If you’ve ever needed a quick map for a procedure or just to show the location of your home, this tutorial is for you. You’ll learn how to create a simple sketch using Google Maps without the need to download any software.
- Access Google My Maps
- Visit Google My Maps.
- Ensure you’re logged in to your Google account.
- Create Your Custom Map
- Click on “Create a new map”.
- Navigate to your area of interest, search for the location of your home or the place you wish to mark.
- Add Markers to Layers
- In the toolbar, select “Add marker” and click on the exact spot you wish to mark.
- For instance: “Home” or “Bus stop”.
- You can customize the marker with different colors and styles. For your home, you might choose a house icon.
- Draw Routes or Lines
- Use the “Draw a line” option to mark short routes with “Add line or shape”, like the path from a bus stop to your house.
- If you prefer marking longer routes, choose “Add driving, cycling, or walking route”.
- Customize Your Map
- Name your map, for example: “Location Sketch”.
- You can add a description, like “Route to my home”.
- Add more reference points if needed, such as a nearby store or church, and customize them with icons and colors.
- Change the Base Map to get different map layouts.
- It’s also possible to add more layers, and to these, import information from a CSV or KML file.
- Export Your Map to PDF
- Once you’ve finished customizing your map, click on the three-dot menu next to the map’s name and select “Print map“.
- You can choose to export your map as an image or PDF. For our purpose, choose PDF.
- After generating the PDF, you can save the file to your computer or print it directly.
- There are various base map options for further customization.
This way, you can create a practical and simple sketch using Google My Maps, hassle-free and entirely online, without the need to install any software. I hope this tutorial has been helpful to you.