More things you can add to Google Earth.
If you have not installed and signed on as a Google Earth member then check the
introduction page. You need to registered to
share your markers.
Overlays
If you run a venue you might want to place an overlay, a bit like a
watermark, over your place on Google Earth. When you provide an overlay then
people zooming in to that location on Google’s Earth will see it. Image overlays
are not selectable but project an image onto the map. Use overlays to draw
attention. Use placemarks to
help people find the entrance.
 | First get your graphic sorted. GIF or PNG are the preferred formats as they
permit transparency so the map can be visible below your overlay. Remember, we are talking small here.
If your file is 5k it is probably much too big already! An overlay, unlike a placemark, does not scale as you zoom. |
| Launch Google Earth and navigate to the place you want to mark. Once you
are over the chosen spot select Add/Image Overlay from the menu. |
| A box will popup to enter the description and title. You
will get another chance to refine the exact spot for your overlay. |
| You can set the transparency so that people can still see what is below.
The amount of transparency you set depends on your image. |
| Now choose File/Save/Save file to make this an overlay that is linked to
the web. That way the world gets to see it. If you only want to share it with
friends select File/Email/Email Overlay which you can send to selected people
through your normal email client software (so these messages will sit in your
outbox until they are sent).
|
Photos
You can add images which, if you really get the hang of the way you can
orient them it is possible to provide a real multi-view presentation of the place or landscape.
Polygon
You can trace out an area using another off the add-options. This allows you
to outline or overlay some colour to highlight some feature of your choice.
Creating a tour inside Google earth is possible by using overlays or
placemarks. Choose Add/Folder and put the locations in a particular order. To
view these, with the folder checked, press the play button and Google Earth will
take you for a tour of your locations.
Google Earth provides many outlets for your creativity. It is simple to use
although you will need to experiment a bit but this facility really make the
concept of a worldwide web a reality.
Chas Jones
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