
What is MG Maps?
MG Maps is perhaps one of the most well-rounded weather map design packages available to the public from a non-commercial company. MG Maps contains a multitude of GIS elements converted over to raster & vector format for use in Photoshop to maximize layer handling due to the vast amount of data included.
In essence, MG Maps gives you crisp mapping of the world where you can pan and zoom the map onto the region you’d like to create your forecast map. Once you’ve settled on a perfect zoom level & map position, simply use the tools Photoshop is packed with to draw out your forecast and export your finished map.
More about MG Maps
MG Maps features fully layered mapping elements within each of the three versions of the packages’ Photoshop document, meaning you can enable and disable what you want, as well as underlay and overlay certain map effects and data over and under specific layers of the map. Mapping layers include an enhanced & modified Blue Marble basemap, bathymetry in the seas, country, state (and U.S. counties), and province outlines, as well as major cities/towns throughout the world. In the United States versions, major highways and interstates are included, while in the Global version graticules of latitude and longitude are included as an option to overlay in the seas.
Layers

MG Maps Pro + Lite
- United States cities level 1 (major)
- United States cities level 2 (large/medium)
- Canadian cities (major)
- Major U.S. highways & interstates
- Interstate & highway icons (new)
- Counties
- States
- Countries & ocean boarders
- State & country contrast, glow, and shadow effects
- County contrast, glow, and shadow effects
- Ocean
- Ocean bathymetry overlay
- Waterways: lakes & rivers (new)
- Topographic elevation overlay (new)
- U.S. highlight layer (darkens regions outside the lower-48)
MG Maps Global
- Worldwide cities (major)
- Country outlines
- U.S. state outlines
- Country & ocean boarders
- Topographic elevation overlay (new)
- Waterways: lakes & rivers (new)
- Modified Blue Marble basemap
- State & country contrast, glow, and shadow effects
- Ocean
- Ocean bathymetry overlay
- 5° and 15° latitude & longitude graticules
MG Maps Pro
- Highest resolution basemap of North America
1 GB
MG Maps Lite
- Half resolution North American basemap, uses less system resources
380 MB
MG Maps Global
- Entire detailed world map
1.8 GB
MetSymbol Kit, included with MG Maps, makes this layered mapping product the ultimate weather map design tool. MetSymbol Kit includes a massive selection of weather map elements, such as dozens of pressure symbols, fronts, a massive selection of tropical storm & hurricane symbols, storm system cloud spirals, directional arrows, keys for a variety of certain parameters and indices, and much more. Combined with the beautiful maps MetGraphics has produced for MG Maps, there isn’t a better weather map design package available on the net available to everyone.
Why there’s three versions
For users specifically interested in North America, MG Maps Pro & Lite are the two versions you’ll want to work with most of the time. The only difference between the two North American versions is that Pro features the highest resolution mapping, thus requiring a large amount of system (computer) resources to open and work with it. Lite on the other hand is scaled down to half the resolution, meaning if you need to work faster or have a less powerful system, it should work for you.
The Global version is for users around the world, featuring what you’d probably expect: detailed mapping of the entire world, including all the country/state/province outlines in addition to the ocean effects (bathymetry) and major cities around the world.
If you’re tired of using flat, barren, pixelated, or overused maps you find or snag from strange corners and shacks around the internet, MG Maps is the solution you’ve been seeking.
Latest features to be added to MG Maps
• global waterways (lakes and rivers)
• topography overlay to help your fills stand out where hills & mountains exist
• interstate/highway icons in the U.S.
• a brighter, toned down basemap to make your forecast stand out from the map and be easier to translate to the public eye