Custom Maps
Free App
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About Custom Maps
Custom Maps makes it easy to create GPS maps from map images, and those maps can be used anywhere, even when you have no data signal for your Android device (it works on both phones and tablets).
Custom Maps can use photos of paper maps or brochures, and pictures of maps posted at trailheads or at the entrances to amusement parks. It can also use .jpeg or .png images downloaded from the internet and screenshots of PDF maps.
All you have to do is choose two (or more) matching points that are common to both the map image and Google Maps, and Custom Maps can then show your GPS location on the map. Data connection is required at the time the map is calibrated (created).
As the map images are stored on the phone, Custom Maps works offline without data signal. This is useful if you go hiking in national or state parks, and it can help you avoid international roaming charges abroad.
Custom Maps can use almost any map image, including photos, as GPS maps so it can be a helpful map application when visiting zoos and amusement parks which typically post large maps of the park layout at the entrance of the park. Just take a photo of the posted map, line it up with Google Maps, and you can see your location on the map photo wherever you are in the park.
Custom Maps can show the distance from your current location to a point on the map, so it can give you an idea how far different points are. This is especially useful for golfers who could create their own GPS maps for golf courses they play.
Custom Maps uses simple image files for maps so you can add your own markup on the maps in a graphics tool (not included in Custom Maps) or draw entirely your own maps. Created maps can be shared using email from the app itself, or by hosting the map on a web server and posting QR codes for others to scan to trigger downloading of those maps.
Custom Maps supports displaying placemarks on the map (starting in version 1.3.0). Placemark editing is not supported in Custom Maps itself (will be supported in a future version), but placemarks can be added in Google Earth. To add placemarks to a map, copy the kmz map file from phone to desktop computer, and open it with Google Earth. Create a folder in Google Earth containing the map overlay and add placemarks to the same folder. Then export the folder from Google Earth as kmz file, and copy back to phone.
NOTE: Custom Maps app does not come with any maps included. The help menu for the map listing contains a link to www.custommapsapp.com website where you can download some sample maps to try. However, the best way to try Custom Maps is to take a photo of a paper map (or of an online map displayed on your computer screen) or download a map image from the web to your device, and then use Custom Maps to create a GPS enabled map from it.
NOTE: On some devices, newly created maps don't show up in map list until the user returns back to map list from normal map display or after exiting and restarting the app. This seems to be an issue only with very few Android versions on specific devices, in most versions newly created maps show up immediately after they are created.
NOTE: You can sign up to be a beta tester for Custom Maps at https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.custommapsapp.android. Same page allows you also to leave beta testing. If you try out the beta version of the app, please send an email to custom-maps-users@googlegroups.com telling me what device and OS version you tried it on, and whether the beta version worked for you.
You can find more information about Custom Maps at the application web site http://www.custommapsapp.com/.
Custom Maps is an open source project. Its source code can be found at https://github.com/markoteittinen/custom-maps
Custom Maps can use photos of paper maps or brochures, and pictures of maps posted at trailheads or at the entrances to amusement parks. It can also use .jpeg or .png images downloaded from the internet and screenshots of PDF maps.
All you have to do is choose two (or more) matching points that are common to both the map image and Google Maps, and Custom Maps can then show your GPS location on the map. Data connection is required at the time the map is calibrated (created).
As the map images are stored on the phone, Custom Maps works offline without data signal. This is useful if you go hiking in national or state parks, and it can help you avoid international roaming charges abroad.
Custom Maps can use almost any map image, including photos, as GPS maps so it can be a helpful map application when visiting zoos and amusement parks which typically post large maps of the park layout at the entrance of the park. Just take a photo of the posted map, line it up with Google Maps, and you can see your location on the map photo wherever you are in the park.
Custom Maps can show the distance from your current location to a point on the map, so it can give you an idea how far different points are. This is especially useful for golfers who could create their own GPS maps for golf courses they play.
Custom Maps uses simple image files for maps so you can add your own markup on the maps in a graphics tool (not included in Custom Maps) or draw entirely your own maps. Created maps can be shared using email from the app itself, or by hosting the map on a web server and posting QR codes for others to scan to trigger downloading of those maps.
Custom Maps supports displaying placemarks on the map (starting in version 1.3.0). Placemark editing is not supported in Custom Maps itself (will be supported in a future version), but placemarks can be added in Google Earth. To add placemarks to a map, copy the kmz map file from phone to desktop computer, and open it with Google Earth. Create a folder in Google Earth containing the map overlay and add placemarks to the same folder. Then export the folder from Google Earth as kmz file, and copy back to phone.
