the tools gazza mentioned. For example, one user has uploaded the ScaleBar transformer on the FME Hub. Personally I haven't used it myself so I'm not very familiar with it but you might be able to make use of that.
With regards to graticule lines, perhaps you could use a 2DGridAccumulator and a pair of LineBuilders (group by set to row in one, column in the other)? You could also extract the coordinates and create labels for the axis of your choosing. In the attached workspace, I have it placing labels on the bottom and right axis. From there, you could offset the labels, etc., etc.
Haven't tried the north arrow but hopefully that gives you a couple of ideas!
Excellent advice, thank you, it gives me a lot of useful information to move forward!
gazza wrote:
Safe themselves say that "Although FME is capable of creating cartographic elements, such as labels, it is not intended to be used for cartographic purposes".
Although all the elements to create a complete map could be done with FME alone you are probably better off with the combination of FME and MapPublisher. See https://www.avenza.com/mapublisher/fme-auto/
A bit late to the party, but I'll just add that my good friend and former colleague @danullen_nk recently presented an FME workspace that creates beautiful maps for print, including graticules, north arrow, scale bar, etc. You can find the presentation from the FME World Fair 2021 here: https://vimeopro.com/norkart/fme-world-fair-2021/video/533245513
Dan, I hope this is ok, if not, let me know :-)
david_r wrote:
A bit late to the party, but I'll just add that my good friend and former colleague @danullen_nk recently presented an FME workspace that creates beautiful maps for print, including graticules, north arrow, scale bar, etc. You can find the presentation from the FME World Fair 2021 here: https://vimeopro.com/norkart/fme-world-fair-2021/video/533245513
Dan, I hope this is ok, if not, let me know :-)
Absolutely ok! 🙂 I have to admit that building this workspace was quite time consuming, but great fun. I did break the rule about "no more than ten transformers in a workspace" by just a bit though. 😃
david_r wrote:
A bit late to the party, but I'll just add that my good friend and former colleague @danullen_nk recently presented an FME workspace that creates beautiful maps for print, including graticules, north arrow, scale bar, etc. You can find the presentation from the FME World Fair 2021 here: https://vimeopro.com/norkart/fme-world-fair-2021/video/533245513
Dan, I hope this is ok, if not, let me know :-)
BTW, here's the latest iteration, where I have added hillshade and have a new output, "TV background map".
+49- Celebrity
david_r wrote:
A bit late to the party, but I'll just add that my good friend and former colleague @danullen_nk recently presented an FME workspace that creates beautiful maps for print, including graticules, north arrow, scale bar, etc. You can find the presentation from the FME World Fair 2021 here: https://vimeopro.com/norkart/fme-world-fair-2021/video/533245513
Dan, I hope this is ok, if not, let me know :-)
That looks really great, can you post some detailed images?
david_r wrote:
A bit late to the party, but I'll just add that my good friend and former colleague @danullen_nk recently presented an FME workspace that creates beautiful maps for print, including graticules, north arrow, scale bar, etc. You can find the presentation from the FME World Fair 2021 here: https://vimeopro.com/norkart/fme-world-fair-2021/video/533245513
Dan, I hope this is ok, if not, let me know :-)
Sure! And when you look at the details around the texts you see the result of an inconsistency in FME. The TextAdder and the TextStroker use different kerning, so it's impossible to get the clipper to line up perfectly around the text. And I think my use of these two transformers in tandem is so specialised that this issue has quite a low priority with Safe. 😄
I used to create my maps with ArcMap and am pleased to say that apart from the masking issue and the possibility of detailed cartographic editing (moving texts etc) there's nothing I can't achieve in FME to get the same look. And FME outperforms ArcMap when it comes to combining vector and raster (hillshade) and the filesize of the printable pdf. Not to mention actual production time for the pdf.
david_r wrote:
A bit late to the party, but I'll just add that my good friend and former colleague @danullen_nk recently presented an FME workspace that creates beautiful maps for print, including graticules, north arrow, scale bar, etc. You can find the presentation from the FME World Fair 2021 here: https://vimeopro.com/norkart/fme-world-fair-2021/video/533245513
Dan, I hope this is ok, if not, let me know :-)
Stunning!
+49- Celebrity
david_r wrote:
A bit late to the party, but I'll just add that my good friend and former colleague @danullen_nk recently presented an FME workspace that creates beautiful maps for print, including graticules, north arrow, scale bar, etc. You can find the presentation from the FME World Fair 2021 here: https://vimeopro.com/norkart/fme-world-fair-2021/video/533245513
Dan, I hope this is ok, if not, let me know :-)
Wow! That's really spectacular indeed! You may want to consider submitting it for the Atlas of Design!
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