Trace a map you already have

Drew a map on paper, or have one in a drawing program? Put it under the editor's map and trace over it.

Add the image

1. Start a new world, or open the one the map belongs to.
2. In the World tab, under Map image to trace, click Upload image… and choose the file: a scan, a photo or an export from a drawing program.
3. In a new, empty world the map takes the image's shape. In a world with shapes already in it, the image is fitted to the map.

Line it up

1. Set the image's Opacity so you can see both it and what you draw over it.
2. Click Move, then drag the image into place on the map, and set its Size so it lines up with any land already drawn.
3. Click Done moving before you draw. Hide shows your own drawing alone, and Replace… swaps in another image.

Trace it

Pick Coastline (L) and follow the coast of the image, clicking point by point or dragging freehand; then the mountain ranges along their ridges, zones over the forests and deserts, and towns where the image has them. Freehand lines can have many points: Simplify in the Selection tab thins them out.

The image is only there to trace. It isn't part of the 3D map, and shared links don't show it.

Set the scale

If your map has a scale bar, set the world's Scale (kilometres per map pixel) in the World tab to match. The scale bar and the lengths and sizes the editor shows in kilometres then match your map. See Panels and settings.