Data Management

Fantasy Book Illustration Maps in ArcGIS Pro

As is the case with most map adventures, I started out working towards something else entirely, and the dark magic of GIS swept me in an altogether different direction. Here is a map from that unexpected journey…

This map was made entirely in ArcGIS Pro, using a NASA Digital Elevation Model (what?) and a vector coastline shapefile courtesy Dylan Moriarty from Project Linework.

There are three things conspiring to make this map sort of look like (I think) a hand-drawn insert ripped out of a fantasy novel…

1. Mountainification via a hand-drawn lumpiness trick.

2. The scratchy rendering of vector linework.

3. The use of a touchable textured background and picture symbols.

If you are feeling ambitious, here is an ArcGIS Pro project package with all or the stuff to follow along. Get ready to live!

About the author

John Nelson

I have far too much fun looking for ways to understand and present data visually, hopefully driving product strategy and engaging users. I work in the ArcGIS Living Atlas team at Esri, pushing and pulling data in all sorts of absurd ways and then sharing the process. I also design user experiences for maps and apps. When I'm not doing those things, I'm chasing around toddlers and wrangling chickens, and generally getting into other ad-hoc adventures. Life is good. You might also like these Styles for ArcGIS Pro: esriurl.com/nelsonstyles

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