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isometric image of a city.jpg

Isometric Maps

Maps offer a balance between aesthetics and information. They can help you navigate, evoke nostalgia, and create new memories. 


Isometric drawing is a way to show 3D objects in a 2D picture. In this type of drawing, the angles between the lines are always 120 degrees, which helps make the object look like it has depth and space. It is often used in technical and engineering drawings to represent real objects.

Your task is to create an isometric map, including illustrations of key landmarks.

This project is adapted from Jess Wilson's course.​​​​

Tools:

  1. Paper and Pen/Pencil, or a word doc​

   4. Photoshop (or any art software)

   5. Drawing Tablet

Timeline (~2 weeks)

Days 1+2:   Preparing for Map Making

Days 3-4:    Rough Sketches of Landmarks

Days 5-6:     Placing on your Map, Adding Text

Day 7-8:      Adding Space Fillers

Days 9-11:  Adding Text, Colour, and Neat Lines

PREPARATION FOR YOUR MAP

example isometric london zoo.png

London Zoo by Rob Hunt

Click image to magnify!

example isometric xilitla.png

Xilitla by Carlos Chong

01

Brainstorming & Research

Step 1: Choose a REAL place that means something to you; perhaps it is somewhere you once visited or lived.

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Step 2: Take a few minutes to brainstorm any important landmarks for that location. Write/Type them down.

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Step 3: Get Inspired. Google "Isometric Map of [your location]". If your location is too small or niche, try looking up the province or country instead, or a bigger location in the same region. You can also check out the ones made by students in the original Domestika course.

a. Save the ones you like to an "Isometric Map" folder in your OneDrive.

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Step 4: Go back to your landmark list. Try to add some more to it based on what you found in other isometric maps.

02

Setting Up Your Map

​Step 1: Make your Google Map.

  • Open Google Maps on your computer.

  • Sign in or create a Google account.

  • In the search bar, type the location or find it on the map.

  • Right-click on the map at the location, then select "Add a missing place" or "Add a label."

  • Enter the details of the landmark (name)

  • Click "Submit" to save it.

This will create  a pin at your landmark. It is a good way to organize yourself. Add all of your landmarks.

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Step 2: Save your Map

  • ​With your map zoomed out all the way, take a screenshot by pressing Windows Key + Print Screen (PrtSc). Your screen will briefly go dim to indicate that you've just taken a screenshot, and the screenshot will be saved to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.

  • Decide how much road detail you want. Zoom in.

  • Screenshot a chunk of your map. Move your image, repeat. Be Methodical!

  • Move your screenshots from their folder to your Isometric Map folder in your OneDrive. 

  • Now it is time to move them into Photoshop!

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Step 3: In Photoshop...

  • New ---> ​In the New Document window, click "Print" and select "Tabloid"

    • This will be bigger than a regular sized (letter) paper. It's always better to make things a bit bigger!

  • Drag your Map files from File Explorer onto your new file on Photoshop.

    • You will need to click the checkmark at the top for each one.

    • They should all be added as new layers.​

  • Use the Move Tool to line up your map pieces​

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Step 4: Highlight your Landmarks

  • Use the Magic Wand tool (W) to select all of your landmark icons

    • if it doesn't work, make sure "Contiguous" is ticked OFF in the top bar.​

  • Create a new layer. Use the paint bucket to fill in the selection with RED.​

  • Do this again with the other landmarks, but fill them in with WHITE.

  • Desaturate your map (Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation, or CTRL+U)

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Step 5: Apply it to an Isometric Grid!  (rectangle to slanted rectangle)

  • Download the grid template

  • Open it, copy the layer to your Map File.

    • If its bigger than you want, Edit > Transform > Scale (or press CTRL+T). Now drag the corner in to shrink it.​

  • Line up the lower lefthand corner with one of the points on the grid.

  • Edit > Transform > Skew

    • Skew the right side up so its in line with the grid​

    • BE PRECISE  --- this is the base to your whole map!

    • Skew the top over so it hits the correct angle.

    • It will look weird in this state, but once you draw your buildings it will look better. TRUST THE GRID.

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THIS

this

to...

PRODUCING YOUR MAP

03

Isometric Drawing: Creating your Landmark Sketches

  1. Download the Task Sheet Template Open it.

  2. Pick a landmark. Go on Google and find LOTS photos of it. Copy them, paste the onto the template, move them to the left side.

