Layers

The Layers tab is where you choose how the map itself looks. Everything else — your route, camera, and overlays — sits on top of this. The right base can completely change the mood, from a clean, minimal map to a rich satellite view at golden hour.

The base map

Start by picking a base style. Satellite gives you real aerial imagery; the designed styles trade photorealism for clarity and mood. Hover any style in the editor to preview it — here's what each looks like and where it shines:

Each style opens with a fitting light preset — for example, Dark starts at night — which you can change under Lighting.

Lighting and time of day

You can set the lighting of the map to change the whole atmosphere — from soft early light to a city glowing after dark:

For an extra-cinematic touch, switch on animate over video and choose a From and Till preset. AvoMap steps through the presets in day order across your video — for example Day → Dusk → Night — crossfading each change, so the light shifts as the journey unfolds.

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Labels and borders

Labels are the names and boundaries printed on the map. Each type toggles on or off independently, so you can keep the map clean or add detail — the tab shows how many are on (e.g. 3/5 enabled).

• Place labels — names of countries, cities, towns, and regions. When on, a density slider runs from Few (only major cities) to All (adds smaller towns).
• Road labels — street and highway names printed along the roads.
• Point of interest labels — places like shops, parks, restaurants, and stations. When on, a density slider runs from Sparse (fewer) to Dense (more).
• Transit labels — public-transport stops and station names.
• Country borders — outlines the international boundaries between countries. When on, you can pick the border colour so the outlines match the rest of your video.

Fewer labels keep the focus on your route; more labels help viewers know exactly where they are.

3D objects: buildings and landmarks

The designed styles can show 3D objects — buildings, trees, and landmarks — rising up as the camera flies past, from city skylines to famous towers. Switch them on for a lively, immersive city view, or off for a simpler, calmer scene.

3D terrain

Maps come with 3D terrain on by default, so mountains, hills, and valleys rise up realistically as the camera moves. You can turn it off for a flat, 2D map, or push it further with terrain exaggeration — keep it lower for a natural, true-to-life look, or go higher to make peaks and valleys taller and more dramatic. A touch of exaggeration can make a modest hill look like an epic climb.

Tips

• Satellite for nature, designed styles for clarity. Wild landscapes shine on satellite; city routes and data-rich maps read well on Classic, Light, or Dark.
• Golden hour is your friend. Dusk lighting makes almost any scene look cinematic.
• Trim the labels. If the map feels busy, turn off labels you don't need or lower their density so your route stands out.
• Match the mood. A dark base with a bright track feels modern; snow and outdoors suit the mountains.
• Lean into the terrain. With 3D terrain on, add an elevation profile for climbs, and finish with your own logo in the corner.