Customize axesm-Based Maps

Grid labels, annotations, color bars, basemap images

Convey information about your data by customizing axesm-based maps. Control the appearance of the map grid, display text, and add labeled color bars. Provide geographic context for your data by reading and displaying basemap images.

Alternatives to 2-D axesm-based maps are geographic axes and map axes, which can be used for many tasks, including exploration, publication, and app building. For a comparison of the 2-D map displays that you can create using Mapping Toolbox™ software, see Choose a 2-D Map Display.

Functions

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tightmapRemove white space around axesm-based map
framemControl frame of axesm-based map
gridmControl graticule lines on axesm-based map
plabelControl parallel labels on axesm-based map
mlabelControl meridian labels on axesm-based map
mlabelzero22piDisplay meridian labels on axesm-based map using range of 0 to 360 degrees
textmProject text onto axesm-based map
rotatetextRotate text to projected graticule on axesm-based map
scalerulerAdd or modify graphic scale on axesm-based map
northarrowAdd north arrow to axesm-based map
colorbarColorbar showing color scale
lcolorbarColor bar with text labels
polcmap Create colormap appropriate to political regions
ind2rgb8Convert indexed image to RGB image of type uint8
readBasemapImageRead image from geographic basemap (Since R2022a)
axesscaleResize axes for equivalent scale
paperscaleSet figure properties for printing axesm-based map at map scale
previewmapView figure at printed size

Topics

Frame and Grid

  • Map Frame
    The map frame is the outline of the limits of a map. The shape of the frame is characteristic of the projection.
  • Map and Frame Limits
    The map latitude and longitude limits define the extents of the geodata to display. The frame limits control how the frame fits around the displayed data.
  • Map Limit Properties
    Map limits have properties that enable you to specify your map projection origin and frame limits.
  • Map Grid
    The map grid is the display of meridians and parallels. The spacing and curvature of the grid lines are characteristic of the projection.

Basemap Images