Custom Map Printing Australia

Specialist large-format printing for maps, GIS projects, plans and charts

Turn your digital mapping into a clear, durable and practical printed map.

Mapworld provides specialist custom map printing for customers throughout Australia. We print supplied maps, GIS outputs, plans, charts, aerial imagery and historical cartography at sizes up to 1650 mm wide (64 inches), with a choice of professional paper, waterproof Tyvek, canvas and lamination.

Maps are not ordinary posters. Scale, fine linework, labels, contours, boundaries and colour separation all matter. With more than 30 years in the map industry and a dedicated HP large-format production environment, Mapworld understands how a technical file needs to perform once it leaves the screen.

Whether you need one map for a field trip, a large laminated planning map for an operations room, a canvas map for a boardroom or multiple copies for a project team, we will review the job and recommend a practical combination of size, material and finish.

At a glance

• Print widths up to 1650 mm / 64 inches
• Maps, GIS outputs, plans, charts and aerial imagery
• Professional paper, waterproof Tyvek, canvas and laminated finishes
• Exact-scale printing where the supplied file permits it
• One-off prints, repeat orders and commercial quantities
• Produced in Perth and delivered Australia-wide
• Every custom job reviewed before production

On this page: What we print  |  Materials  |  Correct scale  |  How it works  |  File preparation  |  FAQs

What can Mapworld print?

We regularly print:

• GIS maps exported from ArcGIS, QGIS, MapInfo and other spatial platforms
• Topographic and terrain maps
• Property, cadastral and land-management maps
• Mining, exploration and resource-project maps
• Emergency-management and operational planning maps
• Agricultural and pastoral maps
• Environmental, conservation and catchment maps
• Engineering drawings, site plans and infrastructure maps
• Architectural plans and technical line drawings
• Nautical charts and marine-planning maps
• Aerial photography and satellite imagery
• Historical maps and chart reproductions
• Educational and classroom maps
• Film, television and exhibition map displays
• Custom-sized wall maps for offices, boardrooms and homes

If you are unsure whether your file is suitable, email us the details. We can assess the intended dimensions, resolution and scale requirements before you commit to production.

Choose the right material for the job

Professional paper

Professional matte paper is well suited to framing, reports, office displays, presentations and maps that will be stored flat or rolled. It retains fine text, linework and colour without the glare associated with ordinary poster stock. Archival FSC papers are available for appropriate display projects.

Best for: wall maps, plans, technical presentations, historical maps and framed prints.

Waterproof Tyvek

Tyvek is waterproof, lightweight and highly tear-resistant. Unlike a laminated map, it remains flexible and can be folded for transport. It is an excellent choice for maps that will be carried, handled repeatedly or used outdoors.

Best for: topographic maps, field surveys, mining and exploration, emergency use, bushwalking, expeditions, outdoor education and remote operations.

Laminated maps and plans

Professional encapsulation protects a map from dirt, moisture, fingerprints and repeated handling. Mapworld offers laminate selected for the size and intended use, with common options including 75, 80 and 100 micron. A suitable laminated map can be used with a compatible write-on/wipe-off marking system.

Best for: planning rooms, operations centres, sales territories, logistics, classrooms, site management and team briefings.

HP Professional Matte Canvas

Selected projects can be printed on 395 gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas using pigment-based inks. Canvas gives historical and decorative mapping texture and visual depth while preserving the cartographic detail that makes the map useful. Canvas can be supplied rolled, with timber hang rails available for suitable projects.

Best for: boardrooms, reception areas, homes, libraries, historical maps and feature walls.

Large-format map printing up to 1650 mm wide

Mapworld can print up to 1650 mm wide in a single piece, subject to the selected material, finishing method and proportions of the artwork. Because the printers use roll-fed media, the other dimension can often extend considerably further.

This makes it possible to produce:

• Extra-large wall maps
• Wide regional and corridor maps
• Two-metre planning displays
• Enlarged site and infrastructure plans
• Boardroom and operations-centre maps
• Custom prints sized for an existing frame or wall

For projects beyond the practical single-piece limit, ask us about proportional resizing or a carefully planned multi-panel solution.

Printing maps at the correct scale

When scale matters, tell us before production.

A map labelled 1:25,000, 1:50,000 or 1:100,000 will retain that scale only when the source file has been exported at the correct page size and is printed without unintended enlargement or reduction. Mapworld can print to the supplied page dimensions and check a stated scale bar, but the accuracy of the underlying data and original export remains the responsibility of the file creator.

