The Weather Forecasting Forum

First you will need to download and save this map:

http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/sat-bin/disp ... LATEST.jpg

Click on the thumbnail for a higher resolution image. Save the image...you may have to change the extension to jpg (it will probably try to save it with a z extension).

The next step is to download irfanview, a free graphics viewer, from here (any other graphics software will perform the following as well):

http://www.tucows.com/preview/194967

Open the image in irfanview..once loaded do the following:

1) On the menu click image then canvas size; left side=0, right side=0, tope side=154, bottom side=154---click OK

2) On the menu click image then resize/resample; make sure that preserve aspect ratio (lower left of screen) is NOT checked, set the image width to 2216, on the lower right use resample, lanczos seems to be best--click OK

3) On the menu click file then save and overwrite the existing image.

Do the following in DA WS

1) Click Map then Import Planetary Map..go to wherever you saved the image, select it, click OK....

This map looks best at continental scale due to resolution limitations.

This may seem like it would take forever, but it really doesn't. The satellite images are supposed to be updated every three hours..

Dear Weasel,
With regard to using the sat pic as a base map in DAWS, thanks for the idea and the method.

I'm having some problems geting the results intended though, having tried several times after following your instructions.

When I import the saved map into DAWS I get a good match with longitude but latitude is grossly out.

I've followed your instructions as accurately as I can but so far no joy. I note that you quote an image width but not a height. Would this have any effect?

I'd appreciate any help you can offer. I'm no expert at this game, but the prospect of plots on top of a sat map is just too good to miss!

'Hope you can help,

Kind regards,

Dave Exton, UK.

Hello Dave,

Remember, you need to add a gap/canvas to the top and bottom of the image to account for the degrees of latitude that aren't included with the image. Adding the 154 to the top and the bottom through the canvas will take care of this, and adjust the height.

The width value needs to be included to make the map a 2:1 ratio so DA WS is able to import it as a planetary map.

Here is an example from 21 GMT today that will import into DA WS, just so you can see what the map will look like (yours may end up a different colour on the top and bottom):

http://webpages.charter.net/wistorms/20 ... Global.jpg

Again, these will look best at a large scale due to satellite image resolution limitations...say Europe as a whole at a 4000 scale or larger, using map dimensions of 800X600.

Let me know how everything goes, Dave..I'm pretty certain if you would just include the canvas extension to the top and bottom everthing will look fine.

Pat

Pat,

Thanks a million! Success!

I think I now know where I was going wrong. It seems I was importing the unprocessed map back into DA WS (what an air-head)and ignoring the image I'd set up.

Anyway, things now look good, and I'm looking forward to playing "hunt-the-front" in the data sparse North Atlantic!

Once again, many thanks.

Kindest regards,

Dave.

Dave,

Glad you sorted it all out:)

It is a little cumbersome until one gets used to it..Once you set up the canvas in Irfanview the setting will remain the same the next time you make the map, unless you change it whilst working on something else.

Happy hunting!!

Cheers,

Pat.