GIS Mapping and Graphic editing
At our company - we have a GIS department, working on ArcMap. Then there is a graphic artist - working on Adobe CS3. We have no training in graphics, she has no training in GIS. We pass the map to her, exported as an "ai" file. She pull it into Adobe, makes it "pretty", then makes a brochure for the client.

We are in the process NOW of combining these two jobs. I have been tasked with finding out what all's involved in that. (In fact - once it is combined - this will become MY new position here!)

I have been in contact with other GIS professionals here in Florida. From what I hear from them - this is totally no big deal, and really really common. Apparently LOTS of people feel the need to manipulate their maps graphically in ways that ArcMap can't (or that Adobe can do easier.)

So - I have some questions for the larger GIS community: How common is this? What is the most used graphics software? Does everyone just go right from the GIS file to the graphics program directly, or do more people use some sort of "bridge" program like MAPublisher?

And finally - what I have been having the HARDEST time finding an answer to: What resources exist for learning the GRAPHIC part of GIS? Are there any books, magazines, websites or classes that explain how to make maps in a graphics program?

I have TONS of books on GIS, and another TON of books about the Adobe products - but NOTHING that combines the two. I've spent way too much time looking on Google and in Amazon - with no luck there either.

So - what do you think? Is it just me - or would a lot of people be interested in an article about the Graphic Arts side of GIS?

If you don't think that this would make a good article - if you have any advice for me - that would be deeply appreciated! v Thank you,
Nonie Castro
GIS Specialist
Cox Target Media