World map maker tutorial
How to make a custom world or continent map
Color countries, compare groups and create a presentation-ready map without GIS software. Paste a list or choose exact names, build a synchronized legend, adjust the permanent frame and download PNG, WebP or SVG.
Create a custom map in four steps
- Color countries. Paste the complete membership of a color group or select exact names with the shared country matcher. Applying an edited list also removes countries deleted from it.
- Build the legend. Add, rename and reorder groups, then let Auto place the legend without shrinking the map or choose its position, layout and background.
- Customize the map. Add flexible titles and source watermarks, choose a projection and permanent world, continent or region frame, then tune labels and colors.
- Export or continue later. Download a portable image, save an editable project, copy an editing link, or reset the complete editor to its clean defaults.
Three accessible ways to color countries
Every input method updates the same assignments and legend. The text matcher understands modern and former English names, common aliases, accents, and ISO alpha-2 or alpha-3 codes. Canonical ISO codes take priority over inherited map-unit codes, and an ambiguous term is never assigned silently.
Paste a complete list
Use one country per line, commas or semicolons. Uncertain values are reported and never colored automatically.
Use the country picker
Search the same aliases and codes, select several countries or territories, and add them to a color group.
Use the map
Click or tap a country, or reach it by keyboard and press Enter or Space. Select it again to remove its color.
Inspect small places
Temporary preview zoom is available only in Step 1 and resets automatically. It never changes the finished frame or export. If a finished frame omits a colored country, the editor names it and asks for confirmation before export.
Design for slides, websites and reports
Frame the story
Choose the world, colored countries, a continent or a built-in region. Closeness and position are saved and applied to landscape and square exports without stretching geography.
Keep labels readable
Show colored names or all readable names. The map uses collision avoidance, adaptive contrast and callouts for small areas.
Use bounded text
Titles, subtitles, sources and legend entries wrap inside measured information blocks. Auto placement protects the map; a warning appears when text or a manual position cannot fit cleanly.
Choose a format
Use PNG for broad compatibility, WebP for modern websites, SVG for scalable graphics, and project JSON for later editing. Export in landscape 16:9 or an exact 1080 × 1080 square.
Coverage, boundaries, privacy and browser support
Coverage: The selector provides 254 country and territory geometries by combining Natural Earth 5.1.1 Admin 0 Countries at 1:50 million with restored standard territories from Admin 0 Map Units at 1:10 million.
Boundary source: Natural Earth describes these generalized boundaries as primarily de facto. They are suitable for illustration, not legal, cadastral, navigation, diplomatic or survey use. Natural Earth downloads.
Privacy: Matching, autosave, imports and exports run in the browser. When the site permits local autosave, it starts on and can be turned off or cleared under Export. Editing links put compressed project data after the URL hash. Page scripts and other same-origin code can read that fragment, and anyone who receives the link can read its map setup.
Browser support: Use a current Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. If a browser cannot create PNG or WebP, SVG remains available.
Map Maker FAQ
Is the GeographyPin Map Maker free?
Yes. You can color countries, create a legend, customize the design and export a map without an account or paid design software.
Can I create both world maps and continent maps?
Yes. Keep the world frame, focus on a continent or built-in region, or frame only the colored countries. You can adjust closeness and position for the export. If a colored country falls outside the finished frame, the editor names it, corrects visible counts and asks you to confirm before exporting.
How should I separate country names in a pasted list?
Use one country per line, commas or semicolons. The shared matcher recognizes modern and former names, aliases, accents, ISO alpha-2 codes and ISO alpha-3 codes. An uncertain name is never colored automatically.
Can I use several colors on one map?
Yes. Add up to ten groups with separate colors and legend labels. A country belongs to one group at a time, so reassigning it moves it cleanly.
Can I choose countries without typing their names?
Yes. Use the searchable picker or operate the map directly with a pointer or keyboard.
Can I show country names without cluttering the map?
Yes. Choose hidden names, colored-country labels or all readable labels. The map prioritizes useful names, adapts contrast, uses callouts for small areas and omits lower-priority labels when space is crowded.
How do I clear the map and start over?
Use Reset beside Undo and Redo or under Export. After confirmation it clears countries, groups, text, design settings, preview zoom, history, autosave and editing-link data.
Which map formats can I download?
Export landscape 16:9 PNG, WebP or portable-font SVG at 1200 × 675, 1920 × 1080 or 2400 × 1350. You can also export an exact 1080 × 1080 square in every format. SVG remains scalable and uses the matching viewBox.
Can I save the map and edit it later?
Yes. Download a validated JSON project, use browser-local autosave, or copy an editing link whose project data is stored in the URL fragment. When the site permits autosave it starts on, and you can turn it off or clear its saved copy under Export.
Who can read an editing link?
Matching, autosave, import and export run in the browser. An editing link contains project data in its fragment. Page scripts, other same-origin code and anyone who receives the link can read that setup.
What coverage and boundaries does the map use?
The selector has 254 Natural Earth 5.1.1 country and territory geometries, combining 1:50 million Countries with restored standard territories from 1:10 million Map Units. Boundaries are generalized, primarily de facto and for illustration only.
What should I do if the Map Maker does not load?
Enable JavaScript and use a current Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. If PNG or WebP is unavailable, choose SVG or another supported browser.
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