Mapiddiction lets you add your own custom image that overlays on top of Googlemaps satellite or street maps.
Image requirements and recommendations
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Image geometry – The image must have “correct geometry”. It must overlay on top of a real map (like GoogleMaps) and have all the features line up. Mappidiction can resize and rotate the image to make it line up, but it cannot distort the image. A stylised representation like a train/rail map, or a map where corners or angles have been tweaked to look like they are 90 degree right angles cannot be used.
Often, the best way to start drawing your image is to screenshot the Googlemap of your venue, and draw your map in layers on top of it, so you know the shapes and proportions are all correct, and you can draw in your important features in the right places relative to each other. -
Image formats – Mappidiction accepts images in webp, png, and jpeg format. Unless your map image is rectangular and oriented exactly north/south, you’ll want a transparent background to allow the Googlemap to show up underneath at the edges when it’s rotated. This usually means using webp or png formats. Jpg will produce smaller file sizes in many circumstances. especially when using “photographic” styled images such as drone photography. “Posterized” images where everything is represented in block colours instead of smoothly changing colours or gradients can often compress remarkably well using png.
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Image pixel size – The pixel dimensions limit the sharpness of the image when zoomed in, some pixellation will inevitably occur when zoomed right in. As a rule of thumb, a custom map typically has a maximum zoom level set so it displays an area about the size of a house or two, and some noticeable pixellation is expected at such high zoom levels.
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Image file size – The image needs to be downloaded to view the map, so file size needs to be kept as small; as possible. 1 – 1/5MB should be considered the maximum size for snappy performance on phones. This is a tradeoff between the image’s graphic design, the image format, the desired resolution when zoomed right in. Experimentation by exporting your image in a few different ways may be required to select the best compromise for your map.
Image alignment
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The image is aligned to the underlying GoogleMap by selecting two points on the image and the same two points on the GoogleMap. These work best when they’re far apart and in “diagonal corners”, two points in a straight north/south or east/west orientation don’t work as well.
- When checking the alignment, care should be taken to ensure that relevant features where the edge of the image meets the underlying GoogleMap street or satellite view line up as expected. road/driveway entrances are usually important. The opacity slider can be used to see both the underlying GoogleMap and the semi-transparent version of your image, so you can confirm all relevant features line up well on both.
Check features like paths and buildings are aligned
