[OSM-dev] Map distortions in JOSM

[Robert (Jamie) Munro]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Gervase Markham wrote:
> [New to OSM; let me know if this is the wrong list.]

This is probably more of a "talk" question... Dev is usually for
questions about improving the server, but I don't think we are too strict.

> Recently, I was pointed at the excellent Perl fake-gpsd module, which I 
> use to test JOSM indoors. The script I have makes the track run in a circle.
> 
> However, in JOSM, it doesn't look like a circle - it's squashed. In 
> other words, the X scale any Y scale are different. Why is that, and can 
> it be fixed? Is it something to do with my configuration?

Make sure your preferences are set to Mercator projection, not ESPG:4326
in the maps/projections pane. This projection will make circles that are
relatively small seem still circular. A circle that goes around the
north pole will not be circular, though, and as circles get closer to
it, or cover a large distance they will get distorted. Mercator gives
the sort of distortion to maps that everyone is used to - Greenland the
same size as Africa etc. It's the one used on all the slippy maps.

Robert (Jamie) Munro


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (Darwin)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQFHRxx1z+aYVHdncI0RAi0KAJ454n1qWn0zYb3Ybi/BgdoK7jYFPwCg4mH+
25cD1DZCraq9iTItGDRu2VI=
=5zNo
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----