Common Mistakes in Vector Map Production

What Quietly Ruins Map Projects — and How to Avoid It

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Most map projects do not fail dramatically.

They fail quietly.

• A slightly wrong projection.

• A broken road intersection.

• Overloaded detail.

• Weak hierarchy.

• No print test.

Each mistake alone seems minor.

Together they destroy clarity.

This chapter summarizes the most common production errors — especially among advanced beginners.

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1. Mixing Coordinate Systems

This is one of the most dangerous mistakes.

Symptoms:

• Roads do not align perfectly

• Buildings appear shifted

• Boundaries slightly offset

• Labels look misplaced

Cause:

Working with layers in different CRS.

Solution:

• Choose projection at the beginning

• Reproject all datasets

• Verify alignment before editing

Projection errors are subtle — until they become catastrophic.

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2. Skipping Topology Cleaning

Raw data always contains structural problems.

If you skip topology cleaning:

• Polygons fail during export

• Intersections misbehave

• Simplification breaks geometry

• Printing reveals artifacts

Cleaning topology is not optional.

It is foundational.

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3. Overloading Detail

Beginners often think:

“More detail = better map.”

It is the opposite.

Too much detail creates:

• Visual noise

• Heavy files

• Slow Illustrator performance

• Unreadable print

Professional maps remove information strategically.

Clarity beats density.

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4. Over-Generalization

The opposite mistake.

Too much simplification:

• Destroys coastline identity

• Removes small but important rivers

• Flattens natural curves

• Makes cities look artificial

Generalization must preserve recognizability.

If geography no longer feels authentic — you simplified too much.

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5. Weak Layer Hierarchy

Without clear hierarchy:

• Major roads do not stand out

• Parks dominate structure

• Buildings overpower streets

• Labels compete with geometry

Hierarchy must be intentional.

If everything screams, nothing is heard.

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6. Poor Typography

Common problems:

• Too many fonts

• Inconsistent sizes

• Overlapping labels

• Excessive curvature

• Decorative overuse

Typography is functional.

If labels are hard to read, the map fails.

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7. Designing Inside GIS

GIS tools are excellent for structure.

They are not ideal for:

• Advanced typography

• Fine stroke control

• Large-format print finishing

Trying to finish everything in GIS usually produces mediocre results.

Structure in GIS.
Refinement in Illustrator.

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8. Ignoring Performance Discipline

Large vector maps can reach:

• Millions of nodes

• Hundreds of megabytes

Without discipline:

• Illustrator crashes

• Export fails

• Revisions become painful

Remove unnecessary vertices.
Control layers.
Avoid excessive effects.

Performance is part of professionalism.

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9. No Test Print

This mistake is surprisingly common.

Maps approved on screen
may fail on paper.

Always:

• Print a fragment at 100% scale

• Check under real lighting

• Step back and evaluate readability

A map exists in physical space.

Test it there.

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10. No Version Control

Overwriting files leads to:

• Lost work

• No rollback

• Panic during revisions

Professional workflow always keeps stages:

• raw

• cleaned

• generalized

• designed

• print-ready

Never overwrite your master.

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11. Designing for Yourself, Not the Reader

This is subtle but critical.

Ask:

• Is the map readable for someone unfamiliar with the city?

• Is hierarchy obvious?

• Is color meaningful?

• Is the structure intuitive?

Cartography is communication.

The reader matters more than your preferences.

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What Separates Amateur from Professional

Amateur workflow:

Import → Style → Export.

Professional workflow:

Import → Clean → Structure → Validate → Simplify → Design → Test → Finalize.

The difference is discipline.

Not talent.

Not software.

Discipline.

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Final Professional Reminder

A map is not:

• Decoration

• Illustration

• Background image

A map is:

• A spatial model

• A communication tool

• A decision-making instrument

Every mistake reduces clarity.

Every refinement increases value.

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Final Summary of the Guide

Professional vector map production requires:

• Clean data

• Correct projection

• Stable topology

• Controlled generalization

• Clear hierarchy

• Strong typography

• Disciplined workflow

• Physical print validation

When all these elements work together,
geography becomes readable.

That is professional cartography.

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End of Guide

You now have a complete structured production methodology
for creating professional vector maps for print.

The difference between random output
and engineered cartography
is process.

And now you have one.

Go to Start Page: Technology of Vector Map Production

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common mistake in map production?
Skipping structural cleanup and relying on styling alone.

Why do maps fail at the final stage?
Because projection, topology, or generalization errors were ignored early.

Is more detail always better?
No. Excess detail reduces readability.

What separates professional from amateur cartography?
Structured workflow discipline.

Table of contents

Chapter 1 — What Is a Vector Map?
Chapter 2 — Obtaining and Preparing Geodata (SHP, OSM, GeoJSON)
Chapter 3 — Street Network as a Graph (Nodes and Edges Explained)
Chapter 4 — Cartographic Layer Hierarchy and Visual Structure
Chapter 5 — Map Projections and Why Distortion Is Inevitable
Chapter 6 — Map Generalization and Scale Control
Chapter 7 — Vector Formats: SHP, GeoJSON, AI and PDF
Chapter 8 — Professional Map Production Workflow
Chapter 9 — Preparing a Vector Map for Print in Illustrator
Chapter 10 — Common Mistakes in Vector Map Production