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User guide · Export

Play, screenshot, and social exports.

Play often needs about 15 seconds to load tiles and the timeline. Screenshot should include overlays (badges, routes, cutouts). Export at 16:9, 9:16, or 1:1. 3D models look 3D in Play; the downloaded MP4 uses the Stock thumbnail or a cube because the cloud renderer has no 3D scene.

Top bar: Play (emerald), Export 16:9 with a format chevron, Screenshot. More on the left rail opens Settings, User guide, FAQ, Privacy, Terms.

01Play and Pause

  1. Click Play in the top bar (emerald button).
  2. Wait. A spinner and “Loading animation… this can take about 15 seconds” is normal — do not assume it is frozen.
  3. Click the same button (now Pause, or Loading…) to cancel. That is the Cancel for a load that is taking too long.
  4. Space also plays or pauses when the player is focused.

02Screenshot and Download

  1. Frame the globe (zoom / Reset as needed).
  2. Click Screenshot in the top bar.
  3. A thumbnail appears under the canvas. Click Download to save a PNG.

Intended behavior: the PNG includes map overlays (routes, cutouts, images, icons, badges, drawings). UI chrome (zoom buttons, Hold Map) is hidden for the capture. If a capture is missing overlays, retry after the globe has finished loading tiles. 3D models on a route are part of the Mapbox canvas in the editor; exported MP4s still use the thumbnail or cube for those models.

03Export 16:9, 9:16, 1:1

  1. Click the small chevron on the right of Export (Choose export format).
  2. Click Landscape (16:9) for YouTube / X / LinkedIn.
  3. Click Vertical (9:16) for Stories, Reels, TikTok.
  4. Click Square (1:1) for Instagram feed.
  5. Click Export 16:9 (or Export 9:16 / Export 1:1).
  6. Watch the progress bar. Click Cancel on the progress UI if you need to abort the render.
  7. Signed-in users can leave and pick up the file in My Videos (7 days).
  8. Guests should stay on the page, then click Download Video.

Same ratios live under More → Settings → Social formats. Duration is 5–20 seconds (default 15) at 30 fps. Free exports include the 3DMaps.app watermark. Paid plans can turn it off under More → Settings → Watermark.

04More: Settings, legal, guide

  1. Click More on the left rail (⋯).
  2. Click Settings for Social formats, Duration, and Watermark (paid plans can turn the watermark off).
  3. Click User guide (this handbook) or FAQ.
  4. Click Privacy or Terms for legal pages.
  5. On a phone, More also lists My Maps and My Videos.

05Troubleshooting

  • Overlay looks huge or wrong: Draw → Select, click the overlay, drag the corner. For route cutouts, lower Cutout size. Flip Direction / Rotation if a plane faces backward. For 3D models, use 3D Model Size (0.1×–20×) on the route row — Tilt and Bank are hidden.
  • Exported 3D model looks flat: Expected. Play in the editor shows the WebGL mesh. The MP4 uses the Stock thumbnail or a cube.
  • Play seems stuck: Wait ~15 seconds. Click Pause / Loading to cancel. Confirm you have a country highlight before expecting a flyover.
  • More looks empty / no sounds: Use Assets or Special Effects for Transition and Sound. More is Settings + legal + this guide — not the effects mixer.
  • Export 502 or HTML error: Retry. Contact support with the time of the attempt if it persists.
  • Black export: The render environment is missing a Mapbox token — contact support.

Example: TikTok vertical

  1. More → Settings → click Vertical (9:16).
  2. Set Duration to 15s.
  3. Click Play and wait through the load overlay.
  4. Click Export 9:16, then Download Video or open My Videos.

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