AI-ASSISTED · EDITOR-REVIEWED
Theme brief
An analogue map can be observed, remembered, measured or imagined. Limit the materials, let imperfections record the making process, and photograph or scan the result without erasing the texture that distinguishes it from a digital graphic.
Official prompt“Time to wrap up the challenge by closing your laptop for a while and going back to basics. Do an analogue map with pen and paper.”
30DayMapChallenge 2026
WAYS IN
Four map ideas
- 01
Draw a memory map before checking any reference.
- 02
Map a short walk with only five symbols and one pen.
- 03
Invite another person to annotate the same paper map.
- 04
Print a field sheet, draw observations outside, then scan the marks.
IN THE DIRECTORY
Recommended tools
OpenStreetMap
Provides a legal, editable reference base when attribution is retained.
Free · View detailsQGIS
Prepares a sparse printable base and can georeference the finished drawing later.
Open source · View detailsMapTiler
Places a scanned hand-drawn map back into geographic space and serves it online.
Freemium · View detailsFelt
Useful for sharing the scan with a small amount of digital context.
Freemium · View detailsSTART WITH A CLEAR LICENSE
Data sources
Printable atlas pages designed for drawing and field notes.
OpenStreetMap attribution required for base data OpenStreetMap base dataFollow the tile provider policy as well as the database attribution rules.
ODbL 1.0 · attribution required Memory and field observationA source can be experiential; describe what was remembered versus observed.
Your original workLicenses are a planning aid, not legal advice. Check the source record and version you actually download; terms can vary within a catalog.
BEFORE YOU EXPORT
Cartography check
Put the pen down before the page feels finished. Empty space and visible corrections are part of the analogue language.
COMMUNITY MAPS
Selected work
First participate officially by posting publicly with #30DayMapChallenge. You can then suggest that original post for our independent MapTools picks. We link to the source, credit every author and use images only with permission.
Suggest for MapTools picks