Whether you’re overlaying a floor plan, historical map, site plan, illustration, or aerial imagery, getting an image positioned correctly on a live map traditionally required GIS software and a dedicated georeferencing workflow.
For most projects, that’s no longer necessary. Mapme Image Layers let you upload an image and visually align it directly with the underlying map by moving, rotating, resizing, and independently adjusting its corners.
In simple terms, georeferencing means placing an image in its correct real-world location so that features in the image line up with streets, buildings, property boundaries, and other geographic features underneath it.
This guide covers two ways to do it:
- Mapme Image Layers with Free Transform: Upload, position, align, and make an image interactive directly in Mapme, without GIS software.
- Georeferenced Tilesets: Process imagery using MapTiler, QGIS, or another GIS application, then connect the hosted tileset to Mapme.
For most floor plans, site plans, historical maps, illustrations, and localized aerial imagery, we recommend starting with a Mapme Image Layer. A georeferenced tileset is generally more appropriate when the source image is extremely large, covers an extensive geographic area, needs to remain sharp across many zoom levels, or requires coordinate-based GIS georeferencing.
Image Layer or Georeferenced Tileset?
Before getting into the setup process, use the comparison below to determine which approach is best for your project.
| Image Layer | Tileset | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Floor plans, site plans, illustrations, historical maps, and localized aerial imagery | Very large or high-resolution imagery and wide geographic areas |
| Setup | Directly in Mapme | External GIS or georeferencing tools |
| Alignment | Visual four-corner alignment with Top-down and Angled transform options | Geographic control points and coordinates |
| Aerial imagery | Supports both top-down and angled aerial imagery | Recommended for very large or highly detailed aerial imagery |
| Large images | Best for localized overlays | Optimized for large-scale imagery |
| Visibility | Zoom, map view, and selection-based visibility rules | Basic tileset display |
| Click or tap | Open a location, category, or URL | No image-level actions |
| Updates | Edit and reposition directly in Mapme | May require reprocessing and republishing |
Our recommendation: Start with an Image Layer. For most projects, Free Transform provides the flexibility needed to accurately align an image without using an external georeferencing tool. Move to a tileset when image size, geographic coverage, resolution requirements, or coordinate-based positioning make it necessary.
What Is Image Georeferencing?
Image georeferencing is the process of positioning an image in a real-world geographic location so it can be displayed over a map.
This makes it possible to combine custom imagery with an existing basemap. Common examples include illustrations and drone imagery, floor plans, site plans, historical maps, and proposed real estate developments.
Common Use Cases
- Visualizing proposed real estate developments. See the Image Layer Example or Georeferenced Tileset Example.
- Creating interactive campus maps. Check example.
- Designing exhibition and event floor plans. Check example.
- Displaying drone and aerial imagery.
- Showcasing historical map overlays. Check example.
Method 1: Georeference an Image with a Mapme Image Layer
Mapme Image Layers provide the easiest way to position an image accurately on a map. You can upload, align, control, and make the image interactive without using QGIS, MapTiler, or another external georeferencing tool.
Position the Image with Free Transform
After uploading an image, you can move, rotate, and resize it directly in the Map Preview.
Mapme provides two Resize modes:
- Keep proportions: Resize the image while preserving its original proportions. This is useful when the image already has the correct shape and only needs to be resized and positioned.
- Free transform: Move each corner independently to align the image with streets, buildings, property boundaries, landmarks, or other features on the underlying map.
Free Transform makes it possible to correct the shape and positioning of an image visually, providing accurate alignment for most common use cases without requiring traditional GIS georeferencing.
Choose the Right Free Transform Option
When you select Free Transform, choose the option that best matches the viewing angle of your image:
- Top-down (default): Best for images viewed from directly above or with little perspective, such as floor plans, site plans, illustrations, scanned maps, and top-down aerial imagery. This mode provides flexible corner-by-corner alignment.
- Angled: Best for images captured at an angle or with visible perspective, such as oblique drone or aerial imagery. This mode preserves perspective while you adjust the image corners.
