Trying to save a .pdf of a map. How do I set the extent of the image I want at the scale I want?

Hi Carolyn,

 

The only way you can save a .pdf is with the Print function.  Since you want to make a poster, you would be better off using Save Image (the next button to the right) and saving a high resolution .jpg.  You can put that on a USB drive or whatever and take it to the print shop.  It will produce a better image when blown up.

 

You can set the area to be copied by using your mouse and mouse zoom to drag the world to where you want it.  If that doesn't seem to work, you may have an older version of GE Pro.  There was one version that locked the image when you clicked on the Print or Save image button.  The current version is 7.3.2.5776.  You can check in Help>About Google Earth.  You can download the current version Here.

 

Please let us know how you're doing.

The viewer is the box.  Adjust the image in the viewer to the dimensions you like.  The zoom is the scale in Google Earth.

 

If you are looking for more detail from a certain image, please remember that you are saving an image of a photo.  The image you save can never be clearer than resolution of the original photo.  You're not looking at real earth.

Define scale.   A  bigger picture is the definition of a smaller scale.  It sounds like you want distortion.  Please try to rephrase what you want to do.

I can probably be clearer too.  The zoom in GE Pro is the scale control.  The scale varies continuously with the zoom.  A larger area of the globe in the viewer is a smaller scale.  Paper maps are the same way.  Large area, small scale.

 

GE doesn't put much of a printed scale on the globe because it is continuously variable.  There is the scale legend in the View menu and the scale in Map Options in the Print or Save Image toolbar.

You can't do it.  Google Earth uses low resolution data when you're zoomed out to display most of, or the whole earth.    If you separate a small section and blow it up, it will first be blurry and then it will pixelate.  You aren't assimilating the idea that you're taking a photo of a photo. 

 

As you zoom in, the program streams higher resolution images from the Google server.  They will have more detail and will accept being blown up better.  Especially if you use the Max Resolution option in the Save Image toolbar.

 

You can select a small section of the viewer by taking a screenshot.  Windows includes the Snipping Tool.  It will save any size section you like.   Try it.  Then try blowing the result up.

Okay, so what you are telling me is that this is impossible in both Google Earth and Google Maps? So the snipping tool will not go beyond the screen parameters? Ack, starting to panic.

Carolyn

I'm trying to explain that you can't do what you are asking on a computer, any app, any computer.  The only way to blow up a satellite view and not have it pixelate is to be on the Space Station and use a telescope with zoom to look at the real earth.  You're not looking at the earth.  You're looking at photos of the earth.

 

You can save an image at a higher resolution in the Save Image toolbar in GE Pro.  I think I've said this a couple of times already.  That image will blow up to a larger size without pixelating.  The image won't contain any more detail than the original photo.

 

There are also third party screenshot tools that claim to save an image at higher than screen resolution.

 

Another possibility is to use a computer with a 4K or higher resolution display.  That will save a higher resolution image in Ge pro or with a screenshot tool.

 

I give up.

That may work.