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Division the best way to do range maps?

Asked by visionholder

I'm working on creating range maps for animal species on Wikipedia, and I was wondering what is the best way for drawing an animal's range so that it extends to the coast of an existing map? (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lemur_catta_range_map.svg for an example.) So far, it seems like I can draw the range such that the range extends out into the ocean, then use divsion (Ctrl+/) to confine it to the coast. Then I can select the result and change its fill color to color in the range within the land area.

Is this the best method for drawing these shapes inside other shapes (such as the land map) so that their irregular borders (such as a wavy coastline) overlap precisely?

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Oleg Koptev
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Oleg Koptev (koptev-oleg) said : 		#1

your method is absolutely best.
you need only to concentrate on inner borders - the coast board of range will turn out automatically. the only thing - I suppose you mean Ctrl+* (Intersection)?

1) I extend borders to the ocean (set the range transparent for better visual control) - http://smages.com/i/5e/63/5e6344275a4b377bff7bdd438a984dc5.png
2) Intersection of range with Madagascar (and color it to red) - http://smages.com/i/be/ee/beeea0d89a2f4b83335adec540107a8d.png
Perfect.

Cheers, Oleg

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visionholder (visionholder) said : 		#2

This mostly answered my question, but I'm confused about why you use Intersection (Ctrl+*) instead of Division (Ctrl+/). When I did a test, Intersection wiped out the rest of the Madagascar map, leaving only the area of intersection. Are you suggesting that I duplicate the layer that has the map so that the range exists on its own layer, positioned above the land map? (If so, I agree.)

Thanks.

Alex

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Best Oleg Koptev (koptev-oleg) said : 		#3

yes, exactly - one object - one layer.
the example you provided has the same by the way :)
and I think it is good workaround

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visionholder (visionholder) said : 		#4

Thanks Koptev Oleg, that solved my question.