As a general rule, use Top-down for flat or overhead images and Angled when the image has noticeable perspective or pitch.
For example, when positioning a floor plan over a building, select Top-down and move each corner until the walls and building footprint line up. For a drone photo taken at an angle, select Angled so that perspective is preserved while you align roads, buildings, and other recognizable features.
Use Opacity for More Precise Alignment
Reducing the image opacity while positioning it makes it easier to see roads, buildings, property lines, and other basemap features underneath the image.
Once the image is correctly aligned, increase the opacity to the desired level for your final map.
Control When the Image Is Visible
Unlike a standard image overlay or basemap tileset, an Image Layer does not need to remain visible all the time. You can control its visibility based on how visitors interact with the map.
For example, an image can be displayed:
- Only within a specific zoom range
- Only on the map home view
- When a specific location is selected
- When a specific category is selected
- When any location within a category is selected
This is useful for displaying a detailed floor plan only after a visitor selects a building, or showing a development plan when its corresponding phase or category is opened.
Make the Image Interactive
An Image Layer can also respond when a visitor clicks or taps it. The interaction can:
- Open a location and display its content
- Open a category
- Open an external website or URL
This turns the image from a simple visual overlay into an interactive part of the map experience.
How to Add and Position an Image Layer
- In the Mapme editor, select Layers > Overlay.
- Click Add Drawings or Images and select Image.
- Upload your image and give the layer a name.
- Select the image in the Map Preview.
- Drag the image to move it to the relevant geographic area.
- Use the rotation handle to align its orientation.
- Under Resize mode, select Free transform.
- Select Top-down for flat or overhead images, or Angled for images with visible perspective.
- Drag each corner until recognizable features in the image line up with the corresponding features on the map.
- Lower the image opacity if needed to make alignment easier.
- Once the image is aligned, set the desired final opacity.
- Configure the layer’s visibility and click or tap action.
Tip: Use recognizable reference points near different areas of the image whenever possible. Building corners, road intersections, property boundaries, and other fixed landmarks make precise positioning easier.
Note: Switching from Free transform back to Keep proportions resets the Free Transform corner adjustments and restores the image to its original shape.
Want to try this yourself? You can add and align your first image overlay in just a few minutes.
Start a free Mapme trial and follow the steps above with your own floor plan, historical map, site plan, or aerial image.
Method 2: Create a Georeferenced Image Tileset
A raster tileset divides a large image into smaller map tiles at multiple zoom levels.
This provides fast loading and smooth zooming, even when displaying very large or highly detailed imagery.
Traditional georeferencing uses control points to match recognizable positions in the image,
such as intersections, building corners, or landmarks, with their geographic locations on a reference map.
When to Use a Georeferenced Tileset
Mapme Free Transform is sufficient for most visual image overlays. Consider a georeferenced tileset when:
- The image covers a very large geographic area.
- The source image is extremely large or highly detailed.
- You require coordinate-based GIS georeferencing.
- The imagery must remain sharp across many zoom levels.
- You are working with GIS raster formats such as GeoTIFF.
- The image is already part of an established GIS workflow.
1. Prepare the Image
- Start with the highest-resolution version available.
- Common source formats include TIFF, JPEG, and PNG.
- If the file already contains geographic coordinates, the processing software may detect them automatically.
2. Georeference the Image
You can georeference the image using MapTiler Georeferencer, QGIS, or another GIS application.
Add control points by selecting recognizable positions in the image and matching them with the same locations on a reference map. Distribute the control points across the image for the best results.
When using QGIS, the output will typically be a georeferenced raster file such as a GeoTIFF.
3. Generate and Host the Tileset
- MapTiler Georeferencer: MapTiler can process the image into raster map tiles and host the tileset in your account.
- QGIS or similar software: Export the georeferenced image and upload it to MapTiler, Mapbox, or another compatible tileset hosting provider.
Processing or hosting fees may apply depending on the provider and the size of the imagery.
4. Copy the Tileset URL
- Open the published tileset in your hosting provider.
- Locate and copy its XYZ tileset URL.
- Make sure the URL includes any required access token or API key.
