New: Draw arrows in locator maps
In Datawrapper locator maps, you can mark points of interest and add areas and lines to show connections and boundaries. But sometimes, you want to show the movement between two locations. Starting today, you can add arrows in locator maps that let you do so.
There are many scenarios for which arrow markers are the perfect choice. Use them to highlight trade flows between countries, show the advancement of military troops, document the migration route of humans or animals, or even map your own travels.
Draw arrows directly in Datawrapper
Adding arrows is straightforward: You can draw them directly on your locator map. Click on the map to set the start point, then click again to set the end. After adding an arrow, you can make it curve more or less.
Show “from where to where”, but also “how much”
We offer two separate arrow styles to cover all your needs: Line arrows show a simple direction from point A to point B. Flow arrows are thicker at one end than the other, which makes them ideal for showing not just “from where to where” but also “how much” – especially in comparison. On a migration or commuter map, for example, two flow arrows of different thicknesses can make clear quickly which route is used more.
Make your arrows look perfect for your map
In addition to choosing between a line and flow arrow, you’ll find lots of ways to change the look of your arrows: Set a color, give them a (neat-looking!) fading opacity, and change their thickness, arrowhead, and curve. You can also decide to show an arrowhead on both sides, when the direction isn't one-way.
Have you finished creating your arrows, but still need to make it clear what they mean? As with all our marker types, you can explain the arrows in your map key.
Add and style one arrow – or dozens
If you need lots of arrows on your map, you can upload them in one go as a CSV or GeoJSON. To make it more convenient to work with arrows, we also made it possible to convert two-point lines to arrows directly after importing them. As with all our other marker types, you can define your arrow’s style before uploading them.
To keep adding arrows in Datawrapper after creating one, use the shortcut A . And to quickly style your arrows in the Datawrapper app, you can select multiple ones in the list of markers and edit them all together, or copy & paste styles between arrows.
We hope this latest addition helps you build even better locator maps. If you have any questions about arrow markers, get in touch with us at support@datawrapper.de.
