How Our Maps Become Art
OpenStreetMap Data
OpenStreetMap is one of the map-data foundations supported by OwnHomeMap, either directly or through a compatible source configured for the renderer. The renderer selects available roads, water bodies, and green spaces, then turns them into graphic layers. Detail depends on the information supplied by the active map source for the selected area.
Road Hierarchy
The renderer organizes roads into 5 visual width levels. Motorways form the strongest level; trunk and primary roads share the next level, followed by secondary, tertiary, and finally residential or local roads. Available minor ways can join the last level for areas shown at short range. Colors vary by theme, making the urban structure readable without promising an absolute line width independent of the output format.
Water & Parks Layers
With the direct OpenStreetMap source, OwnHomeMap requests natural=water and waterway=riverbank polygons for water, then leisure=park and landuse=grass for green spaces. Available elements are colored by the selected theme: water appears below parks and the road network. A layer missing from the place data cannot appear in the poster.
17 Unique Themes
OwnHomeMap offers 17 artistic themes, each defining a unique palette of 8 to 12 colors that transforms the same data into a radically different work. Each theme specifies colors for background, 5 road levels, water, parks and text. Available themes include: Terracotta (warm earth tones), Noir (minimalist black and white), Midnight Blue (elegant deep blue), Blueprint (technical plan style), Neon Cyberpunk (fluorescent colors on dark background), Japanese Ink (sumi-e style black ink), Warm Beige (natural beige tones), Pastel Dream (soft pastel colors), Sunset (sunset tones), Ocean (marine blues), Forest (forest greens), Emerald (emerald green), Copper Patina (patinated copper), Monochrome Blue (blue harmonies), Gradient Roads (road gradients), Contrast Zones and Autumn. From minimalist to vibrant, from classic to contemporary, each palette tells a different story.
Typography & Personalization
The typographic layer personalizes the poster with a selection of serif, sans-serif, and handwritten fonts. The place name, subtitle, coordinates, and message can be adjusted in the editor. Their position and size adapt to the output format, and typography is rendered above the map layers to remain visible in the composition.
The 5-Layer Rendering Pipeline
The renderer combines up to 5 main visual layers in a precise order. Their presence depends on available data and the selected layout: fade gradients, for example, belong to the full-bleed layout.
Water bodies
Available water polygons are rendered first (direct OpenStreetMap source tags: natural=water and waterway=riverbank). This layer forms the landscape base and appears below the other layers.
Parks and green spaces
Available park and grass polygons are overlaid on water (direct OpenStreetMap source tags: leisure=park and landuse=grass). Their color depends on the selected theme.
Road network by hierarchy
The road network is rendered above water and parks using 5 visual width levels: motorway; trunk and primary; secondary; tertiary; then available residential, local, and minor ways. Colors assigned to these categories depend on the theme.
Fade gradients
In the full-bleed layout, top and bottom fade gradients soften the map edges and create visual space for typography. Other layouts compose their elements without this layer.
Typography and custom text
The top layer contains the typographic elements present in the layout: city name, subtitle, coordinates, and optional message. It is rendered above the map layers to preserve the text's place in the composition.
The Role of OpenStreetMap
When a rendering relies directly on OpenStreetMap, its ODbL-licensed open data forms the basis of the composition. The renderer groups road classifications into 5 visual width levels and handles water and green spaces separately. The map source can vary with the service configuration; this page documents the direct OpenStreetMap case. With any collaborative source, the presence and accuracy of elements depend on the data available for the selected place.
OpenStreetMap source and licenceFrequently Asked Questions About Map Data
Is the map data up to date?
OwnHomeMap uses the data available from the active map source when the map is generated. A recent street or development may be present, incomplete, or absent depending on the area and source. Always review the preview before ordering.
Are all cities in the world available?
The editor can search many places listed by the geocoding service, but poster quality depends on data supplied by the active map source around the selected point. Use the preview to confirm that the road network and natural layers suit your needs before ordering.
Why are some elements (buildings, POIs) not displayed?
OwnHomeMap is designed to create wall art, not navigation maps. We deliberately display only the most aesthetic layers: the road network (5 hierarchy levels), water bodies and green spaces. Individual buildings, points of interest (restaurants, shops) and transit lines are not displayed as they would visually overload the poster and reduce its artistic character. This simplification choice is what transforms a utilitarian map into art.
What is the difference between the 17 themes?
Each theme defines a palette applied to the background, 5 road widths (motorway; trunk and primary; secondary; tertiary; then residential, local, and minor ways), water, parks, and text. For example, Noir pairs a dark background with light roads, while Neon Cyberpunk uses fluorescent accents. Terracotta uses warm tones and Japanese Ink evokes ink drawing.
Read the cartography reference library
Explore the detailed method, road-tag mapping, water and park layer rules, and the documented coverage and licensing limits.
Open the reference library