3 ms·

I'd suggest not using Google Maps' color scheme. Try printing out one of their maps on a monochrome printer, and you'll see what I mean: The colour shades, gre

I'd suggest not using Google Maps' color scheme. Try printing out one of their maps on a monochrome printer, and you'll see what I mean: The colour shades, grey boundaries for roads and natural features, and the road names all have virtually the same contrast. So they all print as nearly the same illegible light grey.

viklove 6y ago
Probably not a consideration for the vast majority of use cases. Honestly, why would you ever want to print out a screenshot of Google Maps? I remember my parents doing it back in the days of MapQuest before smartphones, but I can't think of any reason to do something so wasteful today.
- KineticLensman 6y ago
  > Honestly, why would you ever want to print out a screenshot of Google Maps? Agree, but stevesimmons's point still stands - Google's map colour scheme is not a good role model.
- hutzlibu 6y ago
  "Honestly, why would you ever want to print out a screenshot of Google Maps?" Long traveling/hiking. To save smartphone batterie to have something on your table, your hiking group can easier talk about, than by watching it on someones screen
- stevesimmons 6y ago
  I want to do it suprisingly often. * When running/cycling somewhere unfamiliar: My phone will be safe in my backpack. In my hands I want a map I can stuff in a pocket, not worry if it gets wet or rained on, that I can hold while gripping the handlebars, that I can use while wearing gloves, and write other notes on, etc. I could print in color on my inkjet printer, but the ink runs in the rain. A printout from my mono laser won't run, but Google Maps isn't legible then either. * On occasions when you don't want to bring a phone: What actually prompted my original comment was yesterday I had a government language exam, in an unfamiliar location on the outskirts of town, with strict instructions that no phones or other personal possessions were allowed in... I wasn't sure what kind of lockers they would have, or whether they would need padlocks or coins (neither of which I had) or whatever. So I thought about printing out a map and leaving my phone at home. The weather forecast was for rain, and I planned on cycling, hence it made sense to laser-print rather than use my inkjet.
- eyelidlessness 6y ago
  1. I’m driving to [anywhere in the vast majority of the country where I don’t have cell signal on my LTE phone subscribed to T-Mobile, or Sprint, or more importantly more low end pay as you go plans. 2. I have some kind of color blindness and it doesn’t matter whether I use a printer, I’m depending on contrast.
Gravityloss 6y ago
It has very low contrast so it's really hard to use for anything. You can't tell river from forest from residential area. It's all basically some light almost-grey. Regular street maps and topographical maps are way better.

viklove 6y ago

Probably not a consideration for the vast majority of use cases. Honestly, why would you ever want to print out a screenshot of Google Maps? I remember my parents doing it back in the days of MapQuest before smartphones, but I can't think of any reason to do something so wasteful today.

KineticLensman 6y ago
> Honestly, why would you ever want to print out a screenshot of Google Maps? Agree, but stevesimmons's point still stands - Google's map colour scheme is not a good role model.
hutzlibu 6y ago
"Honestly, why would you ever want to print out a screenshot of Google Maps?" Long traveling/hiking. To save smartphone batterie to have something on your table, your hiking group can easier talk about, than by watching it on someones screen
stevesimmons 6y ago
I want to do it suprisingly often. * When running/cycling somewhere unfamiliar: My phone will be safe in my backpack. In my hands I want a map I can stuff in a pocket, not worry if it gets wet or rained on, that I can hold while gripping the handlebars, that I can use while wearing gloves, and write other notes on, etc. I could print in color on my inkjet printer, but the ink runs in the rain. A printout from my mono laser won't run, but Google Maps isn't legible then either. * On occasions when you don't want to bring a phone: What actually prompted my original comment was yesterday I had a government language exam, in an unfamiliar location on the outskirts of town, with strict instructions that no phones or other personal possessions were allowed in... I wasn't sure what kind of lockers they would have, or whether they would need padlocks or coins (neither of which I had) or whatever. So I thought about printing out a map and leaving my phone at home. The weather forecast was for rain, and I planned on cycling, hence it made sense to laser-print rather than use my inkjet.
eyelidlessness 6y ago
1. I’m driving to [anywhere in the vast majority of the country where I don’t have cell signal on my LTE phone subscribed to T-Mobile, or Sprint, or more importantly more low end pay as you go plans. 2. I have some kind of color blindness and it doesn’t matter whether I use a printer, I’m depending on contrast.

Gravityloss 6y ago

It has very low contrast so it's really hard to use for anything. You can't tell river from forest from residential area. It's all basically some light almost-grey. Regular street maps and topographical maps are way better.