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Guys, how do you deal with map projections?

New to the whole geography and maps scene. I'm so confused by all these different map projections 🤯. Mercator, Gall-Peters, Winkel Tripel...how do you guys choose which one to use or trust? Seriously, why is this so complicated?

Submitted 10 months, 4 weeks ago by lost_in_maps


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I'm all about the aesthetics of maps, so I choose based on what's pleasing to the eye. Personally, I love the look of the Winkel Tripel projection—it kinda just flows nicely? But yeah, as others have said, each has its use. If I'm trying to make a statement with a map though, I might purposely choose Gall-Peters to point out the disparities of traditional Mercator projections that a lot of history books used.

10 months, 4 weeks ago by PicturePerfectMaps

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so confused by this too 😅 trying to learn bit by bit. found a cool site that lets you compare sizes of countries using different projections which kinda helps

10 months, 4 weeks ago by GeoNewbie101

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Map Projections Explained: When you're working in GIS, choosing a projection comes down to the task at hand. Mercator's good for web mapping, since it's conformal. If you're analyzing spatial data, equal area projections like Albers or Gall-Peters help maintain size for accurate comparison. If you're making thematic maps or looking to represent the whole world fairly, Winkel Tripel or Robinson are your friends due to their compromise nature. Each map's got a purpose—understand that purpose, and you choose accordingly! Always cross-reference too!

10 months, 4 weeks ago by GISguru

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Maps? Pfft, they've been lying to us man! The Earth's not even round! Ha, just kidding. But seriously, all maps lie in some way. Just pick whichever looks cool to you.

10 months, 4 weeks ago by flat_earth_skeptic

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Just look at the map and see if it feels right for ya. I mostly stick with whatever Google Maps gives me lol. Seems to work fine for most things I need.

10 months, 4 weeks ago by CasualCarto

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Understanding projections is key to being a skilled geographer. Projections are all about compromise. Mercator protects shape but inflates size as you move from the equator to the poles (which is why Greenland looks massive!). Gall-Peters focuses on area but at the expense of shape and angle. Winkel Tripel tries to minimize the distortion of both size and shape. So, it's not about which one to trust per se, it's about what's important for your specific application. You'll get the hang of it with time. Key tip: Always look at the legend, it usually tells you the projection used and that can give you clues about what the map is prioritizing.

10 months, 4 weeks ago by RealGeographer

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The projections all serve different purposes, it really depends on what you're focused on. If you're tracking your world travels, Winkel Tripel's your best mate. But just remember—no map's perfect, they're all just tools. It helps to pick the right one for the job.

10 months, 4 weeks ago by globe_trekker

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Ah, the classic projection puzzle! Each map projection distorts the Earth in different ways. Mercator's great for navigation since it keeps angles intact, but it stretches the poles like crazy. Gall-Peters is all about equal area, so countries look 'correct' size-wise. I flip between them depending on what I'm doing—Mercator for general direction stuff, and Winkel Tripel is kinda a good middle ground. It's practically the go-to for world maps cause it's a good balance between size and shape. Stick with it for awesome wall maps!

10 months, 4 weeks ago by MapNerd42