NOTE: Custom Maps app does not come with any maps included. The help menu for the map listing contains a link to www.custommapsapp.com website where you can download some sample maps to try. However, the best way to try Custom Maps is to take a photo of a paper map (or of an online map displayed on your computer screen) or download a map image from the web to your device, and then use Custom Maps to create a GPS enabled map from it.
NOTE: On some devices, newly created maps don't show up in map list until the user returns back to map list from normal map display or after exiting and restarting the app. This seems to be an issue only with very few Android versions on specific devices, in most versions newly created maps show up immediately after they are created.
NOTE: You can sign up to be a beta tester for Custom Maps at https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.custommapsapp.android. Same page allows you also to leave beta testing. If you try out the beta version of the app, please send an email to custom-maps-users@googlegroups.com telling me what device and OS version you tried it on, and whether the beta version worked for you.
You can find more information about Custom Maps at the application web site http://www.custommapsapp.com/.
Custom Maps is an open source project. Its source code can be found at https://github.com/markoteittinen/custom-maps
All Application Badges
Free
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Android
1.6+
1.6+
Bug
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Android app
App History & Updates
What's Changed
1.4
- Fixes crashes on LG devices on Android 5.x and Motorola devices on 6.0
- Adds preference to select software rendering (recommended) or GPU rendering
- Adds preference to select 16-bit color mode (recommended) or 32-bit color mode
- GPU rendering is needed on LG devices running Android 5.x to avoid crashes
- 32-bit color mode is needed on Motorola devices running Android 6.0 to avoid crashes
- Both options limit maximum map image size
- Known issue: Missing translations for new features
1.4
- Fixes crashes on LG devices on Android 5.x and Motorola devices on 6.0
- Adds preference to select software rendering (recommended) or GPU rendering
- Adds preference to select 16-bit color mode (recommended) or 32-bit color mode
- GPU rendering is needed on LG devices running Android 5.x to avoid crashes
- 32-bit color mode is needed on Motorola devices running Android 6.0 to avoid crashes
- Both options limit maximum map image size
- Known issue: Missing translations for new features
Version update Custom Maps was updated to version 1.4
Version update Custom Maps was updated to version 1.3.11
More downloads Custom Maps reached 100 000 - 500 000 downloads
More downloads Custom Maps reached 50 000 - 100 000 downloads
What are users saying about Custom Maps
E
by E####:
by E####:
If I could add waypoints this would be 5 star.
O
by O####:
by O####:
I like this aplication...
U
by U####:
by U####:
Easy. 2. Use .
D
by D####:
by D####:
This is a great app that I have found very useful when walking around the great outdoors. Absolutely any JPG can be used as a map. Free maps, OS maps, photos, screenshots, etc.
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
Don't bother.
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
A great app
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
So useful.
Y
by Y####:
by Y####:
The only feature request would be to be able to have transparency through the old map to see the modern maps after saving. That would make it easier find where I am while in the field. Still better than anything else I've tried.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Need to allow the transparency of the gps and custom map to merge when finalized. Helps to self locate/orient yourself with terrain features not on your hand drawn map.
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
I haven't use this app for some times. When I tried to open an old added map to view today, the app didn't show the jpg map. This happens to some old added maps but not all. Strange!
J
by J####:
by J####:
By sdcard alias it shows internal memory. Real sd card is not accessible. Please research at stackoferflow. 'Sdcard' is not universal alias for sd card.
J
by J####:
by J####:
I love this app - works just great! I have used it with scans of paper maps (saved as .jpg images) as well as photos taken with my phone camera, and they work fantastic! You may need to adjust the points for accuracy when you first use an image, but there is no similar function in any app that I know of. Email ('share') the Geo-referenced map (image) to a regular computer user, and the KML file opens in Google Earth - in the correct position and scale! I also use exported images of mapping info and tracks from QGIS, but that's another story. Now if this was only also available for IPhone. Kudos to the author!
O
by O####:
by O####:
Can you provide the ability to add marks or draw on the maps?
F
by F####:
by F####:
Love it, could be improved by having the ability of transparency with google maps once its saved
N
by N####:
by N####:
No complaints, but do WISH it could support significantly larger(40mb) images without resolution loss.
M
by M####:
by M####:
A very simple app that lets you use any image file for navigation. I had some initial issues with crashing, but an update fixed it up nicely.
M
by M####:
by M####:
This is an awesome app! I use it to look at a map of the river my boat is on which lets me see information about where i can get water from etc. without having to look through a book to find where i am! There is one thing that would make this app perfect for me, and that is the ability for placemarks to show the text you set in their name and description boxes. I dont know if im doing something wrong, but when i put a placemark with a title and a description, all i get on my phone is the little pin. What would be perfect is if the title appeared over the pin and then when you tap it, the description appears
S
by S####:
by S####:
Was going to write an app to allow photos of maps to be used with your location. Turns out someone has already written one and it's very good.
