Exporting Maps

Export your composed map layout as a high-quality image or PDF document. The export captures all elements exactly as they appear on the canvas, including the map view, text, legend, scale bar, images, shapes, and any other elements you have added.

• PNG — Lossless raster image. Ideal for web use, presentations, social media, and embedding in documents. Supports transparency.
• PDF — Vector-capable document format with embedded map canvas. Ideal for printing and professional publications where text and graphics need to remain sharp at any size.

Choose from screen-optimized and standard paper size presets, organized into three groups. Templates set their own page size automatically.

• Screen sizes — HD 16:9 (1920×1080), 2K (2560×1440), 4K (3840×2160), Square (1080×1080), Portrait (1080×1920)
• Paper at 150 DPI — Letter (1275×1650), Letter Landscape (1650×1275), A4 (1240×1754), A4 Landscape (1754×1240), Tabloid 11×17 (1650×2550)
• Paper at 300 DPI — Letter (2550×3300), A4 (2480×3508), Tabloid (3300×5100), A3 (3508×4960)

DPI (dots per inch) controls the pixel density of the exported image. Higher DPI means more pixels per inch, resulting in sharper output at larger print sizes:

• 72 DPI — Screen resolution. Smallest file size and fastest export. Suitable for web display where the image will be viewed at 100% zoom.
• 150 DPI — Standard print quality. Good balance of quality and file size. Works well for most printed documents and presentations.
• 300 DPI — High-quality print. Largest file size. Best for professional publications, large-format prints, and any output where fine detail matters.

Set a background color for the canvas area behind and around your elements. The default is white. For presentation-style layouts, try a dark background with light-colored text — the Presentation template uses a dark navy background by default.

1. Arrange your layout elements on the canvas
2. Select your desired page size and DPI from the toolbar dropdowns
3. Click the PNG or PDF button in the toolbar
4. The file downloads automatically

The export pipeline renders your canvas at the selected DPI by scaling all elements proportionally. A DPI scale factor is applied (DPI / 72), so a 1920×1080 layout at 300 DPI produces an image approximately 8000×4500 pixels. Elements are drawn in their stacking order — elements added later appear on top.

• All image elements are preloaded before rendering to ensure they appear in the export
• Rectangle elements with opacity are rendered with correct alpha blending
• PNG exports render the canvas directly as a raster image
• PDF exports use the same rendered canvas embedded in a PDF document via jsPDF
• Element rotation is preserved in the final output
• The legend auto-generates from visible layers at export time

• Cross-origin images — If your map uses tiles or icons from external domains, the export may show a blank map area. Use basemaps that support CORS (most built-in basemaps do).
• Large file sizes — Reduce DPI from 300 to 150, or choose a smaller page size preset. Paper sizes at 300 DPI produce very large files.
• Slow exports — Higher DPI and larger canvas sizes take longer to render. Try 72 or 150 DPI for faster exports.
• Missing legend items — The legend only includes visible layers. Make sure the layers you want are toggled on before opening the Composer.
• Image elements not showing — Ensure images were added via the file picker (data URLs). External URLs may be blocked by CORS.

• Position the map view in the editor before opening the Composer — the map frame captures your current view including zoom, bearing, and pitch
• Use a cleaner basemap style (like Light or Dark) for better print output with less visual noise
• Ensure all text elements are readable at the intended print size — zoom into the preview to check
• The legend auto-generates from your visible layers — hide layers you do not want in the legend before opening the Composer
• Use the rectangle element to create neatlines (map borders) for professional print layouts — the report and atlas templates include these by default
• Use the Presentation template for slide decks — its full-bleed map and dark background work well projected
• Use the Large Poster template for printed maps — it is pre-configured at 300 DPI with a neatline and credits footer
• Use the Social Media Card template for quick sharing — its square format and title overlay are optimized for social platforms