Overview
AXIS Maps provides a set of tools for placing visual elements on the map canvas — locators (geographic markers with labels), custom icons, and region highlighting. These tools are central to broadcast map storytelling.
Locators
Locators are geographic markers with labels used to highlight specific locations on the map. They are fully customizable in appearance and are a core feature for news, sports, and weather broadcasts.
Adding a Locator
- Click the Locators tool in the Feature Panel.
- Click on the map canvas at the desired location or search for a location.
- Enter the label text.
- Select the locator style from the available styles assigned to your project.
- Adjust position, label offset, and connector line as needed.
Locator Properties
Each locator can be configured individually:
| Property | Description |
| Locator text | The text displayed alongside the marker. Supports custom content. |
| Locator style | Visual template (marker shape, color, font) from the assigned style set. |
| Label position | Where the label appears relative to the marker: top, bottom, left, right. |
| Visibility | Show or hide individual locators without deleting them. |
Geolocation and GeoSearch
The GeoSearch bar allows you to find locations by name and place a locator automatically. Start typing a place name in the search bar — autocomplete suggestions appear as you type. Select a result to zoom the map to that location and optionally drop a locator.
GeoSearch supports filtering results by continent to reduce noise when working with ambiguous place names.
Icons
The Icons feature enables users to enhance maps with custom icon markers. Icons can be selected from predefined icon sets associated with your organization (default Chyron set plus any custom organizational set).
Adding an Icon
- Click the Icons tool in the Feature panel.
- Search for an icon by name or browse the available sets.
- Click to place the icon on the map canvas.
- Resize and reposition as needed using the handles.
Note: Custom icon sets are uploaded and managed by your organization's administrator through the Track (Asset Management tool).
Raise (Region Highlight)
The Raise feature provides a way to visually emphasize and differentiate geographical areas on the map. It allows users to highlight specific regions — such as countries, states, or districts — by lifting them visually above the surrounding map through a color overlay effect.
To use Raise:
- Click the Raise Color in the Feature Panel.
- Select a Border from the Border Type.
- Click on the region you want to highlight on the map canvas in List of borders.
- Adjust the fill color and intensity using the Raise settings.
- Apply multiple raises for multi-region stories.