Is this the first time you've contracted a map? Unsure of where to start?
Send an email to info@tombolomapsdesign.com to schedule a free introductory call!
Who is your map’s audience? What are you hoping for them to understand/gain from reading the map? How will they be using it?
What do you want the map to show? What data do you want to highlight (e.g. archaeological sites, bird migratory routes, sea level rise, etc.)? Do you have this geospatial data or would need us to research/find it?
What base data do you want to show on the map (e.g. political boundaries, roads, waterways, cities, etc.)?
What is the scale and extent of the map / what area will it need to show?
How will the map be published? In a book/journal, as a brochure or folded map, as a wall map or large signage, as a static map on a webpage, or as an online interactive map? For print maps, what size do you need the map to be to fit within its desired publication (or paper size if it’s a stand-alone map)?
Do you want a color or grayscale map? If color, do you have any specific colors you’d like included (e.g. to match a logo or branding) or a color theme in mind?
Are there any other specifications that must be followed as required by your publisher (e.g. specific export formats, resolution requirements, fonts, colors, title/caption formats, etc.)?
Do you have any maps that serve as inspiration for what you’d like your map to look like? Please share what you like/don’t like about them.
What is your ideal timeline in which to have the map completed?
Do you have a budget that you need to work within for this project?
Custom map pricing can vary widely, but very basic locator maps start at around $500 and increase exponentially with map intricacy:
Basic Map ($500–$1,000)
Simple map featuring only a few data layers and basic labeling of important features. This includes any essential requested map features such as a title, citation, scale bar, legend, mini reference map, etc.
Middle-Ground Map ($1,000–$1,700)
A moderately detailed map which combines several data layers and can require more comprehensive labeling of features. This may include (but is not limited to): quick research to acquire geospatial datasets; simple data conversion, analysis, or georeferencing and digitization; minor adjustments to map scale/extent; uncomplicated revisions, etc.
Complex Map ($1,700+)
A detailed map which combines many data layers and requires more extensive design and labeling work. This may include (but is not limited to): intricate design or color schemes to visualize many data categories; multiple scales and detailed inset/reference maps; labeling that requires detailed placement or leader lines/numbers corresponding with a list; research to acquire unique geospatial datasets; conversion of non-geospatial data into a geospatial format; complicated georeferencing of source maps and subsequent digitization of source data; complex data analysis; multiple revisions that require recreating map features or changing fundamental map elements, etc.
*Please note that custom estimates are determined after in-depth discussions with Tombolo Maps & Design and this solely serves as an initial contextual resource.