Map Customization

Change graticule lines, add annotations, change colormap, use basemaps

Convey information about your data or enhance the display of the data by customizing your map. For example, you can add titles, change the appearance of the graticule, or add annotations. You can also provide geographic context for your data by using basemaps.

Functions

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Customize Map Axes

Limits and Ticks

`geolimits`	Set or query geographic limits
`geotickformat`	Set or query geographic tick label format

Labels and Annotation

`title`	Add title
`subtitle`	Add subtitle to plot (Since R2020b)
`legend`	Add legend to axes
`text`	Add text descriptions to data points
`fontsize`	Change font size for objects in a figure (Since R2022a)

Colormaps

`colormap`	View and set current colormap
`colorbar`	Colorbar showing color scale
`clim`	Set colormap limits (Renamed from `caxis` in R2022a)

Exporting

`exportgraphics`	Save plot or graphics content to file (Since R2020a)
`copygraphics`	Copy plot or graphics content to clipboard (Since R2020a)

Customize `axesm`-Based Maps

Frame, Grid, and Labels

`tightmap`	Remove white space around `axesm`-based map
`framem`	Control frame of `axesm`-based map
`gridm`	Control graticule lines on `axesm`-based map
`plabel`	Control parallel labels on `axesm`-based map
`mlabel`	Control meridian labels on `axesm`-based map
`mlabelzero22pi`	Display meridian labels on `axesm`-based map using range of 0 to 360 degrees

Annotations

`northarrow`	Add north arrow to `axesm`-based map
`scaleruler`	Add or modify graphic scale on `axesm`-based map
`textm`	Project text onto `axesm`-based map
`rotatetext`	Rotate text to projected graticule on `axesm`-based map

Printing

`axesscale`	Resize axes for equivalent scale
`paperscale`	Set figure properties for printing `axesm`-based map at map scale
`previewmap`	View figure at printed size

Use Basemaps

`geobasemap`	Set or query basemap
`readBasemapImage`	Read image from geographic basemap (Since R2022a)
`addCustomBasemap`	Add custom basemap
`mbtileswrite`	Write georeferenced image or data grid to MBTiles file (Since R2024b)
`removeCustomBasemap`	Remove custom basemap
`addToolbarMapButton`	Add map button to toolbar (Since R2021b)
`removeToolbarMapButton`	Remove map button from toolbar (Since R2021b)

Topics

Map Axes

Add Labels and Annotations to Map Axes
Convey information about a map by adding a title, a legend, text, and data tips.
Customize Appearance of Map Axes
Customize map axes by changing the tick label format, the geographic limits, the appearance of the graticule line, and the colors of fonts.
Create Map of Quadrangle Using Cartographic Map Layout
Cartographic map layouts are useful when creating static maps or when preparing maps for publication.

`axesm`-Based Maps

The Map Frame
A 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 geodata to be displayed. The frame limits control how the frame fits around the displayed data.
Map Limit Properties
Map limits have properties that provide a convenient and intuitive way to specify your map projection origin and frame limits. Learn how to set these properties, and when you should avoid the properties.
The 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.
Inset Maps
Inset maps provide context to maps by including overviews at smaller scales.

Basemaps

Customize Appearance of Vector Basemaps
Customize the appearance of vector basemaps by specifying a predefined style, by specifying a URL or JSON file, or by editing a predefined style. (Since R2023a)
Create Common Plots over Basemap Images
Display a variety of plots over basemap images, including digraphs, contours, images, and 3-D surfaces.
Change Projection of Basemap Image
Geographic axes display data over basemaps using a Mercator projection. This example shows how to display data over basemaps using different projections.
Add Custom Basemaps from WMS Data
Add custom basemaps from WMS layers or from URLs that specify WMS GetMap requests. (Since R2024b)
Use Basemaps in Offline Environments
Display data over basemaps when MATLAB^® has temporary or no internet access.
Create Base Layer from OpenStreetMap Data
Provide geographic context for your data by creating a base layer from data stored in an OpenStreetMap^® file. (Since R2023b)
Display Data over Basemaps When Internet Access Is Intermittent
This example shows how to display data over a basemap, while accounting for intermittent internet access, by reading a saved basemap image from a file.