Skip to main content
Create Custom Map Layers

Use Custom Layers to draw custom polygons, lines, and rectangles on your map.

Vishwas Prasad avatar
Written by Vishwas Prasad
Updated this week

The Custom layer option lets you draw custom lines, rectangles, and polygons on your Places map.

Once you have created your Places tool:

  1. In the Add Map Layer tab, use the Add a map layer drop-down menu to select Custom.

    the add a map layer dropdown with custom highlighted
  2. Add a Name for your layer and select your drawing tool. You can use a rectangle, polygon, or polyline tool.

  3. Use the crosshair cursor to draw the required shape and select Finish when the shape is complete. You will see the size and area measurements as you draw the shape.

    • The polygon shape must have at least three points before you can close it, and you can also select the first point to close it.

    • The line tool must have 2 points before you can finish drawing, and you can finish it by selecting the last point you made.

    a places map with a custom rectangular shape drawn and drawing tools highlighted
  4. Use the copy icon to copy your shape and the bin icon to remove shapes. You can also use the undo or redo buttons if you make a mistake.

    the places map with several shapes drawn and copy and delete options highlighted
  5. Select Done when you’re finished drawing; you cannot continue drawing once you select Done.

  6. Expand your layer in the list to edit the Name, Color, Opacity, Width (in px), or Restrict Pins Within boundary. A boundary restriction will ensure that participants can only submit pins within the rectangle or polygon you create.

  7. Use the eye icon to Hide your layer or the bin icon to Delete it. Save when you’re finished editing, or Cancel your changes and continue adding layers until you’re finished.

    the custom layer configuration options
  8. Drag and drop your layers in the list to reorder them.

  9. Save when you’re finished.

You can add as many shapes to your map as necessary, but if each shape needs different settings, they must be through separate layers.

Please note that shapes drawn with a line are considered open, so you can only change the color and border width, not the opacity or boundary restriction.

What Else?

Did this answer your question?