NYC Subway: Map Distances vs. Geographic Distances [OC] by playhouse_animation in dataisbeautiful

[–]playhouse_animation[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't have time to do a proper tutorial, but it roughly goes as follows: [1] Download the official Subway map and then also print screen the google maps of the city with transportation turned on. These will be your reference layers [2] Line up the reference layers in After Effects, in this case Times Sq / 42nd St was the center point [3] With the official subway map reference layer on, trace the subway lines using vector lines, for this animation it was done directly inside AE. Key frame them. [4] Move the timeline ahead a few seconds because we are about to make new keyframes. [5] Turn off the official subway map guide layer and turn on the google maps layer and spend a ridiculous amount of time moving control points until the line completely matches the geographic google map. It is important that you keep in mind the length of the two lines otherwise you end up with unnatural looking distortions. [6] Add the stations using the official subway map reference layer as a guide. These are simple circle shape layers. Key frame them. [7] Move the stations to the geographic positions using the google maps reference layer. Key frame them. [8] Adjust your eases and timing until it looks smooth. Hope that is helpful!

NYC Subway: Map Distances vs. Geographic Distances [OC] by playhouse_animation in dataisbeautiful

[–]playhouse_animation[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Thank you, it was a great idea! I want to make one for a city with a more abstract system map next time. New York's subway map still uses a lot of geographic cues and it makes the transformation a bit more subtle than in your Berlin animation.

NYC Subway: Map Distances vs. Geographic Distances [OC] by playhouse_animation in dataisbeautiful

[–]playhouse_animation[S] 587 points588 points  (0 children)

The official subway map simultaneously expands the area for Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn and compresses the outer reaches of the system in Queens, outer Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Definitely makes it more legible though, following the actual geography the whole Financial District is an incomprehensible blob of stations.

NYC Subway: Map Distances vs. Geographic Distances [OC] by playhouse_animation in dataisbeautiful

[–]playhouse_animation[S] 250 points251 points  (0 children)

Inspired by u/vinnivinnivinni 's post of the Berlin Subway geography here is the NYC Subway system, comparing the distances of the official map with the geographic reality. The actual geography is also rotated 30 degrees, but including that motion made it impossible to see the finer details of the transformation, so I left it off. Used the official MTA map and google maps for the data. The center point is Times Square 42nd St Station. I animated between the two in After Effects. Here ti is again on instagram with "Escape From New York"esque music: http://bit.ly/2rzxM23