Custom Maps for Garmin® GPS
Yes!
It is possible to create custom Garmin and Magellan® compatible GPS
maps. Many aspiring cartographers have taken the time to learn how to use
map authoring tools, producing high-quality maps, and some have even gone
in to business selling maps. Listed below are several links for helping
you find and/or develop your own professional quality maps for fun and profit.
- Doug
Here are my links to:
Professional 3-party GPS maps for sale, links to free GPS maps, instructions for installing GPS maps, and finally, information on how to make your own GPS maps
Installing Garmin-compatible GPS maps
Each week, I receive several emails from people asking where to find maps of such-and-such a place to use on their GPS. In most cases you will want to use Garmin MapSource software. Mapsource allows you to view compatible maps on your computer and transfer them to your GPS.
If you do not already own MapSource it may possible to obtain free Mapsource. Try this at your own risk:
- Download the latest version of Garmin Training Center for free
- Install Garmin Training Center.
- Download Garmin MapSource Update
- Install MapSource Update
Successful result will be free Garmin MapSource with basic world map (major roads, political boundaries, and waterways).
To use Mapsource to transfer compatible 3rd-party maps to your Garmin GPS, the maps must be registered on your computer. Mapsource simply will not "see" map files that have not been properly registered. When you buy official Garmin map products, the products are registered for you when you install them on your computer. However, when you try to install maps from a 3rd-party provider, you may need to use other software.
Many professional map developers package their map products in an executable (.exe) format which will automagically register their products on your computer for you. Then when you open Mapsource, these titles appear in Mapsource under the "View | Switch to product" menu. If you can view the map in Mapsource, you can transfer to your compatible GPS.
However, many free GPS maps that you find on the Internet are in IMG format and require you to use other software to view on your computer and transfer to your GPS. For maps in IMG format, you have two choices:
Transfer the map file directly to your compatible GPS - bypassing Mapsource completely. I recommend MapUpload software.
Use a program like IMG2Mapsource to register the maps for you, so that you can view it in Mapsource and then transfer it to your GPS.
For the tech savvy, it is possible for you edit your Windows registry, registering custom maps with MapSource and use map authoring software to compile the necessary preview map, but that is bit more complicated than I want to try and explain here. Instead, I invite you to join the Map Authors discussion group on Yahoo! for more tip and tricks.
Making Your Own Maps
Making your own GPS maps can be a complicated and tedious task. For beginners, I highly recommend MapWel software, which provides one working environment and simplifies many of the tasks involved. MapWel will even draw maps for you! using the Autovectorization feature that converts raster map images to vector maps. Read my article on MapWel here and follow the links to download a free trial of MapWel software.
More advanced map authors will want to create maps with more sophisticated features such as autorouting and searchable content. For that I recommend professional tools listed here.
The Map Authors discussion group on Yahoo! for getting help, sharing ideas, and helping others.
If you want to make GPS maps to sell, I suggest that you focus your efforts on the interests of your customer. At TravelByGPS.com, I receive many queries for leisure travel destinations, like: resort areas, national parks, or the islands. Most people either want topographic detail and access roads for recreational activities, or street maps for car navigation and sightseeing. Limiting your coverage will also help you keep cost and file sizes down, making your product easier to market online.
When your map product is ready to sell, contact me about promoting your works to the thousands of people who search this web site everyday for GPS maps and data for travel destinations around the world.
In the mean time, I invite you to joining The Map Authors discussion group on Yahoo! for getting help, sharing ideas, and helping others.
I hope this helps you!
You can help me by pointing others to TravelByGPS.com
- Doug