For scale-critical work, please provide:

• The required finished page size
• The intended map scale
• A visible scale bar
• Any required trim margins
• Confirmation that the file was exported at 100 per cent
• A known measurement that can be used as a reasonableness check

We will not knowingly resize a scale-critical map without discussing the effect with you first.

How custom map printing works

1. Tell us about the project

Email chris@mapworld.com.au with the map type, required finished size, quantity, preferred material, delivery postcode and required date. If you are unsure about a specification, describe how the finished map will be used and we will help you choose.

2. Send a proof file

Attach a PDF, JPEG or SVG where the file is small enough to email. If the production artwork is large, sensitive, contains multiple files or uses a specialist GIS or CAD format, send the enquiry first and we will provide separate file-transfer instructions.

3. We review the file

We assess the supplied dimensions, resolution, scale requirements and proposed finish. If there is a risk of soft text, missing detail, unsuitable proportions or an incorrect scale, we will raise it before printing.

4. You receive a written quote

The quote will confirm the finished size, material, finish, quantity, production time, delivery and price. No custom work begins until the specification and quote have been approved.

5. We print and finish the map

Your map is produced using the most suitable HP large-format printer and media for the job, then trimmed, laminated or otherwise finished as quoted.

6. Collection or Australia-wide delivery

Finished maps can be collected from Willetton by arrangement or packed for delivery throughout Australia. Rolled maps are protected in sturdy mailing tubes or other commercial packaging appropriate to their dimensions and finish.

Turnaround times

Every custom project is different, so the confirmed production time will appear in the written quote. As a practical guide:

• Straightforward paper, Tyvek or rolled-canvas jobs: usually 2–5 working days after artwork approval
• Laminated, oversized, multi-copy or technically complex jobs: usually 5–10 working days after artwork approval
• Timber hang-rail finishing: allow up to 10 working days

Delivery time is additional and depends on the destination and package size. If the project is urgent, include the fixed deadline in your enquiry. We will tell you whether it can be achieved before accepting the job.

Mapworld’s mapping and printing experience

Remote operations and regional planning

Mapworld has supported Royal Flying Doctor Service teams and users for more than 30 years with regional maps, topographic maps, large-format planning resources, navigation products, training and technical knowledge. This experience reflects the importance of clear physical mapping across remote Australia.

Read about Mapworld and the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Film and television production

Production designers, prop buyers and art departments use maps to establish place, period and purpose. Mapworld has supplied maps, globes and flags for film and television productions and can produce enlargements, multiple copies, laminated marking maps and large-format set displays where suitable.

See Mapworld’s film and television work

Field-ready topographic maps

Mapworld prints selected Australian topographic mapping on waterproof, tear-resistant Tyvek for bushwalking, outdoor education, emergency preparation, exploration and remote fieldwork. The result remains foldable and usable where ordinary paper would be vulnerable to water and hard handling.

Explore Australia’s AUSTopo 1:250,000 maps

Large planning and display maps

Mapworld regularly produces large paper, laminated and canvas maps for schools, offices, boardrooms, planning rooms, logistics, government, mining and resource organisations. Custom sizing allows a map to suit a particular wall, display system or existing frame.

See how Mapworld’s HP print room produces large maps

Custom map printing in Perth, delivered Australia-wide

Custom maps are printed and finished in Mapworld’s Willetton production facility in Perth, Western Australia. Local collection is available by arrangement, while customers in every Australian state and territory can have completed work packed and delivered.

Our national service is suitable for government departments, schools and universities, emergency services, mining and resource companies, property and planning professionals, tourism operators, logistics teams and private customers.

Preparing a file for the best result

Preferred production format

A print-ready PDF is usually the safest format because it can preserve the intended page size, vector linework, text and embedded fonts.

We can also assess TIFF, JPEG, PNG, SVG and other common files. Artwork originating in ArcGIS, QGIS, MapInfo, AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator and similar applications should normally be exported as a self-contained, print-ready PDF before transfer. Native project files can depend on external data, fonts, links and software settings and may not reproduce correctly on another system.

Before sending the file

• Set the page to the intended finished size.
• Embed fonts or convert specialist labels to outlines where appropriate.
• Keep text and linework as vectors wherever possible.
• For raster imagery, aim for approximately 150–300 ppi at the final size.
• Include the map title, legend, north point, scale bar, datum and projection where relevant.
• State whether exact scale is operationally important.
• Check that every layer intended for print is visible.
• Remove confidential layers and metadata that are not required in the output.
• Confirm that you own the artwork or have permission to reproduce it.

If the file contains sensitive infrastructure, personal, commercial or operational information, tell us before transferring it so that an appropriate delivery method can be agreed.

