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Creating and Loading Custom Maps to a Garmin® Marine Handheld
Custom maps can install a paper or electronic map onto the Garmin® device with the assistance of Google Earth Pro.
Garmin Device's Compatible With Custom Maps
GPSMAP® 78 Series
GPSMAP® 79 Series
GPSMAP® 86 series
Creating and Loading Custom Maps to a Marine Handheld
Garmin has released software updates that allow a variety of compatible devices to use custom mapping.
Before creating and transferring custom mapping, ensure the device software is up-to-date with Garmin Express™.
Map images have several different file types: PDF, BMP, PNG, or GIF. Convert these file formats to the JPEG format before using them to create custom maps for a compatible device.
Creating a Custom Map from a JPEG File
Open Google Earth Pro ¹
Zoom into the approximate area that the custom map will cover
Select Add
Select Image Overlay
Name the map file
Click Browse
Locate and select the JPEG map file
Scan a paper map at an appropriate resolution and save the image as a JPEG
An Electronic map, such as a PDF, requires conversion to JPEG format through GIMP² or another suitable program
Save JPEG files without Progressive Image (typically found under advanced options)
Click Open
Resize the map to match the satellite image
Adjust the transparency bar between 50% and 70% while resizing the image
Start at one corner and zoom in
Note: Only manually adjusting the size of the image in Google Earth Pro is supported by BaseCamp™. Changing the image size using the lat/long adjustments will result in the picture not importing correctly later
Position mouse cursor over the corner to click and drag it to the approximately correct position (focus on roads closest to corner)
Move the map to the opposite corner and reposition
Repeat for each corner
Double-check all corners again and adjust as necessary, then adjust the transparency bar back to 100% Opaque
If finished resizing the custom map, select the Altitude tab
If you desire to see the custom map above all other maps, change Draw Order to 50 or higher
If you desire to see the custom map below all other maps, change Draw Order to 49 or lower
Click OK
Locate the custom map (named according to step 5) under Places (left of the map)
Right-click on Map Name
Select Save Place As
Save map to either (Garmin device drive) /Garmin/CustomMaps/ ³ or (microSD Card drive) /Garmin/CustomMaps/ ³
Eject and unplug the device from the computer
If necessary, power on the device
The custom mapping will now be viewable on the handheld.
1Google Earth Pro is a third-party program that allows you to create a custom map. It can be downloaded for free: https://www.google.com/earth/versions/#earth-pro
2GIMP is a third-party graphic editing program that converts files from PDF to JPEG format. GIMP is a free download: https://www.gimp.org/downloads/
3It may be necessary to create a CustomMaps folder