Designing Minimalist City Map Posters with City Roads
City Roads makes it possible to create studio-grade city map prints without touching a single design tool. This guide shares the workflow our team uses to transform OpenStreetMap data into high-resolution artwork that is ready for framing.
1. Start with an Intentional Canvas
- Define the story – decide whether you want to highlight a neighborhood, a commute, or a travel memory. City Roads allows precise zoom levels, so plan the area before rendering.
- Pick the right orientation – square canvases work well for compact European cities, while portrait layouts fit coastal or river-focused scenes.
2. Build a Harmonious Color System
City Roads ships with curated palettes, but you can also create your own:
- Choose a soft background color (muted charcoal, deep navy, or warm cream).
- Pair streets with two accent layers: primary roads and secondary streets.
- Keep contrast ADA-friendly (WCAG 4.5:1) if you plan to share the poster online.
Pro tip: save palettes in your browser’s “custom themes” so international teams can reuse them.
3. Refine Line Weights for Readability
- Primary roads: 1.5–2 px thickness for large prints, 1 px for small desk-size exports.
- Local streets: half the size of primaries to preserve hierarchy.
- Optional rail/river overlays: enable only if they improve context—too much detail can crowd minimalist styles.
4. Export for Every Medium
| Use Case | Format | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Large wall art | SVG | Infinite scaling, ideal for 24x36 inch prints | | Social teasers | PNG (2000px) | Crisp previews for Instagram and X | | Slide decks | WebP | Lightweight for internal presentations |
City Roads automatically embeds bleed-safe dimensions, so most online printers accept files without manual tweaks.
5. Add Branding or Personal Messages
Use the caption controls to add coordinates, travel dates, or gifting notes. Keep typography at least 32 px for prints larger than 18 inches wide.
Final Checklist
- [x] Confirm the chosen area tells a clear story
- [x] Ensure color contrast passes WCAG AA
- [x] Export both SVG and PNG for future edits
- [x] Record the palette so teammates can replicate the style
Designing map art should feel approachable. With City Roads you can go from idea to premium print in minutes—and still control every tiny detail that makes the poster uniquely yours.