How to Export Maps for Business Cards, Flyers & Print Materials
Adding a map to your business cards, flyers, and brochures makes it dramatically easier for customers to find you. Studies show that printed materials with location maps increase in-person visits by 67% compared to those with just an address.
This guide covers everything you need to create high-quality, print-ready map images for all your marketing materials—from business cards to large-format posters.
📊 Marketing Stats: 79% of consumers keep business cards they find useful. Adding a map increases the "usefulness" factor and keeps your card from ending up in the trash.
Why Add Maps to Print Materials?
1. Business Cards
- Instant Recognition: Recipients immediately understand where you're located
- Competitive Edge: Less than 20% of business cards include maps—stand out
- Visual Interest: Breaks up text-heavy designs
- Memorable: Visual information is retained 65% better than text alone
2. Flyers & Brochures
- Increases Foot Traffic: 3x more likely to visit when they can visualize location
- Event Promotion: Essential for venue finding
- Professional Appearance: Shows attention to detail
- Reduces No-Shows: Customers are more confident they can find you
3. Postcards & Direct Mail
- Higher Response Rate: 2.4x better response rate with maps vs. addresses only
- Local Targeting: Shows proximity to recipient's neighborhood
- Quick Decision Making: Recipients can instantly assess convenience
4. Posters & Signage
- Wayfinding: Helps customers navigate to your location
- Event Coordination: Critical for conferences, festivals, weddings
- Large-Scale Visibility: Easy to read from a distance
Print Resolution Requirements
Different print materials require different image resolutions for crisp, professional results.
| Print Material | Minimum DPI | Recommended Size | File Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Cards | 300 DPI | 1050 x 600 px (3.5" x 2") | PNG or JPG |
| Flyers (8.5" x 11") | 300 DPI | 2550 x 3300 px | PNG or JPG |
| Postcards (6" x 4") | 300 DPI | 1800 x 1200 px | PNG or JPG |
| Brochures (tri-fold) | 300 DPI | Varies by panel | PNG or JPG |
| Posters (24" x 36") | 150-200 DPI | 3600 x 5400 px @ 150 DPI | PNG or JPG |
⚠️ Important: Google Static Maps API (used by most generators) has a maximum size of 640 x 640 pixels. For larger print materials, you'll need to scale images carefully in your design software or use vector-based solutions.
How to Export Maps for Print
1Choose Your Location
Enter the exact address you want to display. For best results:
- Use complete addresses (street, city, state, ZIP)
- Include business name if it's on Google Maps
- Test the preview to ensure the pin is correctly placed
2Set Map Dimensions
Configure the size based on your print needs:
Business Card Example:
- Width: 600px
- Height: 400px
- Zoom: 14-15 (shows surrounding streets)
- Map Type: Roadmap (cleanest for small print)
Flyer/Brochure Example:
- Width: 640px (max for free generators)
- Height: 640px
- Zoom: 13-14 (shows neighborhood context)
- Map Type: Roadmap or Terrain
3Adjust Zoom Level
Zoom level dramatically affects map usefulness:
- Zoom 11-12: Shows entire city/district (good for citywide businesses)
- Zoom 13-14: Shows neighborhood (best for most businesses)
- Zoom 15-16: Shows immediate area with street names (best for business cards)
- Zoom 17-18: Very close, shows parking and entrances
💡 Pro Tip: For business cards, use zoom 15-16 to show nearby landmarks. For event flyers, use zoom 13-14 to show parking areas and surrounding streets.
4Select Map Type
- Roadmap: Best for business cards and professional materials (clean, minimal)
- Terrain: Good for outdoor businesses, parks, hiking destinations
- Satellite: Helps show actual building appearance and parking lots
- Hybrid: Combines satellite with road labels (good for large venues)
5Export as PNG or JPG
Choose the right format for your needs:
- PNG: Better quality, larger file size, supports transparency
- JPG: Smaller file size, good for full-color printing
✅ Recommendation: Use PNG for business cards and professional materials where quality matters most. Use JPG for large print runs where file size matters.
Preparing Maps for Professional Printing
Step 1: Scale Image in Design Software
If your exported map is smaller than needed, import it into design software:
- Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop: Place image, scale to desired size
- Canva: Upload image, resize on canvas
- GIMP (Free): Image → Scale Image
⚠️ Warning: Don't scale up more than 150% of original size, or quality will degrade. For large-format prints, consider using multiple map sections or higher-resolution export methods.
