Custom Maps Tutorial

 

Transferring paper or digital maps to your Garmin GPSr is a relatively quick and simple process. Garmin Custom Maps are created using Garmin map-drawing technology to georeference map images.

Garmin Custom Maps offer practicality and convenience in everyday situations:

• For college students: Download campus maps from university websites and transfer the custom map to a Garmin handheld for easy navigating around campus.
• For hiking trips: Transfer a paper map of a nearby state park for added safety and security while on the trail.
• For fun and education: Download a map of an area as it once appeared (such as the 1962 Seattle World's Fair) and explore that area as it previously existed while comparing how it appears today.

Read the Garmin Custom Maps press release.
Read the Garmin Trail Tech press release.

Guidelines

• Some guidelines need to be followed to ensure Garmin Custom Maps will be displayed correctly on your device:
  • More than one JPEG can preside in a KMZ file.
  • The only KML file that will be processed is the doc.kml, inside the KMZ file.
  • JPEG files are the only supported image type (Single Layer Only - No Progressive JPEGs).
  • KMZ files are read from both the [GPSr]\Garmin\CustomMaps\ and [microSD]\Garmin\CustomMaps\ directories.
  • Images over one mega pixel (1024x1024 pixels, 512x2048 pixels, etc.) will be rendered at a reduced resolution on the unit. If this is causing a problem for your map, you can split the image and use multiple JPEGs inside of one KMZ file.
  • Each JPEG should be less than 3MB.
  • Each Garmin device can index a limited number of Custom Map JPEG tiles.
  • The size of the JPEG files will affect the draw speed on the GPSr.
  • There is no limitation on KMZ file size so long as the previous limitations are observed.
• Waypoints, tracks, routes, geocaches, POIs, etc. will always draw on top of Custom Maps.
• Custom Maps with a higher Draw Order are drawn on top of CustomMaps with a lower Draw Order.
• A Custom Map with a Draw Order > 50 will draw on top of other maps.
• A Custom Map with a Draw Order < 50 will draw on top of the land, water, and areas on other maps, but roads, topo lines, and depth contours will draw on top of the Custom Map.

Once you have selected a map you wish to transfer to your Garmin GPSr, follow these simple instructions and you'll be on your way in no time! For the following example, we have selected this map of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair:


 

Lets get started!

Create a Custom Map

Save the Map in JPEG Format

• Digital format maps can be modified using your favorite image editing software (paint.net) before saving as a JPEG.
• Printed maps can be scanned and saved into digital format maps and then edited before saving as a JPEG.
• For best results, use the recommended dots-per-inch (dpi) resolution when scanning, editing and saving map images:
   

  zūmo XT/XT2	266 dpi
  Montana 7x0 zūmo 590/595	188 dpi
  BMW Motorrad Nav V	186 dpi
  BMW Motorrad Nav VI GPSMAP 276Cx	184 dpi
  eTrex 20x/30x/22x/32x	171 dpi
  Overlander	170 dpi
  Alpha 100/200/300 Atemos 100 Colorado GPSMAP 66/67/79/86 Oregon x00/x50/6x0/7x0 Rino 75x	156 dpi
  Montana 6x0 Monterra	136 dpi
  zūmo 395/396	129 dpi
  eTrex 20/30	126 dpi
  Edge 800/810	114 dpi
  Alpha 50 Astro 320/430/900 Atemos 50 Dakota 10/20 eTrex Touch 25/35 GPSMAP 62/64/65/78 Rino 6x0	111 dpi
  Edge 510	103 dpi

Create an Image Overlay

• Using Google Earth Pro, locate the approximate area where your custom map is located.
• From the top toolbar, select 'Add > Image Overlay'. (Ctrl+Shift+O)

Link the JPEG

• Provide a name for your custom map.
• Set the Link field to the path of the source JPEG to georeference.
• Set the desired Draw Order. Draw Order is used to determine the order in which maps appear (draw) on your device. Maps with higher numbers are drawn over maps with lower numbers. Maps with a Draw Order of 50 or higher will generally draw over most Garmin maps. See Garmin Map Display Hierarchy.

Georeference the JPEG

• Adjust the transparency slider so the satellite imagery can be seen beneath the JPEG (Does not affect finished KMZ map visibility).

• Move the green marks to adjust the corners, edges, center, or rotation of the JPEG so it matches the satellite imagery beneath the image overlay.
• Adjust transparency as needed while georeferencing the JPEG to the satellite imagery.

• When satisfied with the JPEG alignment, select 'OK'.

Save to Computer

Save Your Custom Map to Your Computer

• Under the 'Places' menu on the left side of the Google Earth window, right click on your custom map and select 'Save Place As...'

• Select the directory you wish to save the Garmin Custom Map to ('KMZ Maps' in this example).
• Save the file in KMZ format.

Save to GPSr

Save Your Custom Map to Your Device

• Connect your Garmin GPSr via USB and enable Mass Storage Mode.
• Under the "Places" menu on the left side of the Google Earth window, right click on your custom map and select 'Save Place As...'

• Open the drive for your GPSr or microSD card and create a new 'Garmin\CustomMaps' directory if not already present.
• Save your custom map in KMZ format to the [Device]\Garmin\CustomMaps\ directory.

Send to GPSr

• You can send Garmin Custom Maps (including KML overlays and KMZ overlay archives) from BaseCamp to supported Garmin devices.
  1. Right-click an overlay in the Library and Devices area.
  2. Click 'Send To', and select the desired device.
  3. Restart the Garmin GPSr and enable/disable Custom Maps as desired in the Map Setup menu.
  4. Custom Maps are displayed on the GPSr Map page:
      

Garmin Custom Map displayed on a Montana 6x0
 

Import Custom Maps

• You can import Garmin Custom Maps (including KML overlays and KMZ overlay archives) directly into BaseCamp.
• You can download Garmin Custom Maps from the Garmin Custom Maps Forum or other websites.
  1. Click 'File > Import'.
  2. Select a supported file type.
  3. Select a file, and click 'Open'.
• To view the overlay, double-click the overlay in the Library and Devices area.

Change Draw Order

• This BaseCamp feature may not be available for all overlays.
• Each Garmin Custom Map can be adjusted to display above or below one another on the map page.
• Images with a higher draw order will overlay images with a lower draw order.
  1. Double-click the desired overlay in the Library and Devices area.
  2. Select the 'Properties' tab.
  3. Adjust the Draw Order slider.