Wikipedia:Graphics Lab/Map workshop/Archive/Dec 2009
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Okinawa Prefecture

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Looks like the inset is the part of the main map that is cut off
Article(s): Okinawa Prefecture
Request: this help desk post points out an issue someone here may be able to fix.
The inset of the map has a colored section, presumably the entire Okinawa Prefecture, but the main portion of the map isn't a larger version of the colored section, it is the main part of Japan. This doesn't match what I would assume to be standard convention for insets and color-coding. Could someone take a look at this and improve the presentation? Wouldn't you normally do this the other way around? Have an inset of all of Japan, with the Okinawa Prefecture highlighted, then the main part of the map showing a larger version of the Prefecture? SPhilbrickT 12:30, 1 October 2009 (UTC)
- This is a map of Japan. The inset shows the Ryukyu Islands, a chain of islands between Japan and Taiwan. The pink area is Okinawa Prefecture. The largest pink island is Okinawa Island.
- Most maps of Japan show the Ryuku islands as an inset, because of scale issues; the islands are about half-way between mainland Japan and Taiwan.
- Our convention regarding prefectures is to show our standard map of Japan, with the prefecture highlighted in pink.

- The uppermost islands in the inset are not pink, because they fall within the Kagoshima Prefecture - and if you compare the map of that prefecture (shown here), it should make more sense.
- Please note that there may be confusion here, because;
- Okinawa Prefecture is a governmental region, consisting of hundreds of islands.
- Okinawa Island is the largest, most populated island.
- As an aside, Okinawa has a culture and heritage of its own, quite distinct from mainland Japan. It has lots of Americans (large military base), great SCUBA diving, and the best beef in the world.[Chzz 1] Chzz ► 17:15, 1 October 2009 (UTC)
- ^ According to user:chzz, a wholly biased and unreliable source
- I note that the convention for Alaskan Islands is different, viz Amatignak Island (pictured), , Amaknak Island, Unalaska, Alaska. That convention seems less confusing. Why one convention for islands, and another convention for prefecture?--SPhilbrickT 20:01, 1 October 2009 (UTC)Location in Alaska
- That isn't an islands vs. prefecture difference in conventions it's a Japan vs Alaska difference in conventions. Japanese islands are usually in insets just like the prefecture is. Kmusser (talk) 20:25, 1 October 2009 (UTC)
- I note that the convention for Alaskan Islands is different, viz Amatignak Island (pictured),
Graphist opinion(s):
Map of Gulf of Mexico and surrounding areas

Article(s): Tiber oilfield
Request: I'm writing an article on the new Tiber oilfield in the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf has a wide range of oilfields and reservoirs, and I'd like to have a map showing the Gulf and surrounding land areas, and the locations of the major fields and features. Maybe I'll do an article oilfields of the Gulf of Mexico some time, if it doesn't exist.
Problem is there isn't a good base map to work from. The graphic needs to be ~ 1000 wide or so, to accommodate the annotations that might exist. It needs to show state and national boundaries, the 5 - 10 most major US cities, and ideally very basic landscape type, and cover the entire Gulf and Florida, and also a considerable part of the continental land and Atlantic area on all 4 sides. Any coloring needs to be light greyscale or pastel, suitable for symbols and text to be written over it.
At a pinch, I can annotate it myself (crudely). Any chance of help? I'm not sure what information to provide. Thanks! FT2 (Talk | email) 22:29, 2 September 2009 (UTC)
Graphist opinion(s): File:Gulf_Coast_Platforms.jpg may be useful, though I realise it is too localised and bright for this purpose. Certes (talk) 22:45, 2 September 2009 (UTC)
- I looked; it doesn't cover the entire area of the gulf, is too bright, and has existing annotations. FT2 (Talk | email) 23:05, 2 September 2009 (UTC)
How about ? If you want lighter colouring, that can be done; I also did not include national borders yet, assuming the audience to be a bit familiar with the area. (As a cartographer, it annoys me a bit that I can't include a scale bar - if anyone has recommendations for this issue, I'd be most happy!) Classical geographer (talk) 21:29, 4 October 2009 (UTC)