How can I create a quick locator map?

In this article, you will learn how to create a simple locator map to highlight certain areas and pinpoint locations.

This documentation is always evolving.

Locator maps allow you to show events’ locations and offer valuable context and information. By incorporating text, polygons, and inset maps, these maps enable a deeper understanding of your storytelling, services, or products. Pin properties, and emphasize specific areas; add a layer of insight to your maps to provide a comprehensive visual representation that captivates your audience.

What’s the Difference Between Mapcreator and Locator Map?
Mapcreator is our feature-rich online editor, designed for in-depth customization and advanced features. Locator Map, on the other hand, is a free, simplified version aimed at quick and easy map creation for immediate use. While Mapcreator offers extensive functionalities for detailed projects, Locator Map focuses on providing essential tools for creating basic yet effective locator maps quickly and efficiently.

Step 1: Choose an area

Once you go to https://locator.mapcreator.io/, you can search for an area in the search bar or click anywhere on the map for your location to automatically be detected. To do this, you can also zoom in or out to specific locations. 

In case you use the search bar, searches can be made for counties, countries, cities, districts, street names, coordinates and so on. Once you have entered your location the tool will automatically give suggestions as to what area you were looking for.

Step 2: Change the styling of the area

The administrative area you have selected will automatically be highlighted. By selecting it, you can decide the following things:

• Fit the map around the selected area
• Spotlight the selected area 

If you decide to spotlight the selected area, the surrounding areas will be covered with a semi-transparent layer. Note: Enabling this will also hide place names in the surrounding areas. 

Feel free to edit the colors and transparency of the area(s) to suit your preferences. Once the spotlight function is enabled, you have the option to adjust both the color and transparency. Simply click on the desired area to access the editing menu, where you can make these modifications.

Step 3: Change icon(s) and label(s)

After the location is added, an icon will automatically appear on the map. To change the styling of this icon, you can select it from the added elements. Both the icon and its attached label can be changed from here. 

You can pick an icon from the library Locator Map offers, switch to a textbox instead or upload your own SVG. In case you select one of our icons or text boxes, the tool will remember this choice as a default for future projects. 

Once you are satisfied with your work, you can export your project. For this, you have a few options. Firstly, you have to decide between embed or download. Then, you select PNG or SVG (scalable vector) and whether or not you want your map to be responsive. 

Learn more

For more in-depth information on additional features of Locator Map and the different export formats, responsiveness and more, please navigate to our Locator Map FAQ.