Guides

How to print a city map in large format: A1, A0 and tiling onto A4

How to print a city map in large format: which file to bring to a print shop for A1 and A0, how to compute the scale, margins and bleed, and how to tile a PDF map onto A4 sheets.

2026-08-08 · 5 min
printingплакатPDFprinting house

Почему слой уезжает на сто метров, хотя система координат в файле записана

Разбор сдвига на 100–150 метров при открытии чужого слоя: параметры перехода в .prj, привязка растра в .pgw/.tfw и что делать, когда координаты есть, а системы нет.

2026-08-06 · 5 min
система координатprjпривязкарастр

Vector maps — what they are in plain words and where to download them

Vector maps explained in plain words: how vector differs from a picture using a map as the example, which vector formats exist (SVG, PDF, DXF, GeoJSON, SHP) and what each of them is for.

2026-07-30 · 4 min
vectorновичкамSVGформаты

MSK coordinate systems: what they are, zones and how to find yours

What Russian local MSK coordinate systems are, where zones come from, how to find your zone by region and longitude, and why MSK does not match WGS84. Honest about cadastre and how to download data in a suitable projection.

2026-07-25 · 4 min
MSKкоординатызоныГаусс-Крюгер

WGS 84, EPSG:4326 and EPSG:3857 — which coordinate system you need

How WGS 84, EPSG:4326 and EPSG:3857 differ in plain words: datum, degrees and web mercator. Why the map drifts and when meters matter more than degrees. Plus — a choice of 165 coordinate systems on export.

2026-07-25 · 3 min
WGS84EPSG43263857

How to download a map from OpenStreetMap: all the ways

All working ways to download a map from OpenStreetMap: export from osm.org, the Overpass API, Geofabrik and planet.osm, the QuickOSM plugin — honestly about each one's limits. Plus — ready export in 124 formats and a REST API.

2026-07-24 · 4 min
OpenStreetMapOSMOverpassGeofabrik

SRTM/HGT elevation for QGIS without USGS: download by coordinates, make a GeoTIFF

Will USGS give you a GeoTIFF for QGIS? Yes — but only after signing up, and SRTM stops at 60°N. How to get elevation for the area you need, by coordinates and without an account — HGT tiles from the global Copernicus GLO-30 DEM — and turn them into a GeoTIFF right in QGIS.

2026-07-23 · 4 min
SRTMHGTGeoTIFFDEM

OSM maps for Navitel — and what to download for Garmin, OsmAnd, TomTom

Need OSM maps for Navitel? Honestly: we don't produce the native .nm7, but Navitel imports GPX — we show the steps. Plus native formats for Garmin (IMG), OsmAnd (OBF), TomTom (OV2) and Lowrance chartplotters.

2026-07-22 · 3 min
navigationGarminOsmAndTomTom

How to load a map into QGIS: 3 ways (a ready GeoPackage is the fastest)

Can't load an OSM map into QGIS? Three working ways: a ready GeoPackage in seconds, the QuickOSM plugin, and a PBF from Geofabrik — honestly, with the pros and cons of each.

2026-07-19 · 3 min
QGISOSMGeoPackagePBF

How to Add an OpenStreetMap Underlay to a DWG Drawing (AutoCAD)

Practical guide: export an OpenStreetMap area to DWG and add it as an underlay in AutoCAD via XREF, with scale and layers. Plus a raster underlay option (PNG/GeoTIFF).

2026-07-17 · 3 min
OSMAutoCADDWGподложка

Cadastral Coordinate Conversion: MSK, SK-63 and WGS84 Explained

Why Russian cadastre uses local coordinate systems (MSK, SK-63), how they differ from WGS84, the X/Y axis confusion, and how to get consistent plot geometry.

2026-07-17 · 5 min
cadastreкоординатыMSKСК-63

How to Open a Land Plot Boundary in AutoCAD by Cadastral Number (DWG/DXF)

Practical guide: get a land plot outline by cadastral number and open it in AutoCAD, nanoCAD or BricsCAD. Pitfalls covered: X/Y axes, local CRS, scale, layers.

2026-07-16 · 4 min
cadastreAutoCADDWGDXF