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For venues without a map

Don't have a map? That's fine.

Most venues don't start with a digital map. The good news: getting one made is easier and more affordable than you think. A freelance artist or local designer can turn your venue into a polished map—often in under a week. You bring the map, we make it interactive.

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What TapTheMap needs

One image. That's it.

Your venue map is the centerpiece of the TapTheMap experience. When a visitor taps a sticker or scans a QR code, your map is the first thing they see. You provide the map—we optimize it for mobile and make it interactive. A great map doesn't need to be expensive or complicated.

Format
PNG preferred
JPG acceptable. PDF accepted (we convert).
Dimensions
2400 × 1800 pixels
4:3 landscape. Minimum 2000 × 1500.
File Size
Under 3 MB
5 MB maximum. Must load over cellular.
Style
Bird's-eye layout
Paths, buildings, labels. Not satellite imagery.
Color
RGB, high contrast
Dark text (#333) on light backgrounds for sunlight readability.
Orientation
Landscape
Wider than tall. Phones display maps in a scrollable container.

The 30-second phone test: Open your map on your phone. Can you read the largest zone labels without zooming? At pinch-zoom 200%, are building names crisp? If both answers are yes, your map is ready.

Five ways to get your map

Pick the path that fits your venue

Every venue is different. Some have a printed map they hand out at the gate. Others are starting from scratch. We recommend working with your own graphic artist—you'll own the design, control revisions, and build a relationship for future updates. Here are all your options.

Free · 15 min

Photograph Your Existing Map

If your venue already hands out a paper map, brochure, or trail guide, a clean photograph is often good enough to launch. You can always upgrade later.

  • Lay the map flat under even lighting—no shadows, no glare
  • Photograph straight down, not at an angle
  • Crop tight using your phone's built-in editor
  • iPhone tip: use Notes app document scanner for automatic perspective correction
Free · 2–4 hours

Build It Yourself in Canva

Canva's free plan has everything you need. The result won't be an illustrated masterpiece, but it will be a sharp, professional schematic—think transit map, not theme park brochure.

  • Create a custom design at 2400 × 1800 pixels
  • Upload a satellite screenshot as a tracing guide
  • Use shapes for paths, buildings, and zones
  • Export as PNG—ready to upload

We provide a detailed Canva Build Guide with exact hex colors and element-by-element instructions. Ask your TapTheMap contact for a copy.

$50–$300 · 3–10 days

Hire a Freelancer Online

This is the sweet spot for most venues. Freelance platforms give you access to professional map illustrators at a fraction of agency rates—and you own the finished design outright.

  • Fiverr: Search "illustrated venue map." Level 2 or Top Rated sellers. Starts around $50.
  • Upwork: Post "Illustrated Venue Map for Mobile App." Milestone payments included.
  • 99designs: Run a design contest. Multiple artists submit concepts. $200+.
Copy-paste artist brief

"I need an illustrated bird's-eye venue map for a mobile wayfinding app. Deliverable: PNG at 2400 × 1800 pixels, under 3 MB, RGB, landscape. Style: clean, professional, flat or gently isometric. Think 'illustrated resort map.' I will provide a reference image. If possible, a layered source file (PSD, AI) for future edits—quote separately if extra."

$150–$500 · 1–3 weeks

Hire a Local Graphic Artist

Our top recommendation. A local artist who can visit your venue in person will produce the most accurate, authentic map. They walk the grounds and capture details that reference photos can't convey—and you get a design relationship you can return to for updates.

  • Check your local arts council or creative directory
  • Contact college art departments—advanced students do strong work at competitive rates
  • Ask local print shops for designer referrals
  • Post in community groups on Facebook or Nextdoor

Why local matters: On-the-ground knowledge shows in the finished map—sightlines, how visitors actually move, and the details that make your venue unique. It's also a chance to support your local creative community.

Guided · 1–2 weeks

Need Help Finding an Artist? We'll Connect You

Cost: Facilitation included in Growth & Campus tiers Starter add-on: $300–$500

Not sure where to start? We'll help you find the right artist, gather proposals, and make sure the specs are correct—so the map you receive is phone-ready from the start. You review the proposals, approve the costs, and choose your artist. The map is yours.

Once you have your map, we optimize it for mobile display—adjusting resolution, file size, contrast, and orientation—and upload it to your TapTheMap dashboard.

Artist facilitation is included in Growth ($599 setup) and Campus ($999 setup) tiers. Starter plan clients can add it for $300–$500 depending on venue complexity. All artist and design costs are separate and presented for your approval before any work begins.

At a glance

Which option is right for you?

Option Cost Time Quality Best For
Photo of printed map Free 15 min Functional Venues with an existing paper map
DIY in Canva Free 2–4 hrs Clean schematic Budget-conscious, hands-on operators
Fiverr / Upwork ★ $50–$300 3–10 days Professional Best balance of cost, quality, and speed
Local artist ★ $150–$500 1–3 weeks Custom, venue-specific Best results — you own the design and the relationship
We connect you Facilitation included* 1–2 weeks Artist-produced, phone-optimized Venues who want help finding the right artist

* Artist facilitation included in Growth and Campus tiers. Starter tier: $300–$500 add-on. Artist and design costs are separate and presented for your approval before any work begins.

Ready to go?

What to send us once you have your map

Once your map is ready—however you got it—here's everything we need. We'll optimize it for mobile display and wire up the interactive features. Total setup time on our end: usually same day.

Required

Optional (but recommended)

How to send: Email everything to your TapTheMap contact, or upload to the shared folder we provide during onboarding. Any format is fine—we'll convert and optimize as needed.

Phone-first design

Tips for a map that works on a phone

Your map will be viewed on a 6-inch screen, often outdoors in bright sunlight, by someone who is walking. These tips apply whether you make the map yourself or brief an artist.

☀

High contrast is everything

Dark text (#333333) on light surfaces. White or light neutral backgrounds. Light text on colored backgrounds washes out in sunlight.

🔎

Two viewing states matter

At default zoom, visitors read zone names and see the layout. When they pinch-zoom, building labels and path names become clear and crisp.

✨

Simple beats detailed

A clean map with 15 clear labels beats a busy map with 50 tiny ones. Add detail later using multi-map layers.

Aa

Sans-serif fonts only

Arial, Helvetica, Open Sans, DM Sans. Serif and decorative fonts become unreadable at small sizes on screens.

📱

Test on your own phone

Before sending us the map, open it on your phone. Pinch-zoom to 200%. If labels blur or bleed, the resolution needs work.

↔

Landscape orientation

Maps should be wider than tall. The phone displays them in a scrollable, pannable container—landscape gives visitors the left-to-right scanning they expect.

Your map, your artist, your vision.

The best TapTheMap venues work with their own graphic artist—someone who knows the grounds and can update the map as you grow. You bring the map, we handle everything else: optimization, interactivity, points of interest, and NFC deployment.

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