Vol VIII, No. 1 - Spring/Summer 2000
Contents |
In Focus |
Mapmaking |
Geonews |
Profile |
Names
Photomechanical methods of producing special effects, such as simple vignettes, were time consuming to produce and often difficult to duplicate. So much of the effect was dependent upon exposure times, light intensity settings, environmental conditions of the darkroom, vacuum frame draw-down, chemical strength, and sometimes even film lot. An effect generated this week did not necessarily match the look of one generated several weeks previously. Because there was often so much time involved in producing even simple special effects, the cost-benefit was not realized by the client.
To create a simple vignette, it was necessary to create multiple layers of film reversals and open windows for a single category on a thematic map. Materials used included scribecote, peelcote, film reversals, rubylith, and clear mylar. Those of you old-timers like me (older than 35??!!) may recall some of these at-one-time familiar production materials. These separations were layered in a specific order, placed over film to be exposed, and sandwiched together in the darkroom contact vacuum frame. By varying the number of spacers, the amount of light that reached the film to be exposed could be controlled. Each "burn" was composited onto one or more of the four CMYK film plates created in our darkroom. After developing the film, the plates were inspected for quality and proofs were made to check the composite films. Stray dust and other contaminates could ruin an hour's worth (or more) of work. The procedure would then need to be repeated. Many words of woe were uttered during those times of darkroom reworks.
In today's typical map program, a much wider variety of special effects are available through software programs like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PhotoShop, Fractal Design Painter, just to name a few. These can be placed into our working Illustrator file and incorporated into the look of a map. We can more easily duplicate a style and maintain consistency throughout an entire map program whether there are three or 300 maps. New effects and styles for maps that would have been very cost prohibitive ten years ago photomechanically, and even just a couple of years ago digitally, can easily be created. Now our clients are able to design or allow us to design maps for them that are more individually tailored to their needs and requirements.
- Steve Davies
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