This article covers creating a custom theme for your WPGM Map. This documentation is current for WP Go Maps version 6. You will learn how to create a theme for Google Maps and how to add it to the settings for your Map.
Create a Custom Map Theme
We will use the Google Maps APIs Styling Wizard to create a style for our Map. Start by going to this URL, https://mapstyle.withgoogle.com/, and clicking the CREATE A STYLE button.
From the left Create map style sidebar, select one of the 6 sample themes as a starting point.
For this article, we chose the Retro style. When you select a style by clicking in the appropriate radio button the map preview will change to your selected style.
The next step is to fine-tune the details for our new theme. Click the MORE OPTIONS button at the bottom of the left sidebar. You can now make changes to all of your map’s features.
The highest level at which you can make changes is All. To make changes at this level, click the arrow to the right of All in the sidebar. The sidebar will expand as shown below.
You can make global changes to the Geometry and Labels on your map here. Click on the arrow for the feature you want to change. In the screenshot below we are changing the color of the Icon associated with each Label. We have surrounded a couple of Labels on the Map with a red frame so you can see the implemented color.
You can make changes to any of the following feature types using the Styling Wizard:
- All (Global Changes)
- Administrative (Borders – both official and unofficial)
- Landscape (Terrain – both man-made and natural)
- Points of Interest
- Road
- Transit
- Water
One of the most useful changes you can make to personalize a map is to hide different features. In the screenshot below, all Business Points of Interest are hidden. Compare this screenshot with those above and you will see that both the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Fish Market are no longer visible on the Map.
Once you have finished customizing a theme, click the FINISH button.
The Export Style window opens up. Copy the JSON code for pasting into the WP Go Maps settings for our Map.
You can also paste this code directly into the WP Go Maps settings.
Use Your Custom Theme in WP Go Maps
Open the Map you want to style. Then click the Themes tab on the Create your Map page.
Right-click into the text box and press {Ctrl}{v} to paste your JSON code. Then click the Preview button.
Finally, click the Save Map button. Your Map now has a custom theme.
If you would like more technical information on creating custom styles for your Maps, see Start Styling Your Map on the Google Maps API site.
This article covered creating a custom theme for your WPGM Map. If you need further assistance, feel free to post on our Support Forums or visit our Support Desk.
Was this article helpful to you?