Mappers Blog: Svartvikskogen Setup

Some differences to the Uaul Grond Setup...

1: Base Plate
I left my plexiglas for the air-light "kanalplast" which here in Sweden can be found at every crossing. Then I went down to the A5-format. All in all this got the weight down to 20gramm. I have a hard time now to remember the days I had problems with my left shoulder. :-)

2:Base Map
Well, we are in Sweden which in regard to the laser-data is about three steps in front of Switzerland (Step1: extremly low costs (f.ex. Haninge Municipality: 100CHF for 460km2), Step2: data in the .las format (all responses, no intransparent modifications), Step3: OL-Laser to make the best out of Step2). So now I work with a colored base map, combining the height of the vegetation layer with contour lines every 0.7m (maps equidistance=3.5m), regular mesh, magn.north lines etc.

3:Pencils
Inspired by Beni Deppeler i finally managed to paint my pencils with acrylic colors according to the leads color.

4:Compass
After having lost one compass and having nearly lost two more, this compass now is connected to the wristband with a shoestring.

5:GPS
Now I even carry a gps-logger with me, but only for documentation purposes (I-gotU GT120 USB).

Mappers Blog: The first week is the most difficult

fig.1. The new map Svartvikskogen after week 1

This week I started with a new map project, Svartvikskogen for OK Södertörn. Pretty demanding.

1) My first map professional map from scratch in Sweden (new terrain-type)
2) The terrain is  undistinct and rather flat (permanent form line-temptation)
3) Two base maps, one provided by the laser, one by Vidas Armalis ("Mr. Södertörn-terrain", Map from 2002) and the two could not more different. ("laser precision bites old school generalisation" )
4) With around 6km2 pretty long way to go.

It is always like this. You got to find a language for just this terrain. You got to get into the flow and take it step by step. To know that does not make it easier.

Mappers Blog: Color correction of the OKI c321dn for printing maps

fig.1. Color palette provided by the Swedish Orienteering Federation

To correct the printing results of my new color laser printer, I used the "Färgpalett för orienteringskartor" which is printed on the back of Mapping Norm of the Swedish Orienteering Federation (more information about laserprinting o-maps: SOFT -> swedish; OA->englisch) and OCAD-Color palettes provided by the German Orienteering Federation (on the bottom of this page).

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fig.2. OCAD-Color palette for 100% brown provided by the German Orienteering Federation.

fig.3. Heap of printed out palettes

Not really surprisingly this correction process disclosed the limited utility of the OKI c321dn for printing quality maps a second time. Espescially the pink and yellow color used for orienteering maps were out of reach.

fig.4. The result of the correction: before (left), reference palette (center), after (right). Most color are pretty good now but yellow and pink.

The last step, the "symbol size correction" has to wait for now.

Mappers Blog: OKI C321dn and the PrintTech Project Test Sheet

This week I bought a OKI C321dn Color Laser Printer, primarily to be able to pack more information on my base-map for the field notes, but also to have the possibility to print decent orienteering maps for training purposes.

 fig.1 The OKI C321dn and the Test Sheet.

To optimize the printer settings I used  the Test Sheet from the 2006 Map Commission Print Tech Project led by Jukka Liikari (Finland). ->direct links to the Test Sheet (OCAD8) and the Instructions (PDF).

Excellent- the best Colour laser printer i have used. The print quality is fantastic, and a great price aswell. Only took two days delivery, and is very easy to set up.

Jack H, Carlow, Apr 8, 2013

With regard to my pretty high expectations the outcome was sobering. OKIs halftone screen has his harsh limits when it comes to thin lines.

 fig.2 Ring in Puple 50

 fig.3. Shaky point at Green 100

 fig.4. Moiré at 311

fig.5 The brown is particularly weak. It gots thin when vertical and falls apart (yellow) when horizontal.

fig.6. No highlight neither: The Siemens Star with moires in everything but yellow.

fig.7. Bright edges between brown and dark green

fig.8. Finally the map samples: here the worst is the contourlines...

fig.9. ... and here the bright edges.

fig.10. And as a bonus, well blue and blue and blue with brown does not work particularly good.

As soon as I got the color samples from the Swedish Orienteering Federation I will continue with the color adjustments and object size adjustments, just for the fun of it and to optimize the decent 1:10K printing, but well, with my OKI I will never reach the high end.*

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*Or did I miss something?

The orienteering family

fig.1. The orienteering family queuing for the shuttle bus to the  third competition of O-Ringen 2013 in Boden.