Photos: How the WMATA Rush+ Maps Are Printed

May 24, 2012
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Many thanks to Matt Johnson for telling me about this amazing photoset on Flickr that details the process involved in printing the new Rush+ station maps for Washington, DC’s Metro system. Click through to see the whole set!

  • Preparing the screen
  • Inking up!
  • First three colours applied
  • Cleaning the print
  • Almost done
  • The finished sign

Even as an experienced graphic designer, I was amazed to see that the maps are screen printed — each colour on the map is printed one after the other, each using a separate screen with its own spot colour ink. With a map as complex as this, that means that there are a whopping twelve different colours to print! These being: river blue, park green, National Mall green, Blue Line, Orange Line, Yellow Line, Green Line, Red Line, Silver Line, District/County border grey, Beltway grey, and finally, black.

I would have thought with the advances in digital printing and stochastic (micro) screening, that these could be produced digitally in one step instead of twelve, but maybe these are special long-lasting UV inks that will withstand many years of use without fading — an important consideration for station maps! In any case, these photos are a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at a process that many people may not even think about.

Edit: A Metro representative has confirmed that there are THIRTEEN colours used in the printing: 4 greys (Silver Line, Beltway grey, county border grey, and icon grey), 3 greens (parks, Mall, Green Line), 2 Blues (river, Blue Line), Black, Red, Yellow and Orange.

Photo: Luxembourg Rail Map, 1999

May 24, 2012
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I guess when your entire country is the size of a large city, you’re allowed to show your rail network in the form of a subway map.

Source: davidwilson1949/Flickr

Fantasy Map: Freshwater Railway, Detroit and Southeast Michigan

May 23, 2012
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This map has to be part of the most convincing fantasy transit system I have ever seen. As well as this stylish and distinctive map, there’s an entire website, complete with additional bus maps, timetables and more. I’ll also note here that the website design puts most transit agencies to shame…

If you weren’t familiar with Detroit, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was real (I kind of wonder how many tourists have been tricked into thinking this system exists). It’s only when you realise that the trains “depart” from the derelict Michigan Central Station (which is also Freshwater Rail’s business address), that the elaborate hoax is revealed.

Have we been there? Yes, to visit my father-in-law. He lives in South Lyon and works at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, so he’d still have to drive to work unless the connections were remarkably good…

What we like: Attractive and distinctive map, based on 30-degree angles instead of the usual 45. It’s nice to see a map that forges its own identity and is not afraid to look different, even if it’s not real. The pastel route lines with their thick black borders are surprisingly effective, and together with the typeface chosen (Brandon Grotesque), create a lovely Art Deco feel to the whole map. Part of a greater, entirely cohesive whole – this is seriously impressive work.

What we don’t like: Not entirely in favour of the type angled up at 60 degrees, as I feel it makes the map harder to read, but acknowledge that it suits the design aesthetic of the map quite well.

Our rating: Astounding. 5 stars!

Source: Freshwater Railway website

Photo: Metro Light Rail Network Map, Sydney

May 23, 2012
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Can you call it a network map when it consists of one line and a soon-to-be defunct (and despised) monorail? A north pointer would really help here as well, as west is at the bottom of the map.

Source: Michael “Comeng301M” Coley/Flickr

Official Map: Rail Transit of Nürnberg/Fürth, Germany, 2011

May 22, 2012
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Here’s an interesting map from Nürnberg (Nuremberg) in Germany that uses 30-degree angles instead of the usual 45. There doesn’t seem to be major thematic reason as to why things have been done this way: I suspect that it’s purely to make the routes fit into the allotted space.

Have we been there? Yes, in 2003.

What we like: Competently done, with a visually pleasing layout and good information hierarchy – the U-Bahn and tram get the important route colours, followed by the distinctive green S-Bahn routes, and subsidiary grey Regional trains.

What we don’t like: The grey text that sits behind the map denoting the two cities is huge, overpowering and distracting. If the text has to be that large, it could be tinted back much lighter. I’m not entirely sure why its needed, as the two Hauptbahnhofs could both labelled with the relevant names.

A few poorly drawn curves, especially where the S1 and R1 lines turn north. The triple arrowhead in the southeast where the S2, S3 and R5 lines leave the map would work much better if the central arrow was extended a little further so as not to touch the other arrows. The bus interchange icons are a little visually strong, while the Park and Ride icons recede too much into the background. The U21 and tram route 6 seem unnecessarily close in colour.

Our rating: Good without being outstanding in any way. Three stars.

Source: Official VAG website

Official Map: Bus Routes of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

May 21, 2012
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This map was nominated by Tumblr user Tevi as the worst transit map ever. While I don’t agree, as the map is at least competently drawn, it does have some serious shortcomings, not the least of which is knowing how much detail is too much.

Have we been there? No.

What we like: The blue background behind the map is a refreshing change from white or neutral grey, and the north pointer is quite lovely (north pointers are often very generic and boring, so it’s good to see a nice one).