Step 2: Add Color Correction (If Needed)
Print colors may differ from screen colors:
- Increase contrast slightly (5-10%) for better print clarity
- Adjust brightness down slightly (-5 to -10) for accurate print results
- Convert to CMYK if your printer requires it (most modern printers handle RGB)
Step 3: Add Bleed (For Full-Page Prints)
If your map extends to the edge of the page:
- Add 0.125" (3mm) bleed on all sides
- Extend map image beyond trim line
- Consult with your printer for specific bleed requirements
Step 4: Test Print
Before ordering bulk prints:
- Print one copy on your home/office printer
- Check if map details are readable at actual size
- Verify pin location is clearly visible
- Ensure text/labels are legible
- Adjust zoom or size if needed
Design Best Practices
Business Cards
- Placement: Back of card works best (keeps front clean)
- Size: Use 50-70% of card space for map
- Context: Add text like "Visit us at:" above map
- Readability: Ensure major streets are visible
Flyers & Brochures
- Placement: Bottom section or back panel
- Size: 2" x 2" minimum, 4" x 4" ideal
- Caption: Include address text below map for accessibility
- Call-out: Add "We're here!" or similar text with arrow
Postcards
- Placement: Front (with business info) or back (with address)
- Size: 3" x 3" to 4" x 4"
- Radius Map: Consider showing "We serve these areas" radius
- Landmark Callouts: Label nearby landmarks in text
Posters
- Placement: Prominent position, often center or top-third
- Size: Large enough to read from 5-10 feet away
- Multiple Views: Consider showing both wide area and close-up
- Directions: Add text directions alongside map
Common Print Material Use Cases
Restaurants & Cafes
Business Card Back: Map (zoom 15) + "Find us on Main Street"
Menu Insert: Larger map (zoom 13) showing parking and nearby landmarks
Why It Works: 68% of diners choose restaurants within 5 miles—showing your location increases visits
Real Estate Agents
Listing Flyer: Property map (zoom 14) showing schools, shopping, highways
Business Card: Office location map (zoom 16)
Why It Works: "Location, location, location"—maps help buyers visualize property context
Event Venues
Event Flyer: Venue map (zoom 13) with parking highlighted
Wedding Invitation Insert: Map showing venue, hotel recommendations, parking
Why It Works: Reduces no-shows by 43% according to event planning studies
Retail Stores
Grand Opening Flyer: Store map (zoom 14) + "We're open!"
Loyalty Card: Small map on back for new customer referrals
Why It Works: Local shoppers are 3x more likely to visit if they know exactly where you are
Service Businesses (Plumbers, Electricians, etc.)
Door Hanger: Service area map (zoom 11-12) showing neighborhoods served
Business Card: Office map (zoom 15)
Why It Works: Shows service area and builds local trust
Advanced Techniques
1. Adding Custom Annotations
After exporting, enhance maps in design software:
- Add text callouts: "Parking here" or "Main entrance"
- Draw arrows pointing to your location
- Highlight specific streets or landmarks
- Add distance indicators: "5 min from downtown"
2. Creating Multi-View Maps
Export 2-3 different zoom levels and combine:
- Overview Map: Shows city/region (zoom 11-12)
- Detail Map: Shows neighborhood (zoom 15-16)
- Combination: Place detail map inset over overview map
3. Adding Directional Instructions
Pair map with text directions:
Example:
[Map Image]
From Downtown: Take Main St north, turn right on Oak Ave. We're on the left after the post office.
Parking: Free parking behind building on Elm St.
4. QR Code Integration
Combine printed map with digital navigation:
- Generate QR code linking to Google Maps directions
- Place QR code near printed map
- Label: "Scan for GPS directions"
- Best of both worlds: visual map + digital navigation
Troubleshooting Print Quality Issues
Problem: Map looks pixelated/blurry when printed
Solutions:
- Export at maximum size (640 x 640 for free tools)
- Don't scale image up more than 150%
- Use PNG instead of JPG for better quality
- Increase map size in generator before exporting
Problem: Colors look different on print vs. screen
Solutions:
- Always do a test print before bulk ordering
- Adjust brightness down 5-10% for print
- Increase contrast slightly for better road visibility
- Consult with your printer about color profiles
Problem: Map is too zoomed in/out
Solutions:
- Adjust zoom level before exporting
- Test different zoom levels: 13, 14, 15, 16
- Consider your audience: local customers need less zoom, distant customers need more context
Problem: Text on map is unreadable at small sizes
Solutions:
- Use Roadmap type (cleanest labels)
- Increase zoom to show fewer but larger labels
- Make printed map larger (minimum 2" x 2")
- Add your own text callouts in design software
Cost Savings & ROI
💰 ROI Snapshot: Adding maps to business cards costs $0.02-$0.05 extra per card but increases conversion rates by 35%. If 1 in 20 cards results in a new customer, that's an ROI of 700%+.
Print Cost Comparisons
- Business Cards: $20-$50 per 500 cards (adding map: +$0)
- Flyers: $0.05-$0.25 per flyer (adding map: +$0)
- Postcards: $0.30-$0.60 per card (adding map: +$0)
- Brochures: $0.50-$2.00 per brochure (adding map: +$0)
Bottom Line: Adding maps costs nothing extra if you design it yourself—but dramatically increases effectiveness.
Quick Start Checklist
✅ Determine your print material type and size
✅ Calculate required resolution (300 DPI for most)
✅ Enter your exact address in the map generator
✅ Set appropriate width and height (600 x 400 for business cards, 640 x 640 for flyers)
✅ Adjust zoom level (15-16 for business cards, 13-14 for flyers)
✅ Choose map type (Roadmap for most professional materials)
✅ Export as PNG or JPG
✅ Import into design software and scale if needed
✅ Do a test print to verify quality
✅ Order bulk prints