Design feedback on Euro-Toner

[george08]

Hi George,

after inspecting your toner-map, which I really like, I found the
confusing border-highway styling in diverse regions like Europe. There
are a lot of different and smaller countries than in the US with even
smaller districts. To keep the orientation on a map, at least for me, it
is crucial to see the borderlines of the countries. They are more
important than streets, because the shape of a country is more
distinguishable than its highways.

To show you an example:
at zoom levels 5 and 6 you see only borders with solid lines and no
highways. You have the shapes of the countries to keep orientation.
http://maps.stamen.com/toner/#5/48.945/-347.793
http://maps.stamen.com/toner/#6/48.262/-346.145

but as soon as you change to zoom level 7 the borders "disappear"
because the solid lines are now highways with a completely different
shape. The borders, now dashed, fade into the background and loose their
importance. They seem to be a background noise.
http://maps.stamen.com/toner/#7/48.262/-346.145

this now continues in the next zoom levels until you reach 11 or 12,
where borderlines tend to be less important.

I guess the step from zoom level 6 to 7 is the hardest, because the
solid lines change from borderline to highway. It produces the most
confusing situation. And I think that in levels 8, 9, 10 more visible
borderlines could help to keep orientation in the map.

I really like your maps, they have a stylish design and it's great that
you offer the tiles for integration in other map-services. I hope my
feedback made my point clear and helped you in developing your maps.

Keep it up!
Benjamin

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [maps.stamen.com / toner-lite]: Bug report @ 7/46.737/15.587
From: George Oates glo@stamen.com
To: benjaminpreisig@gmail.com
Date: 04.05.13 00:56
Hi Benjamin,

Thanks for your feedback on our cartography design at a few different zoom levels.

I'm wondering if you'd be willing to send me more precise information on what you're seeing at which zoom levels, so I can be sure I'm looking at the same thing you're commenting on?

What would be most helpful is a series of links to the various zoom levels, with an accompanying description of your thoughts…

Thanks!
george

On May 3, 2013, at 1:20 AM, benjaminpreisig@gmail.com wrote:

Bug report from benjaminpreisig@gmail.com (178.190.209.143):

Correction to my previous comment:

I ment highways not waterways. Sorry for the confusion.

http://maps.stamen.com/toner-lite/#7/46.737/15.587

feedback form @ http://maps.stamen.com/feedback.php?style=toner-lite