software to create "robinson projection" map

[Peter Schutze]

anyone know a way to convert existing maps eg the MOLA rectangularised map of mars into a Robinson Projection ?

Preferably using something free rather than for example buying the newest version of photoshop/illustrator so i can learn how to install plug-ins for it:rofl:

 

[Shonner]

Looking up what a Robinson Projection is.

 

[Peter Schutze]

Robinson projection ..... sorry I thought it was well known.

an exaggerated circle the poles also stretched so you have the whole world on one shape:

instead of what we grew up with:

or the traveller isohedral world maps

 

[Shonner]

You can probably just buy a Mars map in that layout from the '90s, if any map companies were still using that standard.

I've made Mars maps for Traveller using IS Map Form 8 from Traveller 5. But they are all terraformed though.

 

[aramis]

You can probably just buy a Mars map in that layout from the '90s, if any map companies were still using that standard.

I've made Mars maps for Traveller using IS Map Form 8 from Traveller 5. But they are all terraformed though.

http://planetologia.elte.hu/ipcd/ipcd.html?cim=robinson_composite has one... 2148x1107 px JPG for free.

 

[BytePro]

NASA provides numerous publicly available programs (with source code), such as http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/gprojector/ and http://seadas.gsfc.nasa.gov/ that are multi-platform and will do map projections.

 

[Shonner]

Not bad for web use: www.shonner.com/shawndriscoll/images/robinson_mars.jpg

 

[Peter Schutze]

shonner thats almost what I was trying to create except with Olympus Mons on the 0 longitude

hopefully with this level of clarity http://tharsis.gsfc.nasa.gov/ngs.html

the g.projector program works great .... now i just need to find better data to feed it

 

[Shonner]

I'll do another one in relief. I'm hoping I can hide the seams, if there are any.

ADDED:
This one is a little better: http://www.shonner.com/shawndriscoll/images/robinson_mars2.jpg

 

[Peter Schutze]

from what i saw in the discussion on one of nasa's sub sites about making that NGS map I linked is actually your color map merged into a shaded relief map made by MOLA data

BTW there is a command to change the lat + long lines. I found 90 to be best when rotating and then 0 before saving

 

[Shonner]

I think I did a spin of -130 degrees? I used a grayscale TIF heightmap to displace my flat Mars ground plane into an elevated 3D shape. Then pointed my Sun in a direction that would highlight the terrain's landscape some.

I just eyeball things.

 

[Peter Schutze]

Shonner .... can you translate into an idiots level (ie me) step by step guide?

 

[Shonner]

I'm using Vue Infinite to make my terrain image. If you have that program, I can post a video on YouTube showing the steps.

 

[Peter Schutze]

I got it to work although the final file is enormous !

Putting the color moc map over the greyscale mola map and fiddling the transparency gives a combined image far nicer than either original

running that thru the NASA program didnt give me quite the same projection but the final choice I settled on worked out better for printing

 

[Midgardsormr]

Some people I have heard of have had trouble getting g.projector to install. In that case, there is also Flex Projector:
http://www.flexprojector.com/

It's designed to allow the cartographer to create custom projections, but it unfortunately can't do interrupted projections (such as a traditional Traveller hex map).