Map 7: Atlas Page Layout

Composite multi-inset atlas layout assembled with image processing

Rendered Map Plate

Map 7: Full multi-inset atlas page showing regional zoom sequence and campus base map

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Technical Summary

• Objective: Synthesize individual cartographic components into a publication-ready atlas sheet. The top row forms a three-tier geographic zoom sequence (Western US → Bight of California → Extended Campus), anchored below by the panoramic campus base map (Map 6).
• Key Packages: magick
• Inputs:
  • images/map3.png (900 x 1200 px, 3x4 in portrait)
  • images/map4.png (900 x 1200 px, 3x4 in portrait)
  • images/map5.png (1200 x 900 px, 4x3 in landscape)
  • images/map6.1.png (3600 x 1200 px, 12x4 in panorama)
• Outputs:
  • Top tryptic row: final_output/map7_row_1.png (4800 x 1200 px)
  • Complete atlas sheet: final_output/map_07.png (4800 x 2400 px)

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Step-by-Step Cartographic Workflow & Intermediate Outputs

The script scripts/map_07.r demonstrates how programmatic image montage workflows in magick can assemble multi-scale atlas plates that exceed standard ggplot facet capabilities.

Step 1: Ingesting Component Map Plates

Four separately compiled graphics are ingested into memory via image_read():

library(magick)

# Read the component plates
map3 <- image_read("images/map3.png")   # Inset 1: Western US (3x4 in)
map4 <- image_read("images/map4.png")   # Inset 2: Bight of California (3x4 in)
map5 <- image_read("images/map5.png")   # Inset 3: Extended Campus (4x3 in)
map6 <- image_read("images/map6.1.png") # Bottom Hero: Panoramic Campus (12x4 in)

Input Tile 1: Map 3

Input Tile 2: Map 4

Input Tile 3: Map 5

Step 2: Assembling Row 1 Inset Tryptic

Using image_montage(), Maps 3, 4, and 5 are combined horizontally across a 3x1 grid with centered gravity. Each tile cell is assigned 1600x1200px to maintain consistent vertical alignment across both portrait and landscape inputs.

# Intermediate montage: 3-panel zoom sequence
map7_row1 <- image_montage(
  image = c(map3, map4, map5),
  tile = "3x1",
  geometry = "1600x1200",
  gravity = "center"
)

image_write(map7_row1, "final_output/map7_row_1.png", format = "png")

Intermediate Output: Row 1 Zoom-In Tryptic combining Maps 3, 4, and 5

Step 3: Vertical Stacking & Sheet Annotation

Finally, the top tryptic row (map7_row1) and the bottom panoramic base map (map6) are stacked vertically across a 1x2 montage grid. The finished plate is stamped with the atlas sheet title using image_annotate().

# Stack row 1 and row 2 into final 2-tier atlas plate
map7 <- image_montage(
  image = c(map7_row1, map6),
  tile = "1x2",
  geometry = "4800x1200"
)

map_7_titled <- image_annotate(
  map7, 
  "Map 7: Where is UCSB?",
  size = 14,
  location = "+0+0"
)

image_write(map_7_titled, "final_output/map_07.png", format = "png")

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Full R Script (scripts/map_07.r)

# Map 7
# this is the  layout page with 4 maps on it
# maps 3 - 4 - 5 zoom in tryptic
# and map 6, which is a version of map 1
# 

# clean the environment and hidden objects
rm(list=ls())

# Load magick package, which allows to make a montage of images
library(magick)

# set map number
current_sheet <- 7
# set ggplot counter
current_ggplot <- 0




# We'll be doing a 12inx9in image, which at 300 PPI is 3600x2700 pixels

# Load maps 3, 4, 5, and 6 using the magick::image_read function
map3 <- image_read("images/map3.png") # 3x4 inches = 900x1200 pixels
map4 <- image_read("images/map4.png") # 3x4 in = 900x1200 px
map5 <- image_read("images/map5.png") # 4x3 in = 1200x900 px
map6 <- image_read("images/map6.1.png") # 12x9 in = 3600x1200 px

image_read("images/map3.png")
image_read("images/map4.png")
image_read("images/map5.png")
image_read("images/map6.1.png")

# There are multiple ways to use the magick package to append images,
# you could use image_append(), image_montage(), or image_composite()



# Let's first make row number 1 or our atlas page, which combines maps 3, 4, and 5"
# This will have a geometry of 4800x1200px (12x4 inches), so each tile is 1600x1200

map7_row1 <- image_montage(image = c(map3, map4, map5),
              tile = "3x1",
              geometry = "1600x1200",
              gravity = "center")
map7_row1

# save that
image_write(map7_row1, "final_output/map7_row_1.png", format = "png")
# output it
image_read("final_output/map7_row_1.png")

map7 <- image_montage(image = c(map7_row1, map6),
                      tile = "1x2",
                      geometry = "4800x1200")

map7

map_7_titled <- image_annotate(map7, "Map 7: Where is UCSB?",
                       size = 14,
                       location = "+0+0")


#save your output
image_write(map_7_titled, "final_output/map_07.png", format = "png")