What makes a good lake map
The difference between a lake map and a flat cutout is the lake floor. TopoStack includes surveyed depth data for thousands of lakes, so the layers follow measured depths rather than an even slope. Where a lake has no survey, the studio models depths from the shoreline and the surrounding terrain and tells you so. Surveyed lakes give the most recognizable result.
1. Find your lake
Browse lake depth maps by region. Minnesota is listed by county, and Ontario, Finland and Norway by name. You can also search the lake directory by name, county or survey ID. Select a lake to open the studio framed to its survey area.
If your lake is not listed, search for it in the studio instead. TopoStack still cuts the shoreline and models a plausible floor; how lake depths work explains what to expect.
2. Frame the whole lake
Include the whole lake and a margin of surrounding land. The land around the shore gives the map its edge and helps TopoStack estimate any unsurveyed parts. In Cut size, choose a rectangle or a circle and enter the finished width. A long, narrow lake usually fits a rectangle; a round lake often looks best in a circle.
3. Choose the material and depth
Open Terrain layers and enter your measured sheet thickness. The studio works out how many sheets the land and the lake floor need. Thin sheets such as 3 mm plywood or basswood give more steps and a smoother lake floor; thicker sheets mean fewer, bolder steps.
Lakes are shallow compared with their width, so depth is exaggerated to make it visible. If the lake needs more depth sheets than you want to cut, turn on Limit depth layers, set Maximum depth layers, and turn on Fit lake depth to available layers. TopoStack then compresses the depths into that many sheets while the shoreline stays where it is. The settings reference lists each control.
4. Add the details that make it personal
In Map details, choose roads, trails and labels for context, and keep Water depth on. To mark a cabin, a dock or a favorite fishing spot, add a marker in Custom Data from its coordinates, or import a GPX track of a paddling route. See custom markers and paths.
5. Paint the water
Many lake maps are painted or stained blue in the lake, often darker toward the deepest layers. Turn on Water paint templates and TopoStack cuts a paper stencil for each layer, open only where water stays visible once the stack is glued. The paint template guide covers the process.
6. Generate, export and cut
Select Generate terrain, check the warnings about survey coverage or estimated depths, and step through the Cut layers view. Then open Export for the SVG cut panels, the assembly guide and ATTRIBUTION.txt, which credits the lake survey. If the map is bigger than your laser bed, split it into pieces. The layered map guide covers kerf, nesting and assembly in detail.
Check before you cut
Confirm the imported size and your kerf setting, and cut one small layer as a test before committing the whole stack. Survey dates and water levels vary, so a lake floor from an older survey may differ from today’s lake.