Buffer Art Using a Value

1. Create a new Adobe Illustrator document.

2. Import burlroads.mif from the Tutorial Data folder and assign NAD83 / UTM zone 17N as the source coordinate system. Navigate to the location, Projected > UTM > NAD83 to find the coordinate definition (Specify a Source Coordinate System After Import).

3. Select a few lines to be buffered.

4. On the MAPublisher toolbar, click the Buffer Art button or choose Object > MAPublisher > Buffer Art.

5. In the Buffer Art dialogue box, click the Only buffer selected art check box. Under the Buffer Width section, choose the Static Value option, in the Units drop-down list choose Meter and type 25 into the adjacent box. Under the Destination section, choose the New Layer option and type Road Buffers into the box. Under the Options section, click the Apply style check box and choose a fill colour.

A static value of 25 meters represents a buffer value of 25 meters on either side of the selected roads.

6. Click OK to apply the buffer art settings.

The lines that were selected for buffering now have a buffer around them on a layer called Line Buffers. The buffered lines were styled according to the fill colour options set. Like any other object in Adobe Illustrator, they can be styled separately. As with most buffers, it's best to make them stand out from the features above them.

Alternatively, a Graphic Style can be chosen in the Buffer Art dialogue box so that a style is automatically applied to the newly created buffer. To do this, on the Buffer Art dialogue box, under Options, click the toggle to switch to Graphic Style mode and choose a style.

7. Close the document without saving.

Want to follow along to this tutorial?

Please see our corresponding YouTube videos for the various MAPublisher tutorials covered in our online documentation!*

* Providing a general overview of the steps covered in this tutorial, our Buffer Art Using a Value video tutorial will walk you through the buffering art process in MAPublisher.