# Google Earth- closeups show drawings

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-closeups-show-drawings/663990>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 19, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-closeups-show-drawings/663990 "2013-07-19T23:55:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-closeups-show-drawings/663990/1 "2013-07-19T23:55:11Z")

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What’s up with this? I go on Google Earth and zoom in on Notre Dame (the one in Paris) and as I go in close, the photographs turn into drawings. I don’t want drawings, I want to see Notre Dame as it looks from above. Same thing when I look at my own house.

If I use Google Maps instead, I can zoom in and see the photograph from above. I prefer this.

Are these drawings considered an enhancement?

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**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-closeups-show-drawings/663990/2 "2013-07-19T23:57:16Z")

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Do you have 3D buildings checked under Layers?

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-closeups-show-drawings/663990/3 "2013-07-20T01:08:40Z")

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Oooo, I don’t know. If I uncheck, will that fix it? Not at computer right now. God, you people are so _smart_.

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**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-closeups-show-drawings/663990/4 "2013-07-20T01:38:10Z")

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It’s the only thing I can think of that would show anything like a drawing. If that’s what the drawings are, it’ll make them go away.

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-closeups-show-drawings/663990/5 "2013-07-21T13:40:41Z")

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You were so right! I did have 3D buildings checked. :smack: Thanks.

BTW, when I open google earth and I’m lookin’ at the whole world and then pick someplace to zoom into, I can’t watch while the picture zooms. Have to shut my eyes-- makes me queasy.

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-closeups-show-drawings/663990/6 "2013-07-21T14:40:08Z")

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> [@ThelmaLou](#):
>
> BTW, when I open google earth and I’m lookin’ at the whole world and then pick someplace to zoom into, I can’t watch while the picture zooms. Have to shut my eyes-- makes me queasy.

That’s probably because there’s no motion blur, so it strobes, which can be very unpleasant to watch for some people.