WF 03
Urban Context Mapping
OpenStreetMap → Google Earth → Illustrator
Target OutcomeAn urban context map combining OSM vector linework, satellite image tiles, site photographs, grid overlay, compass, and scale bar — print-ready at 11"×17".
OpenStreetMap
→
Export PDF
→
Google Earth Pro
→
Raster Image
→
Illustrator
→
Final Map PDF
01–02 Data Collection
OpenStreetMap — go to openstreetmap.org. Navigate to your site. Click the Share icon on the right → Export as PDF. Use custom dimensions to frame your study area precisely. Download.
Note: OSM is free and works well without ArcGIS. You will learn GIS-based data extraction workflows next year.
Google Earth Pro — center on the same area at a similar zoom level. Turn off extra layers and reset tilt and compass via View → Reset Tilt and Compass. Click the Save Image icon in the toolbar to export a high-res image.
Tip: there is a scale bar in the bottom-right corner of the exported image — extremely useful for matching scale in Illustrator.
03 Open and Clean the Map Illustrator
Right-click the .pdf → Open With Illustrator. Ungroup everything and clean up. Buildings, roads, open spaces, and water are usually enough for a base map.
  • Select → Same → Appearance to batch-select all objects of the same type. Consider setting up a keyboard shortcut for this.
  • Ctrl X then Ctrl Shift V (Paste in Place) to move a selection to a new named layer without shifting position
  • With objects selected, use the small square on the right side of the layer row to move them to a different layer
  • Use the Layers panel to lock and hide layers as you work
  • Set your artboard to 11"×17" before starting layout
04 Set the Graphic Register Illustrator
Set artboard background to black or white. Recolor layers: roads = light gray stroke, buildings = white fill, open space = dark gray, water = mid-gray. Reduce all stroke weights to fine linework.
  • Click the small circle on the right edge of a layer in the Layers panel to select everything on it at once
  • Adjust fill, stroke color, and stroke weight directly in the Properties panel
  • Roads typically 0.25–0.5pt; buildings white fill with no stroke or hairline
05 Place the Satellite Image Illustrator
Convert the Google Earth export to black and white in Photoshop first. Then place it in Illustrator and mask it to your site area.
  • Use Embed or Unembed in Quick Actions (Properties panel). Embedded images are self-contained; unembedded images stay linked and can be edited directly in Photoshop.
  • Draw a rectangle over the target area → select both image and rectangle → Ctrl 7 to make a clipping mask. Tip: you can use the grid from Step 6 as the mask instead.
  • The raster layer must be below the vector layers. Use Ctrl Shift [ or ] to change object order.
  • Set blend mode and opacity in the Properties panel (click Opacity to reveal the blend mode dropdown).
  • Note: alignment between raster and vector will be approximate here. GIS workflows next year allow exact co-registration.
06 Build the Grid Overlay Illustrator
Draw a regular grid across the full artboard to unify the vector and image registers. Keep it light — it should read as texture, not structure.
  • Draw a full-artboard rectangle → Object → Path → Split into Grid for precise equal divisions. Use the scale bar from the satellite image as a guide for grid size.
  • Stroke 0.1–0.25pt, adjust opacity to taste
  • Tip: duplicate the grid and use the copy as a clipping mask for the satellite image. If multiple grid shapes are needed, combine them first: Object → Compound Path → Make or Ctrl 8.
  • Pro tip: add a second layer of cross marks (+) at grid intersections for additional visual complexity
07 Add Map Furniture Illustrator
Add north arrow, cardinal labels (N/S/E/W), scale bar with increments, title and location text. Keep all typography restrained.
  • Type tool T for all labels — one typeface, two sizes maximum
  • Align panel Shift F7 to center elements on the artboard precisely
  • Group all furniture Ctrl G and lock the layer
08 Drop in Site Reference Photos Illustrator
Place 3–5 site photos as rectangular tiles near the site center. Black-and-white, consistent size. These function as a visual index, not decoration.
  • Ctrl Shift P to place; Ctrl 7 to mask each image to a rectangle
  • Desaturate images in Photoshop before placing for consistency
LAAR 61400 — Representation & Computation IWorkflow 03 of 07