Removing Unwanted background

[SCC_Saluda]

The attached svg file was exported from OpenStreetMaps. I want to use as a base for a large (36" x 48") printed wall map. For some reason, the exported svg file includes a large black area around the downtown map area that I selected.

The attached png file shows the downtown area that I want. For context, it also shows some of the blackground that I want to remove.

Since it's an svg file, I assumed I'd be able to edit or remove this unwanted black background but, so far,  I have not been able to do this.

I want to retain the ability to edit or remove specific elements such as street names and other points of interest on the map.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

 

 

map_(3).svg

[GarryP]

Welcome to the forums.

I’ve just placed the SVG in a brand new Designer document and I don’t get the black background.
Opening the SVG in Designer doesn’t give me the black background either.
Can you tell us which Affinity application you’re using and supply a copy of your file – AFDESIGN/AFPHOTO/AFPUB – if possible please?

[DWright]

Hi @SCC_Saluda.

Welcome to the forum 

How are you viewing the svg file as when I open it in the Affinity apps it does not have a background and the black areas in your screen shot are not included in the svg file

 

 

[SCC_Saluda]

Thank you both for your speedy replies. 

I'm using the MACOS version of Affinity Designer v1.81. The file is an svg export from OpenStreetMap.org.

GARRY P. My original post included a link to the original svg file that includes the mystery black background when I open it with AFDesigner

DWRIGHT: I'm opening the svg file using File > Open in Affinity Designer. Did you use the svg file that I attached to my original post? If so, would you send me a saved version. I'd like to see how it opens in my system.

Again, thank you both for your fast replies.

Scott C.

Saluda, NC

[GarryP]

You’re welcome. Thanks for the extra info’.
I saw the SVG, which is how I managed to place and open it.
The file I was referring to is the file you have used the SVG in.
This file will have an extension of AFDESIGN or AFPHOTO or AFPUB.
If you can’t attach that – for whatever reason – then we can still probably help but it’s usually much easier to diagnose a problem with the file itself.

[Old Bruce]

The svg file is about 400 by 380 feet in size with the 'document' size being 1.5 by .9 feet in size. The arrow is pointing to the document.

[SCC_Saluda]

GARRYP: The attached file was saved as an AFDESIGN file but started as an svg file.

Thank you.

Scott C

map (4).afdesign

[SCC_Saluda]

OLD BRUCE: Thank you. I have no idea why the document is that large. Now that I know if though, is there a way to crop or otherwise get rid of the black background area while retaining the actual map in an editable form?

Scott C

[GarryP]

Your AFDESIGN document contains a lot of very large features (some of which I have filled in white in my attached image) that don’t seem to be in the attached SVG.
I’ve attached an AFDESIGN file that was made simply by opening the SVG you gave and saving the document as AFDESIGN.
I currently don’t know how you got all of the extra features in your AFDEsIGN file, but my first guess is that you could have used a different SVG by accident.
P.S. The SVG is probably a 1:1 map, which could be why it is hundreds of feet in width.

test map.afdesign

[SCC_Saluda]

GarryP: Thank you very much. The file you attached opens as expected.

I'm 100% certain that I didn't mix up the files. I downloaded from OpenStreetMaps using their svg format and immediately opened that file in Affinity Designer. It's a mystery and I still don't know how or why it is happening. 

Are you on a Mac or PC? I wonder if this might have anything to do with the problem.

[GarryP]

You’re welcome.
I’m using a Windows 10 PC.
If you can continue with the file I attached then that’s good but the original problem seems to be a bit of a head-scratcher for me at the moment. Maybe someone else can figure it out.
(I’ve only downloaded one file from OpenStreetMap myself but it worked okay first time.)

[markw]

Hi SCC_Saluda,
I just downloaded and opens your SVG file as is in Designer 1.8.2 with no problems.
No black background in Designer nor when exported as a PNG.
However I wonder, and forgive me for asking this, is it posible that what you think is a black background is just your canvas/pasteboard area perhaps? Is it set to a dark grey or black?
Do you have Clip To Canvas deselected? View > View Mode > Clip/Unclip to Canvas.

As fare as I can tell the culprit layers are towards the bottom of the Layer stack
Near the bottom are 3 Groups that account for most of the map’s overspill. And then another 4 single layers near the very end of the stack.

[Wosven]

Depending of what you want to do with such map, spend some time deleting unwanted parts of the map. Used as PDF for example, it can be huge and slow down another app… or make it crash too or unable to produce final PDF!

[SCC_Saluda]

markw: Thank you very much. Your hunch was correct and your solution worked. Thank you very much. I spent several unproductive hours trying to figure this out! 

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Wosven: Thank you for your reply. My original post asked how to delete a large background that turned out to be part of my canvas. See solution suggested by markw above.

FYI ... the map will be exported to eps, enlarged to approx 48" w x 36" h and printed for display in our small town's Visitor's Center.

I now have a few hours work to delete some of the extraneous objects in the file and add others that aren't shown.