Why choose Mapworld instead of a general printer?

Maps are our core business

Mapworld is Australia’s largest map shop and has worked with maps, charts, globes and navigation products for more than 30 years. We understand the difference between a decorative print and a working map that must remain legible, correctly scaled and fit for its intended use.

Professional HP large-format production

Mapworld’s print room includes specialist HP equipment selected for photographic quality, fine technical linework, high-speed production, canvas, waterproof media and very large output. Pigment-based inks support durable, professional results.

Material advice based on use

The most expensive finish is not automatically the right one. A flexible Tyvek map may outperform lamination in the field, while a laminated map may be better for a planning wall and canvas may be best for presentation.

Individual file review

Every custom job is reviewed before production. If the source file is unlikely to reproduce well at the requested size, we will explain the issue rather than simply print a disappointing result.

One print or a larger project

Mapworld welcomes one-off custom prints, repeat orders and commercial quantities. Government, education, emergency services, resources, property, tourism, logistics and private customers are all welcome.

Request a custom map printing quote

Tell us what the finished map needs to do, not only how large you want it. That helps us recommend the most suitable material and finish.

Please include:

• Your name, organisation and telephone number
• The type of map, plan, chart or imagery
• The required finished size and quantity
• Your preferred material or intended use
• Whether an exact print scale must be retained
• The delivery postcode and required date

Attach a proof PDF or image where practical. If the artwork is too large or sensitive to email, send the project details first and we will arrange a separate transfer method.

Email: chris@mapworld.com.au

Frequently asked questions

Can Mapworld print a map from my PDF?

Yes. A print-ready PDF is usually the preferred format because it can preserve the intended page size, fonts, vector linework and scale. We will review the supplied dimensions and intended finish before quoting.

Can you print GIS maps exported from ArcGIS or QGIS?

Yes. Export the layout as a self-contained, print-ready PDF wherever possible. Include the intended finished size and tell us if the map must remain at an exact scale. Native GIS projects are not normally suitable as final print files because they may rely on linked data, fonts and software settings.

Can you print maps at 1:25,000, 1:50,000 or another exact scale?

Yes, provided the source file was correctly created at that scale and is printed at the intended page size. Include a scale bar, the required page dimensions and a known measurement. Mapworld can preserve the supplied print scale but cannot certify the accuracy of the underlying spatial data.

What is the largest map you can print?

Mapworld can print up to approximately 1650 mm wide in a single piece, subject to the selected material and finishing method. Because printing is roll-fed, the other dimension can often be longer. Very large jobs may require proportional resizing or multiple panels.

Can you print waterproof maps?

Yes. Waterproof and tear-resistant Tyvek is available for suitable projects. It is flexible, foldable and ideal for field maps, topographic mapping, emergency use and outdoor work.

Can you laminate a large map or plan?

Yes. Mapworld professionally laminates suitable maps and plans, with capacity up to approximately 1650 mm wide depending on the job. Common laminate options include 75, 80 and 100 micron.

Can you print a map on canvas?

Yes. Selected maps and supplied artwork can be printed on 395 gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas. Canvas is best for decorative maps, historical cartography, reception areas, offices, boardrooms and feature walls.

Do you print one-off maps?

Yes. One-off custom prints are welcome, as are repeat orders and larger commercial projects.

How much does custom map printing cost?

Custom printing is quoted individually because price depends on the finished size, material, quantity, finishing, file preparation and delivery requirements. Send us the project details for a written quote before production begins.

Do you deliver throughout Australia?

Yes. Mapworld supplies customers throughout Australia. Rolled maps are packed in protective tubes or other packaging appropriate to their dimensions and finish. Freight is confirmed in the quote.

Can I collect my finished map in Perth?

Yes. Collection from Mapworld’s Willetton premises is available by arrangement after the job has been completed.

Can Mapworld design a new map for me?

Start by telling us the area, purpose and information required. We may be able to recommend an existing map or explain what print-ready artwork is needed. Cartographic design, spatial-data preparation and substantial file repair are separate from printing and are quoted only where available.

Can you reproduce any map or chart I send?

The customer must own the artwork or have permission to reproduce it. Mapworld may decline files where copyright, licensing, confidentiality, safety or legality is uncertain. Customer-supplied nautical charts and technical documents are printed as supplied, and the customer remains responsible for their currency, accuracy and suitability. For navigation or other safety-critical work, use current authorised material and applicable professional procedures.

Ready to turn your file into a working map?

Email the size, material, quantity, deadline and intended use. Mapworld will review the project and recommend a practical way to print it.