Other World Mapper Forum

Depending on the purpose, maps have a scale bar. In the artwork manager are some PNGs included, but it takes time to adapt the scale bar or the grid to each other. It's easy to create a custom vector scale bar specific to one map, but it would be easier with a scale bar tool ;)

The user have to enter the following information:

1. Number of sections
2. Size of the sections (px)
3. Size of the spacing between sections (px)
4. Height (px)
5. Units (km, miles)
6. Start value
7. Step value
8. Format (font, font size, etc.)

(2) and (3) should be identical with the grid settings.

With this tool users get a perfectly fitting scale bar for their map and even when they modify the grid, they can easily adapt the scale bar to the new size.

I think that most people are creating fantasy maps and only really need a general (not completely accurate) scale bar. And they want the scale bar to look cool and match the appearance of their map design. Thus, an image is used so that we can have a cool looking scale bar that gives a general idea of how big the map is (how much area is covered). It's the same reason we place a building icon on the map, but if it were actual size, the single building or structure would be larger than a modern city.

It not about reality or accuracy, it's about avoiding madness like this :)

Not sure why that's madness? These things are mainly just visual things, to make a make look pretty and to have an approximate scale. Key word on "approximate".

Since this feature request doesn't change the way the software works, but adding functionality, let us leave the decision to the developers if this could/should be implemented in the future.

let us leave the decision to the developers if this could/should be implemented in the future.

To quote Westley - "As you wish!"

SilverSurfer1221 wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 03, 2021 11:00 am

I think that most people are creating fantasy maps and only really need a general (not completely accurate) scale bar. And they want the scale bar to look cool and match the appearance of their map design.

Even so, as one of those "creating fantasy maps" people, it's still a PITA to have to switch back and forth between the "measuring tool" and the "resizing tool" while I adjust the length of the scale bar to approximate something sane in terms of my world units (e.g., getting it to be 100m instead of 79.372m), since there's no way to directly view or set the distance between the ends/markers on the scale bar.

We'll add this to our list of things to discuss and design. It's a good idea and would be in the same vein as the legend tool we're planning for a later version. Thank you for the feedback!

-Katie