Tech Support Pits:

From Rob===

Dear Webby,
Which picture file format is best for route maps for our 
orienteering club ?
The master map stays the same, but the event maps change
every week. Each individual group gets a map that has the
only the trails that they have to take, whith all other trails 
blanked out. We make six maps per event and each group
draws one of the six variations. 

That gives you an idea of how much the picture gets 
changed. Over the years it has become so frazzled that it
is getting difficult to interprete and we have to keep drawing
new master maps. Is there a picture file format that would 
be more suitable?

Thanks
Rob

Dear Rob
Don't use JPG for that, it degrades each time you save it.
Use GIF. 

When you draw the master map, use solid color lines, not
edged lines. Then cut a fine separation line next to each
trail junction. Reduce the colors to 16 and save it as a GIF
file. Write-protect that file so that it can not be overwritten
and copied only.

For each variation just take a copy off the master and use 
the flood fill tool to fill unused sections of the trail with the
background color. It will hide the trail all the way to the next
separation line at the next junction.

GIF pictures don't have the same color depth as JPG, but
they are usable on the web and they don't degrade. They
also print and fax with sharp and clear edges on even the
cheapest printers or fax machines.

Have FUN!
DearWebby