Making a Globe/ Why Paper is Best

At JustGlobes we sell all types of globes, from illuminated globes to floorstanding globes. Different globes have different print quality in terms of the resolution of the countries (how accurate and fine the country borders are etc).

This page aims to explain how the paper that forms the maps of the highest quality globes lays onto the map and how this creates the superior print quality that we outline in several of our globe descriptions.

The clear difference between maps and globes is that globes are spherical whereas maps are flat. You might say "so what? Globes are simply a map rolled around a sphere". This is incorrect as seen in the picture below the map needed to cover a globe is not rectangular like a map.

In order for maps to be created in the form that they currently take (as seen on the world maps section of our website) the gaps on the image above must be filled. The act of changing the cartography from globes into maps causes slight distortion both directionally and spatially. Technology has been created to greatly minimise these negative effects but the cartography on a map will still prove to be of lower resolution than a globe.

The above text shows why we believe that globes are better in terms of cartography than maps but the same distortion problem can occur in globes.

To explain this problem we must fist explain the differences between for example, an illuminated desktop globe and non illuminated desktop globes.

Illuminated globes have their cartography printed onto plastic which is then stretched over the globe ball. This produces the same distortion effects that plague maps. This is not always the case and any member of staff at JustGlobes can advise which illuminated globes to purchase for minimal distortion effects.

Non illuminated globes use kraft paper gores, this is the material used to make the cartography and mapping in the picture above. This is an extremely high quality material made from soft wood pulp. It is a very smooth surface compared to regular printing paper and has a much high strength. These gores are layed over the fibreboard ball in order to make the globe. This is why some lines maybe slightly out of alignment on the ball. The difference produced by this process is zero distortion of countries. In other words on a non illuminated globe what you see is what there is!

The Heirloom collection of globes at JustGlobes features illuminated globes that have had translucent paper gores layered over their balls surface. This also gives no distortion but it is a very expensive process only available on the 20" or large globe balls.