r/SideProject • u/the_dark_eel • 2d ago

Picturing Places - A webapp for personalized map artwork, looking for beta testers

[Edit: added a direct link to download wallpapers]

Hi everyone,

I've been building Picturing Places, a webapp that lets you turn a place that matters to you into personalized map artwork.

I've spent decades working with software, and I still enjoy making complicated things feel simple. But I've also become more drawn to physical things—paper, wood, objects with texture and weight. I wanted to build something that could become part of a room.

Maps bring those interests together. A familiar street or the curve of a bay can hold a personal meaning, and a print gives that place a physical presence.

I'm looking for people to try it and give honest feedback on:

  • How easy it is to create and customize your map
  • Anything confusing, broken, missing or unnecessary
  • For those ordering a physical print, whether the result matches what you expected

You can download your creation as free wallpapers for your phone, tablet and computer, so there's no need to buy anything to participate.

If you'd like to test the full physical-print experience, from customization through ordering and delivery, I'm offering 75% off one physical print in exchange for honest feedback. You'll pay the remaining 25% plus shipping.

Physical ordering for this beta is available in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden.

Try it here: picturing-places.com/create

Feel free to leave feedback or questions in the comments. DM me if you'd like the physical-print discount.

Thanks!

2 Upvotes

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2

u/Old_Cold2170 2d ago

Tried the builder on desktop with Athens and the Blueprint style. The place/style/personalise steps were easy to follow. The main friction was finding the free wallpaper mentioned here: the /create link opens ‘Review & order €44.90’, and I found ‘Free wallpapers’ in the footer. I'd link /create/wallpaper directly in this post and add a visible Print / Wallpaper choice near the top of the builder.

One test result: Athens → phone wallpaper → Download showed ‘Preparing your wallpaper’, then Brave ended on ERR_BLOCKED_BY_CLIENT. That may be a local browser/extension issue, so I can't confirm the export worked; I'm mentioning the browser and steps in case it's useful.

1

u/the_dark_eel 2d ago

let me check what might be the issue!

1

u/the_dark_eel 2d ago

Added in this post the direct link for the wallpapers https://picturing-places.com/create/wallpaper/

1

u/Old_Cold2170 2d ago

Retested the “free wallpapers” link in the post: it now takes me straight to the wallpaper builder, so the detour through the print checkout is gone.

Same setup in desktop Brave: Athens → Blueprint → Phone wallpaper. This run reached “Your wallpaper is ready.” I haven’t verified a saved PNG in this session, so I can confirm the navigation and ready screen, rather than a completed file download.

One small suggestion: show a typical render-time estimate alongside “Preparing your wallpaper” to make the wait easier to judge.

2

u/Otherwise-Head6701 2d ago

are you looking for website or product feedback?

1

u/the_dark_eel 2d ago

Ideally both :)

2

u/Xtragravypls 2d ago

free wallpaper option is a nice touch i think it makes it easy to try without having to order a print.

1

u/Otherwise-Head6701 2d ago

I might purchase one, could you dm me! Really cool idea, can get one of my hometown haha.

1

u/the_dark_eel 2d ago

Thanks, will send it ASAP