Some rules for placing text in maps:

• avoid confusion of symbols and text

  

• offset (names at linear elements)
  
  
• plasticity - level of curvature
  
  
• external factors require individual decisions
  
  
• visual impact (even distribution)
  
  
• wanted versus unwanted variability
  
  
• Name placement at point objects
  
  
  
  There is a specific order of preference of the location of the name relative to the named point symbol: the favourite position is to its upper right (see number 1 in figure below), the location beneath the symbol is considered decidedly less effective (#2), and a location of the name on the same line as the symbol, either to its right or to its left, is considered anathema.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Name placement at line objects

• Name placement at area objects

• Automatic name placement:
  
  - Success depends on density of text.
  - 50% to 90% may be solved automatically.
  - Good legibility always requires manual processing.
  
  
  
• Remember a very important guiding principle
  

"position the name so as to optimize the association between name and object"