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 POPEJ. over 13 years ago

In Garmin terminology, "detail" controls what objects get drawn at various zoom levels. Period.

This is more complicated. Basically it is map that contains informations about what and at which zoom levels should be drawn. Settings in BaseCamp and Mapsource can only shift definitions from map up or down.

Maps consist of several layers, with less number of details on higher layers. Changing zoom can make map switch to another layer. Changing detail level in BaseCamp can change map layer at the same zoom.

Another peculiarity is that higher layers use less precise values for object positions. This leads to more jagged view of curves as observed OSTROFF01's pictures.

So in your example, the "rendering" setting would control the resolution (how finely) the contour lines are drawn.

I think this option is valid only for 3D rendering of the map. I can't find any influence on 2D view.

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

I'm having trouble viewing smaller backroads and dirt tracks on the Mac BC versus the PC version.
On the PC version I can easily zoom out to 7km range and still see the smaller dirt roads I seek.
On the Mac version these details vanish if I zoom above 1,5 km view range.

Map is latest City Navigator Europe 2013.10 NT for Zumo 550 and Zumo 660 motorcycle GPS units.

How can I correct this Mac Basecamp zoom issue? I use a Macbook Air 11" for motorcycle touring
and would love to see BC operate as well there for smaller backroads/dirt roads planning.
It's not any good for my planning purposes when smaller roads vanish beyond 1,5km zoom range.

Have I missed some clever menu adjustment here? Detail levels are set to max for both 3d an 2d maps.
I use the 2d maps for route planning along these smaller dirt roads ( offroad motorcycling on dirt roads ).

0 SUSSAMB over 12 years ago

Might help if you post this in the Mac thread as it seems to be a Mac problem :)

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

I was using the term "rendering" in a generic sense, and not garmin-speak.

Garmin is using "rendering" in the commonly recognized computing and graphics industry proper sense. Given you are using a graphical tool on a computer it seems appropriate.

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

Well, whatever. I think I know what "rendering" means since I recently retired from a career as a designer, took university courses in "rendering" back in the 1970's and have used 3d photorealistic "rendering" extensively since the 1990's. I was specifically commenting on Ken's post here https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?26470-BaseCamp-rendering-detail-poor-vs-MapSource&p=127124#post127124 and felt it made sense in that context if you follow the discussion.

But if you feel it helps to argue semantics in a one-year old thread, then go ahead and "knock yourself out". ;)

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

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.

The different views are looking at different "level" of the map. When you compile a map, each level corresponds to a "bit" level of detail. This basically means that all coordinates are plotted on a very specific grid that is different with each level. None of this has anything to do with Basecamp.