BaseCamp rendering detail poor vs MapSource

Former Member over 13 years ago

Hi. Apologies if this is answered elsewhere, but my searching yielded nothing. I am hearing that BaseCamp is replacing MapSource as the supported product from Garmin. I have used MapSource (currently at 6.16.3) for some time, and can see where BaseCamp is an improvement on some features.

However, I find that at matching zoom-in levels (say, 0.5mi), the map detail is much poorer in BaseCamp than the same resolution in MapSource. Under Options/Display/Rendering Quality in BaseCamp, I have selected the highest setting. In MapSource, I have to move the View/MapDetail slider back 2 notches (from 'Highest' to 'High') to get MapSource to lose detail to the same point that BaseCamp has at its highest setting.

Why is this? I have the SAME map (City Navigator North America NT 2011.4) loaded and in use on both programs. I am certain of what I say, because I am looking at both programs showing simultaneously on my dual screen monitors.

I would like to switch to BaseCamp for all its advantages, but this display quality restriction is very annoying for setting up motorcycle routes that may use smaller or unimproved roads that just don't show in BaseCamp.

Can anyone help explain / solve this problem? Thank you very much!!

Tom Stanley

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

However, I find that at matching zoom-in levels (say, 0.5mi), the map detail is much poorer in BaseCamp than the same resolution in MapSource.

Can't say I've noticed a difference but it might pay to

1) Tell us which maps (Garmin, 3rd party etc, product name) you're using?
2) Post screen captures (attach images to posts) so we can see exactly what you're referring to.

I assume that the map detail setting is set the same in MapSource and BaseCamp.

0 POPEJ. over 13 years ago

Under Options/Display/Rendering Quality in BaseCamp, I have selected the highest setting.

This is not the right place to set details level. Right-click on toolbar and make visible details menu, then set required level. Map look will be the same as in Mapsource.

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Don't feel bad... I consider myself very knowledgeable in the stuff and I make my own maps. I also thought Basecamp was doing a poor job of rendering map detail vs mapsource. Then Popej pointed out the detail setting to me on another site.

Duh... I don't know how I missed it, but changing detail to highest made the rendering identical to Mapsource. You can also enable the detail dropdown menu by choosing View > Toolbars > Detail Level.

I frequently use Mapsource myself for a variety of other reasons, but I think Basecamp has moved ahead of it when it comes to what is shown on your screen - I especially like the slider control for fewer/more labels.

-Boyd

0 kganshirt over 13 years ago

Hey Boyd,

You made the same mistake that many of us do of confusing "details" with "rendering". Many of us automatically associate the quality of the rendering with the fineness or "goodness" of the map detail being drawn on the screen.

Of course in Garmin terms, "detail" means something quite different. The "detail' level refers to which objects will be drawn at a particular zoom level, not the quality of the drawing.

Thus, "rendering" will control how pretty the map will look, regardless of how much stuff gets drawn, and "detail" will control how much stuff you want showing on the map, regardless of the rendered quality.

But how can a person know until they ask??? :confused: :)

...ken...

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

...changing detail to highest made the rendering identical to Mapsource. You can also enable the detail dropdown menu by choosing View > Toolbars > Detail Level.

Here's a screen capture for those that prefer pictures :D

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Thanks SO much for the lightning fast help, everyone! Problem solved, and I am a BaseCamp believer!

All the best!

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Of course in Garmin terms, "detail" means something quite different. The "detail' level refers to which objects will be drawn at a particular zoom level, not the quality of the drawing.

Funny, that is also what I used to think. But then I started making my own maps that contain an extreme amount of detail, such as this one: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/294/

The contour lines here are derived from high resolution LIDAR data, and you can see a clear difference in how they are rendered in medium vs highest detail. Look how "jaggy" they are in the screenshot below with medium detail. Of course, what you say about object visibility at different zoom levels is also true. But clearly, less precision is used when rendering map objects at a lower detail setting.

0 kganshirt over 13 years ago

Funny, that is also what I used to think. ...

The contour lines here are derived from high resolution LIDAR data, and you can see a clear difference in how they are rendered in medium vs highest detail. Look how "jaggy" they are in the screenshot below with medium detail. Of course, what you say about object visibility at different zoom levels is also true. But clearly, less precision is used when rendering map objects at a lower detail setting.

That's true and I agree, in principle, with everything you said. But it's not relevant to this issue.

This issue is about what Garmin calls things in their programs and their devices, in general, and in Basecamp in particular. In this case, "detail" has nothing to do with the quality of the rendered drawing.

In Garmin terminology, "rendering" controls the quality of whatever is being drawn. That is what you are talking about.

In Garmin terminology, "detail" controls what objects get drawn at various zoom levels. Period. Using it in any other context when discussing Garmin stuff simply confuses things as the original post in this thread demonstrates so clearly.

So in your example, the "rendering" setting would control the resolution (how finely) the contour lines are drawn. The "detail" setting would control how many of the contour lines will get drawn at various zoom levels.

...ken...

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Just to add one thing, we changed the detail level in BaseCamp, the highest detail level will now draw MORE detail than MapSource used to at highest detail.

This was done to improve the situation for people who want to view a larger, "sparsely roaded" area zoomed further out while still being able to see the roads. The highest detail setting in BaseCamp will render very slowly when used over a location with lots of detailed data (e.g. viewing New York city on CN NT).

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Ken, I was using the term "rendering" in a generic sense, and not garmin-speak. I am aware of the rendering quality setting in Basecamp, but it was set to highest quality in both screenshots I posted above. However, when the "detail" setting was changed from highest to medium, the contour lines were not displayed as accurately.

So I can't really agree with your statement

"The "detail' level refers to which objects will be drawn at a particular zoom level, not the quality of the drawing. Thus, "rendering" will control how pretty the map will look."

I did not change the "rendering" setting between those two screenshots, but the map got uglier when the "detail" setting was changed. :)