Best Practices

IOF Mapping Specifications

The IOF has mapping specifications for each discipline of orienteering as follows (all in PDF format):

• Foot: International Specification for Orienteering Maps (ISOM) 1.79MB
• Sprint: International Specification for Sprint Orienteering Maps (ISSOM) 580K
• Mountain Bike: International Specification for Mountain Bike Orienteering Maps (ISMTBOM)1.15MB
• Ski: International Specification for Ski Orienteering Maps (ISSkiOM)

And, official control descriptions (2004):

• IOF Control Descriptions 1.17MB
• IOF Control Description: Symbols only 324K

IOF Print Tech Project

In 2002, the IOF Map Commission began a project to gather the latest knowledge about non-offset printing. Information on this project is available at the Print Tech Project Site

A key output of the project is a color test sheet that can be printed on a digital printer, inkjet or laser, and compared against a color standard offset printed version of the same file. An OCAD file test sheet and instructions on using this test sheet can be downloaded from the Print Tech Project website. The test sheet is a recommended quality control tool to check:

• correct hues of colors
• evenness of color
• no moire effect
• sharpness of  straight, round and diagonal edges of colored areas and lines
• vertical and horizontal accuracy of printing, i.e. no stretching or distortion
• printer resolution, i.e. no zig-zag lines or edges to area symbols

The Norwegian Orienteering Federation and IOF Map Commission have collected and published results from the Print Tech Project. The site includes a comprehensive table comparing different printer brands and models, with comments related to each. (Note: Some are in Norwegian: Google Translate is helpful.)