Frequently asked questions
How contour generation works, which elevation data sits behind it, what you can do with the exports, and how pricing works.
The product
What TopoLines generates, from which data, and what you can do with it.
What is a topographic contour map generator?
It is a tool that reads a digital elevation model — a grid of ground heights measured from space — and traces a line through every point sitting at the same altitude. TopoLines does that for any area you draw on the map and hands you the result as vector artwork rather than a picture of a map.
Which elevation data does TopoLines use?
SRTM at 30 m per pixel on the free tier, and 10 m GeoTIFF on Pro. Over France, Pro uses IGN RGE ALTI at 5 m, which is the finest public terrain data available there.
How accurate are the contour lines?
As accurate as the underlying elevation model. At 30 m sampling, features narrower than about 30 m are invisible; at 10 m you start to see individual gullies and ridgelines. Neither is a substitute for a surveyed map for navigation or engineering.
Can I use TopoLines anywhere on Earth?
Yes. Coverage is global between roughly 60°N and 56°S, which is where SRTM was flown. Ocean is masked out, so coastal zones give you the land contours without a false sea-level pattern.
Is the exported SVG really editable?
Yes — contours arrive as real vector paths grouped by elevation level, so you can restyle, recolour or delete any band in Figma or Illustrator. Enable Flatten if you would rather have one single shape.
What can I use the exports for?
Anything you like, including commercial work — prints, posters, packaging, client projects. The contour line art you generate is yours.
Does TopoLines work with Figma?
Two ways: copy HD PNG or SVG to your clipboard from the web app and paste it into a Figma file, or install the TopoLines Figma plugin and generate contours without leaving the canvas.
How does TopoLines compare to QGIS?
QGIS is a full GIS suite and can do far more, at the cost of installing software, sourcing a DEM and configuring a contour algorithm. TopoLines does the single job of turning a drawn area into clean, print-ready contour artwork, in a browser, in a few seconds.
Pricing & credits
Full details on the pricing page.
How much does TopoLines cost?
Generating and downloading a standard PNG is free and needs no account. Pro features are pay-as-you-go through credit packs: €5 for 50 credits, €10 for 100, €35 for 500. There is no subscription and no monthly fee.
How many credits does one export cost?
Around two credits for a typical export. The exact cost scales with the area you drew and the resolution you asked for, so a small zone at 10 m terrain costs less than a 2000 km² one. The price is shown before you confirm.
Do credits expire?
Never. A pack is a one-off purchase and the credits stay on your account until you spend them — there is nothing to cancel and nothing that lapses.
Is there a subscription or a free trial?
Neither, because neither is needed. The free tier is permanent rather than a trial, and Pro is bought in credit packs rather than billed monthly.
What payment methods do you accept?
Card and PayPal, handled by Lemonsqueezy, which acts as merchant of record and takes care of VAT and invoicing.
I paid but my credits aren't showing?
That normally means you checked out with a different email than the one you log in with. Open the claim page and enter your order ID and checkout email — both are in your Lemonsqueezy receipt — to move the credits onto your account.
Still looking?
- Help & troubleshooting — connecting the Figma plugin, broken downloads, missing credits.
- Contour map generator — how the generator works, step by step.
- Topographic maps by city — ready-made contour maps for places around the world.
- Blog — guides on SVG export, gradients, taper and high-res terrain.
- Email us — anything not covered above.