Using Dotted Maps in Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a powerful, affordable alternative to Illustrator — and it handles vector maps beautifully. If you want to add a clean dotted map to a poster, infographic, or brand asset, importing an SVG from World in Dots takes just a few clicks.

This guide shows how to use dotted maps in Affinity Designer, from import to editing.

Why Affinity Designer Works Well for Maps

True vector editing — every dot is an editable object
Crisp at any scale — SVG maps stay sharp from icon to billboard
No subscription — a one-time purchase, unlike Illustrator
Cross-platform — macOS, Windows, and iPad

Generate vector dotted maps

Create vector dotted maps with custom options and download them as SVG or PNG files

How to Import a Dotted Map

Step 1: Export an SVG

In World in Dots, choose your region, set the dot style and colors, and export as an SVG.

Step 2: Open in Affinity Designer

Use File → Open or simply drag the SVG onto the canvas. Affinity imports it as editable vector curves.

Step 3: Edit the Map

Recolor dots to match your brand palette
Group, ungroup, or isolate regions
Add markers, labels, or connecting lines using Affinity's vector tools

Dotted map open in Affinity Designer

Workflow Tips

Keep the imported map on its own layer so you can style around it
Use global colors to recolor all dots at once
Export the finished artwork back to SVG, PDF, or PNG for any use

Generate vector dotted maps

Create vector dotted maps with custom options and download them as SVG or PNG files

Final Thoughts

Affinity Designer and World in Dots make a great pairing: generate a clean dotted map in seconds, then refine it with full vector control. No Illustrator subscription required.

Create your map today and bring it into Affinity Designer for the perfect finish.

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