custom placemarks for city locations

[digxdsn]

I am a broadcast designer and our station uses Google Maps for on air animations. I have been trying to figure out how NBC does their custom placemarks for city locations. Here is an example -- If anyone can help that would be great. Thanks! another example

[Forkboy2]

I think they are creating the place mark icons outside of google earth. Save as PNG to keep transparency. Then insert new placemark using custom icon.

It's also possible they are pre-rendering the zoom, saving it as an animation and then adding the placemarks in some kind of video editing software.

[digxdsn]

Thanks Forkboy2!!
It was saved as a costume icon as a PNG with a title on it. I recreated it, worked great! I can't wait to use it on broadcast air!!!!

[terrypin]

Hi,

Just found this thread while researching a similar requirement.

Could either of you amplify a little please? Which of the two methods was used:
- Making customised GE placemarks/icons, or
- Adding the labels in the video editor?

Is 'costume icon' some specialist term, or a typo for 'custom icon'? If the latter can you say a bit more about the steps to create them please?

I do a fair bit of this sort of thing for my holiday viideos. Up until now I've always compromised by waiting until any map movement ended and then applying titles to the static map in my video editor (Magix MEP). But I've decided it's about time I did it properly!

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[digxdsn]

Yes I used the placemarks and added a png file as a custom icon. Make sure that the center point of your marker is place in the center of the file. I erase the "Untitled Placemark" name and if it needs re-sized just go to the style and color tab and adjust the scale of the label. This is just a photoshop file that I change the location names and save it out as a png. Works like a charm.

[terrypin]

Many thanks, looks great, I'll try that!

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK