[OSM-talk] "Crudely-drawn pint glasses"

[John McKerrell]

On 30 Jan 2008, at 22:02, Gervase Markham wrote:

> Tom Hughes wrote:
>> So it is reasonable or optimal for us to maintain an infinite number
>> of custom maps for third parties that want custom maps but don't want
>> the hassle of rendering them?
>
> I'm not asking for that, either. What I was sort of envisaging was  
> a web
> service where you scrolled to an area on a slippy map, clicked a few
> checkboxes "Yes, this area, with contours, without amenities..." and
> clicked "render" and it took you to a new page with the map you  
> were after.
>
> I realise this is work; I have no expectation on any particular person
> to make this happen. I just thought it would be a good idea that would
> serve the map-using public better, and may prevent people photocopying
> the A-Z or illegally screenshotting Google Maps.
>
Funnily enough I'd been thinking of doing just this if I ever got  
more time. I was thinking that perhaps something based on potlatch  
could be used for basic very interactive playing with the styles,  
then once you were happy you click "render" and it goes away,  
generates an image and emails you when it's done. I think this could  
be great for someone who wants to make some money from OSM. Perhaps  
give up to 1000x1000 pixels for free and charge for poster-size  
renderings...

John