Mapvera uploads accept SVG, JPG or PNG, but source maps often arrive as a PDF export, a CAD drawing (DWG/DXF) or a printed floor plan. Converting them well — ideally to SVG — gives you a clean, sharp base map to build on.
From a vector PDF
Many PDFs from architects or designers are really vector artwork inside a PDF wrapper. Open the PDF in a vector editor such as Inkscape (free), Illustrator or Affinity Designer, then export as SVG. You keep crisp lines and text, and the file stays small.
-
Open in a vector editor
Inkscape and Illustrator both import PDF pages directly.
-
Remove the clutter
Delete title blocks, borders, dimension lines, legends and revision tables — you want the map, not the drawing sheet.
-
Crop to the map
Set the canvas (page / artboard) tightly around the plan, leaving only a small margin.
-
Export as SVG
Use "Save as optimised SVG" if offered, to strip hidden data. See the SVG guide for keeping it lean.
From CAD (DWG / DXF)
CAD files are precise but far more detailed than a wayfinding map needs. The goal is a simplified, readable version, not the full construction drawing.
-
Turn off the noise
In your CAD tool, switch off layers you don't need — dimensions, grids, furniture, services, text schedules — leaving walls, key rooms and circulation.
-
Export to SVG or PDF
Export the tidied drawing to SVG if your tool supports it, or to PDF and convert as above.
-
Simplify and style
In a vector editor, thicken walls so they read at a glance, add flat colour to key areas, and drop anything still too fine to see when zoomed to fit.
From a printed or scanned plan
If all you have is paper, you have two routes:
Redraw or scan
| Route | How | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Redraw it (best) | Trace over the scan in a vector editor and export SVG | Crisp, light, sharp at any zoom — the ideal outcome |
| Scan it (quick) | Scan straight, high resolution, then crop and save as PNG (or JPG if it's a photo-like scan) | Fine for a simple map; will soften if visitors zoom right in |
Multi-level source files
If your PDF or CAD file has one page per floor, export each floor on the same canvas so the levels line up when visitors switch between them. The multi-level alignment guide covers this in detail.
Then upload
Once you have a clean SVG, PNG or JPG, open your map's Levels tab, add a level and upload the image. Preview it, check the labels are legible at fit-to-screen zoom, and refine the source file if anything's too fine or too cluttered.