ImaginEarth offers four renderings. The right choice depends mostly on the size of the place, its country and the effect you are after.

At a glance

  • Satellite: the true colours seen from space, with the relief. Anywhere in the world, from 650 to 180,000 km².
  • Aerial: the most detailed photograph, at 20 cm. In mainland France and Corsica, from 20 to 650 km².
  • Historic map: the 19th-century French staff map, over the 3D relief. In mainland France and Corsica, from 200 to 1,500 km².
  • Relief: the land in 3D, in eight styles. Anywhere in the world, with no maximum, from 200 km² in the countries with a national relief model and 650 km² elsewhere.

The same place in the four renderings

The images below show the same 650 km² area around Lake Annecy, with the town, the Semnoz and the Tournette, in the four renderings: the aerial photo, here zoomed in on the old town, shows the roofs, the canals and the boats; the satellite image shows the colours of the lake at the end of summer; the historic map the villages of two centuries ago; and the Relief sculpts the massifs.

By the size of the place

  • A village, a neighbourhood, a small bay, under 200 km²: the Aerial rendering, the only one that shows streets and houses.
  • A town and its surroundings, a valley, from 200 to 650 km²: Aerial, Historic map or Relief.
  • A massif, a large island, a small region, from 650 to 1,500 km²: Satellite, Historic map or Relief.
  • A region, a whole country: Satellite, up to 180,000 km², or Relief, with no limit.

By country

In mainland France and Corsica, all four renderings are offered. Elsewhere in the world, Satellite and Relief.

By the effect you are after

  • A realistic, almost photographic image: Satellite or Aerial.
  • A piece of history, with old-world charm: the Historic map.
  • A decorative map that highlights the relief: Relief, in the Relief, National park, Sage or Terracotta style.
  • A graphic, minimalist look: Relief in the Plaster or Graphite style.

The best way to choose

Every preview is free: create the same area in several renderings, then compare them in "My images". Our guide Create your image, step by step details each step.