Blog Β· August 05, 2026 Β· 6 min read
From aerial photo to finished map in an afternoon
A step-by-step account of mapping a 4 hectare family campsite using nothing but an aerial photo and the editor.
Get the photo
Most national mapping agencies and municipalities publish orthophotos you may use. Export the area of your site at the highest resolution available and note the real width of the area in meters; you will need it for the canvas size.
Trace
Create a new campsite with the real width and height. Upload the photo as a trace background and lower its opacity. Paint the terrain first: grass everywhere, then sand, water and wood decks. Draw the roads as paths with the right surface and width; junctions merge automatically.
Now the pitches. Place one, set its size, then duplicate along the row with Alt-drag. Smart guides snap edges and centers so rows stay straight.
Details and sharing
Add the sanitary blocks, reception, playground and the trees that matter for shade. Hide the photo, export a PNG for print and share the read-only link. The whole exercise took just under four hours for a site with 180 pitches.