5. Connect the Tileset to Mapme
Add the custom tileset to your map.
In the Mapme editor, go to Appearance > Basemap > Custom Tilesets. Then:
- Enter a name for the tileset.
- Paste the XYZ tileset URL.
- Select a base layer, if applicable.
Georeferenced Tileset Advantages
- Suitable for very large and high-resolution imagery.
- Fast loading and smooth zooming.
- Coordinate-based positioning using geographic control points.
- Well suited to drone imagery, aerial surveys, and historical maps.
Georeferenced Tileset Limitations
- Requires external software or services.
- More technical and time-consuming to configure.
- May involve processing and hosting fees.
- Does not provide Image Layer visibility rules or click actions.
- Updates may require regenerating and republishing the tileset.
Which Method Should You Use?
For most projects, start with a Mapme Image Layer.
If you’re adding a floor plan, site plan, development plan, historical map, illustration, drone image, or other imagery covering a limited area, Free Transform lets you complete the positioning process directly in Mapme without GIS software.
Use Top-down for images viewed from directly above or with little perspective. Use Angled when the source image was captured at an angle and has noticeable perspective or pitch.
A georeferenced tileset becomes the better choice when the imagery is extremely large or detailed, covers a wide geographic area, needs to remain sharp across many zoom levels, or requires precise coordinate-based GIS positioning.
If you’re unsure, start with an Image Layer. It’s faster to set up, requires no external processing or hosting, and you can always move to a tileset later if your imagery requires it.
Need Assistance?
Contact our professional services team if you need help with:
- Selecting the right image georeferencing method
- Positioning and aligning an Image Layer
- Choosing between Top-down and Angled Free Transform
- Georeferencing large or complex images
- Generating and hosting custom tilesets
- Connecting a tileset to Mapme
Our team can handle the complete georeferencing and tileset hosting process. This service is available at no additional cost to customers on eligible plans.
Image Georeferencing FAQs
Can I georeference an image without QGIS or MapTiler?
Yes. Mapme Image Layers let you visually align an image directly on your map by moving, rotating, resizing, and independently positioning its four corners. For most floor plans, site plans, historical maps, illustrations, and localized aerial imagery, no external GIS software is required.
What is the difference between Top-down and Angled Free Transform?
Top-down is designed for images viewed from directly above or with little perspective, such as floor plans, site plans, illustrations, scanned maps, and top-down aerial images. It provides flexible corner-by-corner alignment.
Angled is designed for images captured at an angle, where perspective or pitch is visible. It preserves perspective while you adjust the image corners, making it especially useful for oblique drone and aerial imagery.
Can I georeference drone or satellite imagery directly in Mapme?
Yes. Mapme Image Layers can be used for localized drone, satellite, and aerial imagery. Choose the Free Transform option based on the viewing angle of the image: use Top-down for overhead imagery and Angled for imagery with noticeable perspective or pitch.
Do I need to use Angled mode for every drone image?
No. The correct option depends on the viewing angle, not on how the image was created. A drone image captured directly from above will generally work best with Top-down, while an oblique drone image captured at an angle is better suited to Angled.
What is the difference between an Image Layer and a tileset?
An Image Layer is an individual image positioned directly in Mapme. It can be edited visually, use advanced visibility rules, and respond to clicks or taps. A raster tileset divides imagery into many smaller tiles for efficient display across multiple zoom levels and is typically created using external GIS or georeferencing tools.
When should I use a georeferenced tileset?
Use a tileset when the imagery is very large or highly detailed, covers an extensive geographic area, must remain sharp across many zoom levels, or requires control-point and coordinate-based GIS georeferencing.
Do I need a tileset for drone imagery?
Not necessarily. For drone or aerial imagery covering a limited area, Mapme Free Transform may be all you need. Tilesets are more appropriate when the imagery is very large, highly detailed, covers a wide area, or needs coordinate-based GIS positioning.
Can a georeferenced image be interactive?
Yes. With a Mapme Image Layer, clicking or tapping the image can open a location, category, or external URL. A custom raster tileset does not provide the same image-level interactions.