Laser Maps for Family

Did you have to set up an API to download?

With SnazzyMaps you should just need a free account. A free account allows you to download up to 10 .pngā€™s a day, which isnā€™t too restrictive if youā€™re just using it for hobby projects.

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I see it now ā€¦ I was looking at HTML and not downloading an image. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes: Thank you!

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I always lived in suburbs, except at collegeā€¦ soā€¦ my maps would be boring!

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Understand that. Few roads my way. Used a GPS for directions home a few years ago. Said ā€œNo route foundā€

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Donā€™t sell yourself short! Depending on where you went to college, you probably have a map worth making. Even the suburbs have maps with a grand story to tell - you may just need to dig a little deeper. Check out public data sources like neighborhood boundaries, zoning areas, or even the water/gas/sewer lines.

As an example, hereā€™s a map of the University Iā€™ve been lucky enough to teach at this year.
Iā€™ve separated buildings, athletic facilities, athletic fields, and streets into their own layers that I plan toā€¦ wellā€¦ layer for effect in the final product:

I intend to post a tutorial + lessons learned once I make the cuts. PSU fans, feel free to reach out for the .svg :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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I made a few maps this week myself, trying out different styles

The hardest part is actually framing them on the cheapā€¦ having some trouble with itā€¦ the wood is a lot thicker than a photo so they donā€™t fit well in photo frames, I have to take out the glass or I canā€™t get the back board back in, etcā€¦ Any advice on finding something deeper that works well for wood art but cheaper than custom framing?

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The float frames I linked above work nicely. They come with two layers of glass and a ~0.6ā€ spacer. Framing two layers of 1/4ā€ draftboard or one layer + a cardboard backer worked for me.

Did the link possibly change when you published it? This link in the first post is still going to a page not found.

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If you go to the site, choose ā€˜make a mapā€™ then in Styles search ā€œglowforgeā€ youā€™ll find it.

Sadly, thatā€™s not my template. I donā€™t think the admins of SnazzyMaps have got around to approving my template yet. The 48 hour turnaround is what they say on the site, but I wouldnā€™t be shocked if they have a little bit of a backlog to work through.

Searching either ā€œGlowforgeā€ or ā€œLaserā€ will produce plenty of good templates though!

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Wow, nicely done! Iā€™ve been working on some maps myself. Hereā€™s one that I made from some thick posterboard for some friends in San Diego.

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Iā€™m in the same boat with framing these and trying to find decent frames for a decent price. Itā€™s easy to find cheap packs of frames on Amazon but they donā€™t have much room. Iā€™m considering a custom order from FramesUSA and getting a brad gun to place the flat holder things behind the artwork.

*Anybody know the actual name of those bendable nail/brad holder things that go in the side of frames and hold the artwork in?

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they are called Points (or sometimes tabs). You can buy a Point Gun/Driver (or Tab Gun) that works like a staple gun. You can also buy a Point Driver (or tab driver) that works like a vise.
For softwoods, you can also look for Glazier Points that are inserted using a putty knife.

point driving gun from Amazon (just an example, not an affiliate link, and I have never used this model/brand)
https://www.amazon.com/Logan-F500-2-Point-Driver-Elite/dp/B003BMFOJQ

edit: I see that this same brand is sold by Lee Valley, so chances are itā€™s a decent tool.

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Lovely! What did you use for the masking? Iā€™m assuming the paper did not come with a protective layer.

Hereā€¦this is the good stuffā€¦ :grinning:

UScutter Medium Tack Transfer Tape

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Nice work!! Love the maps!!

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Had Lowes make a delivery to my parents a few years ago and it had them turn less than 1/4 mile from the house (you could see it from the intersection) and go an extra 2 miles and go through a field :rofl:. They actually did too, then said they were worried Deliverance was about to turn into a movie of fact rather than fiction.

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Howdy all! I finally posted my tutorial. Itā€™s under the ā€œFree Laser Designsā€ category for now. Check it out if you want to make your own maps!

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