| Q: Our team's GIS staff digitized my linework and gave me a plot to check. However, it is really hard to tell one line from another and some of the units are so small I can't tell what color they are using. I don't like these colors anyway. How do I know that the database is accurate---and what about those colors? |
A: Yes,
it is hard to read those plots. Ask your GIS staff to give you
plots on which they print out different colors for different types
of lines (contacts, faults, folds) and even different colors
for solid, approximately located, and concealed segments of these lines. Ask for one or more plots for the linework and another one that has the units colored in. To determine
how they have attributed a unit, you may need to query polygons
in
ArcInfo. See if you can get access to ArcCatalog and ArcMap.
These are easy to use to look at the database and will help you
find errors
in attributing. Have the GIS staff use distinctly contrasting
colors. We will choose, or help you choose, colors for publication.
Right now you just need to be sure to find any errors or omissions
in transcribing
your map so that we won't have to fix them later. Also, when
you are proofing the database, make sure that the GIS staff used
terms in the database that are consistent with your map explanation.
|
| Q:
I
need a scale-stable topographic base map. I also need scale-stable
cross-section mylar that is at the same scale as the map. Where
do I get these items? |
A: Contact
Dave Walters in CPG at dgwalter@usgs.gov or 303-236-0952.
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| Q:
I need to make a PDF file of my map so it can be placed online on
the USGS Publications website. Do you have any advice to help me? |
A: Please
take a look at some of the PDFs of USGS I-maps that are online (see
URL http://cpg.cr.usgs.gov/pub/i-maps.html) to get an idea of how
they look when they open up in Adobe Acrobat reader. We generally
make PDFs so that they show the image of the map with a 1-inch-wide
white border surrounding the map. To make the white border in Illustrator,
draw an invisible (no stroke) box that leaves about a 1-inch-wide
white border around the map. Make sure you have no objects outside
the box you have drawn. Then, when you make a PDF, the image will
be cropped at the invisible box.
To
make the file size small, so the PDF can be downloaded more easily
by online users, we recommend that you make a screen-optimized PDF.
If you have crop marks on your map layout, please delete them before
you make the PDF.
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