Choose a printable map if you want to place or print the finished design. Choose a layered vector map if you want to change individual areas, boundaries or labels. Both can be useful for print; the difference is how much control you need over the artwork.
| File | Best starting point for | Editing |
|---|---|---|
| JPEG (.jpg) | Placing a finished map in a slide, document or image layout. | One image. You cannot select its place names or country shapes separately. |
| Non-layered PDF | Printing or placing the finished map while retaining vector linework. | No organised map layers. Text may be converted to outlines, which are shapes rather than editable words. |
| Layered AI, EPS or PDF | Recolouring areas, adjusting boundaries and working with labels. | Separate objects and layers in compatible vector software. Check the formats and layer list on the product page. |
In our map descriptions, “JPEG XL” has been used as a size label for the large JPEG image. Check the supplied extension: a .jpg file is a JPEG, not the separate .jxl image format. Dimensions vary by map and download option.
For example, the large JPEG in the California Defined map download is 6,000 × 6,838 pixels. At 300 pixels per inch, that gives a width of 20 inches (50.8 cm). Printing it wider uses fewer pixels per inch and may make fine text look softer. Ask your printer which resolution suits the final size and viewing distance.
Vector paths can be enlarged without turning their edges into larger pixels. Embedded raster content, such as shaded relief, still has a fixed image resolution. The Middle America Summit map, for example, combines map artwork with shaded relief; do not treat that relief as infinitely scalable.
Enlarging a map also does not reveal extra towns, roads or more detailed coastlines. The geographic detail remains the detail of the original map. Check a preview at the scale you intend to use.
A JPEG is the simplest option for software that accepts images. A PDF reader can display or print a PDF. For object-level editing, Adobe Illustrator is our recommended starting point; support for layers, fonts and effects can differ in other applications. The AI edition of the California example was checked in Illustrator 2026 (30.8.2) on macOS.
Read the product’s file list before choosing: do not assume every product includes every format. For the contents of individual layers, see our map layers guide. File format and permission to use a map are separate choices: see the free-map licence or paid-map licence.
