Manual Cartographic Techniques
Date
Credits
- Tom Vitacco Cartographer
Format
- Map 51
- Photograph 142
Type of Work
- Finished work 5467
Locations Made
- United States 616
- Chicago 72
- Illinois
Links
Rand McNally Publishing's now Director of GIS, Tom Vitacco, started at the company in 1986 when they utilized film and large frame cameras to make maps. The process involved multiple layers of film, each with a specific purpose and color related to the four colors used in printing (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black). The film layers were punched with holes along one side and held together with metal pins to keep the layers aligned to one another. Some layers contained etched or “scribed” lines and open areas for solid colors or pattern fills while others displayed map labels that were attached to the film with hot wax and sharp knives. The film was labeled to ensure each piece was arranged in the proper order by color and then a large camera was used to create a set of final four-color composite film separates. The film was sent to the printer and converted into printing plates for the press.