What we don’t like: The first infuriating thing: the lack of a legend or key that explains what the different styles of route lines represent. Why do some have a white dotted line in the middle? Why are some dashed? It was only after 20 minutes of study that I realised that the dotted route lines correspond to Minibus and Taxibus services. I’m still not entirely sure what the dashed lines represent. Peak-hour only?

To my mind, there’s too much unnecessary route detail on the map. Do users of the map really need to see the separate entry and exit ramps that the buses use to access or leave the freeway in order to get to their destination? It just adds extra visual clutter to the map and could be simplified.

The rainbow circle of routes around the Université de Sherbrooke really needs some work, and the less said about the inset of the city centre, the better – it barely shows any more detail than the main map and seems to be very confused. I still can’t work out the exact placement of the Dépot station…

Our rating: At first glance, looks quite good, but has some fatal usability flaws that make it very difficult to use. Two stars.

Source: Official STS website

Reader Question: Adjusting the x-Height of a Typeface

May 19, 2012
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Reader Question: Help. I’m designing a tube map using Illustrator. I would like the x-height of the font I have chosen to be the same as the thickness of the tube lines. But Illustrator only seems to allow me to adjust the total height of any font, not the x height – so I can’t get a perfect match. Do you have any idea if this is possible? I Couldn’t find any information about it on Google. Many thanks for your help. Daniel.

Transit Maps says:

Daniel, adjusting the x-height of a font independently of its point size is not possible. It’s an inherent property of each font that helps give each different font their distinctive look. Fonts with larger x-heights (lower-case letters that are bigger in proportion to the capital letters) are preferable for transit map designs because of the enhanced legibility, especially at a distance or with smaller sizes. You’ll just have to do some measuring of your chosen font to work out which point size gives you the desired result.

Official Map: Bus Routes, Yellowstone National Park

May 18, 2012
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Yellowstone National Park is probably one of the last places I would think of regarding transit maps — but here one is. The Linx Cooperative runs transport to and through the park and released this map for the 2012 season to showcase their services.

Have we been there? Yes, but with my own transport. By the way, everyone should visit Yellowstone — it’s truly amazing (See my photoset on Flickr).

What we like: Nice attempt at clean design to illustrate services that not many people may be aware of. Routes and stops are shown clearly and concisely.

What we don’t like: The “Red Line” runs clockwise around the park loop, while the “Orange Line” runs counter-clockwise, but there’s no indication of this on the map. There’s only a few services each day, so I feel that timetabling or frequency information could be added to the map fairly easily. I’d also like to have seen the transit map look and feel pushed a little further — thicker, more graphic route lines: this feels a little like a normal map with some coloured route lines on it.

Our rating: Competent and clean, but could have been so much better. Two-and-a-half stars.

Source: Official Linx website – link no longer active

U.S. Highways Map Accepted into NACIS “Atlas of Design”!

May 17, 2012
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Hey, everyone! I’m thrilled to be able to share some news with you that I just heard about! My U.S. Highways as Subway Map has been accepted for inclusion in the inaugural edition of the NACIS Atlas of Design. There were 150 entries, and only 27 maps – all by different creators – have been accepted, so you can see why I’m excited about this!

The Atlas itself promises to be superb, as evidenced by this excerpt from the project website:

The Atlas will feature a gallery of full-color maps showcasing cartography at its most beautiful, its cleverest, its sharpest, and its most intriguing. But it will be more than a museum of images; each map will be accompanied by thoughtful commentary that guides the reader toward a deeper understanding of the work: its inspiration and message, the ways it means to influence us. It is well to look upon something beautiful and good, but once we understand how it is beautiful and good, our experience becomes much richer. For those of us who make maps, we can carry those lessons into our own work and advance the craft of cartography. Even if you don’t make maps, it’s a chance to gain insight into what mapmakers really do, and to see how it’s about more than just pushing city dots and rivers around. Everyday objects become much more significant when we see what is behind their creation.

I can’t wait to see the other maps! For those of you unfamiliar with my work, here’s a link to the map’s project page on my personal website.

Historical Map: British Rail Greater London Network, 1965

May 17, 2012
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Here’s a fantastic map out of England in the mid-60s, showing British Rail service in the Greater London area. It’s almost staggering to think that a map this well drawn was created without the use of computers. I definitely recommend clicking through to the large image on Flickr to savour all the beautiful, crisp linework: this map is technically excellent.

Have we been there? Yes, and I’ve used many of the great London terminus stations, especially Victoria.

What we like: Fantastic mid-century design work. There’s an amazing consistency in design throughout, which makes the map flow beautifully. The icons for Underground connections (a red roundel) and station parking (a small blue square) are simple and understated, yet easily understood. Peak hour routes are grey, and local train services are thinner black lines, giving nice hierarchy to the information shown. Final destination information for each of the routes is nicely integrated around the edges of the map.

What we don’t like: The thin black tick mark used for stations has the unfortunate looking (although strangely appropriate) effect of making the route lines look like railway tracks. The dashed routes make the map look a little busy, especially towards the southwest, where there’s a huge profusion of blue-and-white routes out of Waterloo station.

Our rating: Superb example of great transit map design from the UK in the ‘60s. Four-and-a-half stars.

Source: smallritual/Flickr