A Cartivale map theme

Paper Cut

Picture a place built from sheets of coloured paper. Paper Cut gives land, water and buildings their own layers, with small shadows that make the shapes feel lifted from the page. Arrange the view and let the edges catch your eye.

Create with Paper Cut

In the studio, choose Paper Cut under Theme, then pick a style.

Lisbon · Earth · Made with Cartivale

A little depth goes a long way

The shadows sit between geographic layers, so the depth follows the map rather than framing it with one large shadow. Slightly imperfect edges and a paper-like surface soften the shapes. Where Geometric keeps its colour fields flat, Paper Cut lets them feel stacked. The effect stays shallow, closer to a carefully assembled collage than a three-dimensional landscape.

Find your starting style

Nordic keeps the layers cool and restrained. Botanical brings more green, Pastel softens the colours, Earth feels warmer, and Vibrant makes the separation bolder.

Nordic
Cape Town
Botanical
Montréal
Pastel
Venice
Earth
Lisbon
Vibrant
Wellington

Arrange your paper landscape

Try a crop where water, parks and streets have enough room to separate. Choose layer colours that work together, then add your own words or a marker. Keep text away from busy edges so it feels placed on the composition rather than caught between its layers.

How it works