# Awesomely simple graphic shows map projections distortions **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 19, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awesomely-simple-graphic-shows-map-projections-distortions/669236 "2013-09-19T15:49:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awesomely-simple-graphic-shows-map-projections-distortions/669236/1 "2013-09-19T15:49:17Z")
From 1921! On twitter: [https://twitter.com/ChristiansenJen/status/379283991972839424/photo/1](https://twitter.com/ChristiansenJen/status/379283991972839424/photo/1) On Strange maps: [624 - This is Your Brain on Maps - Big Think](http://bigthink.com/strange-maps/624-this-is-your-brain-on-maps) I’d love to see this done with some other projections, and with lighter “lat/long” lines. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awesomely-simple-graphic-shows-map-projections-distortions/669236/2 "2013-09-19T16:08:33Z")
It’s fun for me, a cartophile To see these heads that maps defile But spare a thought for [Christian Slater](http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/christian-slater.jpg) His bonce was drawn by G Mercator. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awesomely-simple-graphic-shows-map-projections-distortions/669236/3 "2013-09-19T16:10:05Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > It’s fun for me, a cartophile > To see these heads that maps defile > But spare a thought for [Christian Slater](http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/christian-slater.jpg) > His bonce was drawn by G Mercator. _wild applause_ ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awesomely-simple-graphic-shows-map-projections-distortions/669236/4 "2013-09-19T16:24:32Z")
I think they are starting with a 2D picture, using one projection to map it onto a sphere, and then using a different projection to map it to a 2D picture again. So it exaggerates the distortion. The [Tissot Indicatrix](http://www.progonos.com/furuti/MapProj/Dither/CartProp/Distort/) does a much better job at showing the distortion. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awesomely-simple-graphic-shows-map-projections-distortions/669236/5 "2013-09-19T18:21:56Z")
What’s [Jay Leno](http://www3.images.coolspotters.com/photos/142916/39BfA51620c0D10f__profile.png) doing there? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awesomely-simple-graphic-shows-map-projections-distortions/669236/6 "2013-09-19T18:38:11Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > It’s fun for me, a cartophile > To see these heads that maps defile > But spare a thought for [Christian Slater](http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/christian-slater.jpg) > His bonce was drawn by G Mercator. Brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awesomely-simple-graphic-shows-map-projections-distortions/669236/7 "2013-09-19T23:14:53Z")
Why is it impossible to buy an interrupted homolosine wall map, anyway? Is a goode map too much to ask for? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awesomely-simple-graphic-shows-map-projections-distortions/669236/8 "2013-09-20T03:56:07Z")
Some of you may enjoy playing with [Flex Projector.](http://www.flexprojector.com/index.html)