031] Global Mapper - Printing 01: Print

"Before we begin, if you missed the previous session, check it out here:"


Once you have completed your work in Global Mapper, the next step is to either print it for a report or save it as an image. This is a crucial step in communicating your GIS analysis results.

There are two primary methods for outputting your work in Global Mapper:

  1. File - Print: Using the standard Print menu (Note: This is generally less recommended as the size of vector elements and legends changes based on the output resolution).
  2. Map Layout Editor: Adjusting the layout professionally before printing (Recommended for high-quality reports).

Today, we will focus on the first method: the File - Print menu.

To follow along, you can use the sample file provided below (Note: In a real scenario, you would download the 

'Print.zip' file. 
This is a safe proprietary data file for Global Mapper.

[img 2 : Map view in Global Mapper with legends and features]
[img 2 : Map view in Global Mapper with legends and features]


When you open the file, you will see a map similar to the one above. Please note that the legend might look large in this capture because the screen was scaled down.

How the Resolution Affects the Output

Go to File -> Print Preview to see how your map will look before the actual printing starts.

[img 3 : File menu showing the Print Preview option]
[img 3 : File menu showing the Print Preview option]


When you select Print Preview, a tip window might appear recommending the Map Layout Editor for full control over the design. For now, just click OK.

[img 4 : Global Mapper Tip dialog box recommending Map Layout Editor]
[img 4 : Global Mapper Tip dialog box recommending Map Layout Editor]


Configuring Print Options

In the Print Options dialog, you will see the General tab where you can configure the basic settings:

[img 5 : Print Options General Tab]
[img 5 : Print Options General Tab]
  • Header/Footer: Enter the text to be displayed at the top and bottom of the page.
  • Print in Black and White: Prints the map in grayscale.
  • Use White Background Color: Forces the background to be white.
  • Print to Scale: Allows you to specify a specific map scale for the output.
  • Extra Margin Around Printout: Sets the page margins.
  • Print To File: Saves the output as an image file (BMP, JPG, PNG, TIF). The resolution is linked to your printer settings in File - Print Setup.

Setting the Print Bounds

The Print Bounds tab allows you to define the specific area of the data you want to print.

[img 6 : Print Options Print Bounds Tab]
[img 6 : Print Options Print Bounds Tab]
  • All Loaded Data: Sets the print range to include all currently loaded datasets.
  • All Data Visible On Screen: Prints only what is currently visible in the workspace.
  • Draw a Box: Allows you to manually click and drag to define the print area.
  • Use Layer Bounds: Sets the range based on the boundaries of a specific layer.

After finishing these settings, click OK.

Final Preview and Limitations

The preview will show exactly what will be printed. You can see the header ("Test") and footer ("Map") applied.

[img 7 : Map Print Preview screen]
[img 7 : Map Print Preview screen]

Next, I tried adjusting the output quality in Print Setup and checked the result again.

[img 8 : Comparison of Print Preview with different resolution settings]
[img 8 : Comparison of Print Preview with different resolution settings]

One major drawback of using the basic Print menu is that you cannot manually adjust the thickness of lines, the size of points, the north arrow, the scale bar, or text sizes. They are automatically scaled based on the resolution specified in File - Print Setup.

Because of this lack of control, most professional users bypass the simple Print menu and use the Map Layout Editor instead. Since this basic method is rarely used for final outputs, we've covered it briefly today.

That's all for today!

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