A
by A####:
by A####:
Went hiking with a friend and using this app and a downloaded raster software map we knew exactly where we were and which path to take. I won't ever leave without this and a good detailed raster map of where I'm hiking.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Works very well.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Very useful tool!
F
by F####:
by F####:
Great.
E
by E####:
by E####:
Accurate custom map. It's awesome.
M
by M####:
by M####:
in the map adjustmept preview mode there is opacity control over the casual google map, but when i want to use the map I'd like the opacity feature too. Thats because the map i have taken has only extremely detailed road map, but without town names that are present on casual google map. Please allow transparency/opacity
M
by M####:
by M####:
Upload a image, choose a few tie points which relates the image to actual coordinates via google maps (internet required). preview, then save. now you have a map app that can indicate where you are with GPS, with the image you had
M
by M####:
by M####:
First, it wouldnt load a Bitmap image. Duh. Thats the easiest type of image to load. No work. Then, i get my blank map loaded and aligned, but i cant find any way to mark my roads, trails, and points of interest! I walk up and down the driveway, but it records no track. The app basically does nothing, from my point of view. Theres no way to create a custom map! Only load one that already exists..... Did I miss something?? Ok, I see how this could be useful in some instances, but it's not what I need. The title, 'Custom Maps', does not really fit the app. I just want to map my farm! I am not alone in this, and an app to do so appears to be hard to locate. Road. Fenceline. Groundhog hole. Area seeded with clover....
M
by M####:
by M####:
Can you provide the ability to add makers (place mark) on the created maps?
D
by D####:
by D####:
What an interesting idea, and so fun and easy to use. Great for keeping track of where I am when hiking.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Not a lot of bells and whistles but it works. Taking a picture of the map at a trailhead and calibrating it is simple. Tried lots of other ways to calibrate maps and couldn't find anything that works as well as this and it's so easy. I wish it would be to be able to export the map into something that backcountry navigator could use but that's more of a limitation of BCN. I was able to open it with google earth. If a paid version came out with export options I'd buy it.
M
by M####:
by M####:
With this App you can take Google map images offline for treks
E
by E####:
by E####:
This app does exactly what I wanted. Using a jpg of an old orienteering map I was able to match it perfectly to google maps and navigate. Perfect!
M
by M####:
by M####:
If you're good with the concept - and can deal with loading the map image you want on your device and orienting it by clicking on two points on Google maps - this app delivers the goods.
Z
by Z####:
by Z####:
Nice little app! I have shown this to so many people and they are all impressed with what can be done. Could I request a development where you can add waymarks and tracks to the overlay map that can be downloaded..... (don't ask don't get :)
F
by F####:
by F####:
Appears to be exactly what I'm looking for but can't use, it hangs. No google map search or ch ordination entry, so one zooms around a Google map looking for a match point. Problem is after a dozen zooms and moves the whole thing freezes.im on a note 4
K
by K####:
by K####:
I've georeferenced maps from my PC, but couldn't imagine doing it on a phone (a Galaxy S4 in my case) until I tried Custom Maps: quickly producing a map of a botanical garden from onliine, as well as a hiking map based on the one I photographed at the trailhead. That Custom Maps works so well is a testament to Marko Teittinen's great design sense, plus the ability to make use of Google Maps and imagery in establishing tie-points. Like other users, I'd also like to see a simple track function and waypoints. But Custom Maps does exactly what it says it does--extremely well.
K
by K####:
by K####:
Photograph a old map and overlay it the modern map works great. In map edit you can fade between the layers which is great would it be possible to have this option when on the main screen please,
H
by H####:
by H####:
Great app! I've been looking for something like this for 6 months. Does a simple thing in a straightforward way. I just wish I'd found it sooner. Could have saved a lot of time and effort. Going to have fun with it exploring old ski and hiking trails that aren't on modern maps. It works just like you think it should. Edit: I just wish Marko could find the time to add pdf file import.
K
by K####:
by K####:
This is an excellent app that I use often when I go hiking/biking. I take a picture of a topographic map, but then the annoyance begins. Instead of just entering the coordinates which I have on the topo-map as tiepoints (which would have taken 10 seconds, and would have been much more accurate) I have to tie between features on google maps and the topo-map. And what if I want a zoom-up of a specific part of the map in the middle of nowhere, where there are no roads, and therefore nothing on google maps I can use as a waypoint?!
K
by K####:
by K####:
Simple to use and works beautifully. Wish it had a few more features, so you could stitch together multiple maps. But it's the best app that I have found.
by Q####:
make it to accept pdf maps