  3. Set your Foreground colour to  CYAN   and Background to   MAGENTA  (it won't actually be your BG, it just makes it convenient to toggle between the two contrasting colours).

  4. For your first drawing: Create a new layer and lower its opacity to 15ish%. Outline the basic shape of your landmark. Be fast and messy!

  5. For your second drawing,  set the opacity to 50ish% start using the grid to help you draw rectangles.

    • To copy, you can press CTRL+J and it will copy to a new layer.

  6. Feel free to move the grid a specific point to help you!​

  7. Be messy, these are just rough sketches. Focus on getting the general structure/composition down.​​

    • You will need to redraw a neat version later when you resize it for your map.​

  8. Repeat for each landmark. I recommend using a new Task Sheet for each.​

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Some Isometric Drawing tips:

  • Shadow? Make the line thicker.

  • Save yourself time by

    • drawing ONE side ---  then duplicate the layer and use Transform to FLIP it horizontally.

    • drawing one window (or anything that repeats) and copy-paste to duplicate it​

    • using a thick brush to draw the SPACE rather than the outline

  • Circles? Use the Ellipse tool (hidden under the rectangle selection tool) --- hold shift for a perfect circle --- fill it with the paintbucket, then SKEW it to match the grid.

  • If your lines become too messy, you can switch to   BLUE  (which is pure cyan + pure magenta) to further define.'

  • A lot of the drawing is just having an attention to detail.

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Isometric Drawing Videos:

04

Placing Your Drawings on the Google Map

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  1. Copy each of your landmark sketches to your main map file. 

    • You can either merge the layers and copy the layer over, or do a screen clipping (Windows+Shift+S)​

  2. Use CTRL+T to resize and place them on their landmark markers.​

    • THIS is why we don't draw neat right away! Resizing messes up your brush sizes.​

    • If your landmarks are too crowded, you can place your landmark where there is more room and draw an arrow to the correct place on the map.

  3. On new layers, plot out the waterbodies, roads (big and/or important), and parks.​

    1. Use a big brush with lower opacity. You can change the opacity of the brush itself in the top bar.

    2. This may take a while, just keep chipping away at it.​

    3. Draw over w/ an outline in a slightly darker colour to give more structure. 

  4. Add text​

    1. You need different styles to create visual distinction between what's being labeled​

      • Roads​

      • Areas / Neighborhoods

      • Rivers / Waterways

      • Landmarks

      • Parks

      • Subway / Skytrain​

    2. Start it a very ROUGH rough sketch, just to get organized​

    3. You can use a typeface to help with letter spacing

      • Make sure you Rasterize it after (right click the text layer) and SKEW.​

  5. Add Space Fillers​​

    • This will make your map unique to YOU.​

    • Brings it to life

    • Make a list of the Items/Things and People you think are specific to your location

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Isometric Drawing Videos:

example isometric type styles.png
USE THIS PHOTOSHOP ACTION TO SAVE YOU TIME!!

Action = automated series of steps that Photoshop can do in quick succession.

  1. Window: Action > [+] call it “Expand 2 Pixels Fill”

  2. Get your selection ready!

  3. Use the Brush to draw an outline around the area you want filled, use the magic wand tool to select the empty space inside

  4. Click the record [o] button on the Action panel.

  5. Click Select: Modify > Expand > “2”

  6. Press Alt+Backspace

  7. Deselect (Ctrl+D)

  8. Click stop on the Action Panel

  9. Action Panel > Options > Button Mode to find it

05

Colour and Tidying

  1. Group your rough layers by selecting them (click the top one, then hold shift and click the bottom one) then pressing the little folder icon at the bottom of the layers panel.

    • If your computer is running slow, merge them.​

  2. Reduce the group's opacity.

  3. Choose your brush size.

  4. Start drawing your line-art. 

    • Add, take away, improve on what you had.​

  5. To FILL your shapes with colour, look to the right.​

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Some More Tips:

  • Beware of getting overly detailed when zoomed in --- you won't be able to see it. 

  • You can draw INSIDE filled spaces by using the eraser.

  • Your Swatches will give you the last colours you used.

  • Add little flares and patterns to help fill space.

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