How to Draw a Compass Rose: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-19 22:11

Compass roses have a long and varied history dating back to the time of Ancient Greece. The compass rose is an invaluable tool for mapmakers and navigators around the world and there are many beautiful features of this simple and effective tool. Here we will show you how to draw a 16 point compass rose.

Step

Step 1. Make a cross shape in the middle of the paper for drawing

• Make two marks equidistant from the top side of the paper, then connect the two points with a pencil to form a horizontal line.

• Mark the center point of the paper, making two dots a few inches above and below the midpoint of the horizontal line. The result will look like this:

Step 2. Make a big circle using a compass

In the example image, we make a circle with a radius of 7.5 cm. This circle will mark the outermost edge of your compass rose later.

Step 3. With a protractor, mark the outer circle at the corners of 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°, then draw straight lines from 45° to 225°, and from 315° to 135° with a pencil

Step 4. Still using the protractor, mark the outermost circle at the following points:

• 22, 5°
• 67, 5°
• 112, 5°
• 157, 5°
• 202, 5°
• 247, 5°
• 292, 5°
• 337, 5°

Step 5. Connect the following dots:

• 22, 5° and 202, 5°
• 67.5° and 247.5°
• 112, 5° and 292, 5°

• 157.5° and 337.5°

  

  Step 6. Draw a second circle with a radius of 5 cm

  

  Step 7. Set the compass 2.5 cm apart, then draw a third circle in the middle of the larger circle

  

  Step 8. Draw arrows for the main cardinal corners

  Start at 0° (U) on the outermost circle, then draw a line to the point where the 45° angle intersects the inner circle.

  • Do the same from the 0° angle to the 315° intersection point and the inner circle.

  • Repeat the process at an angle of 90° (T), draw a line to the innermost circle that intersects the points 45° and 135°; from an angle of 180° (S), to the intersection of 135° and 225°; and from an angle of 270° (B), to the point of intersection of 225° and 315°. Your compass rose should look like this:

    

    Step 9. Draw the secondary cardinal angles

    Starting at a 45° (SL) angle on the outermost circle, draw a line that intersects the 22.5° line or the right side of the North cardinal.

    • Do the same from the 45° angle to the 67.5° intersecting point or the upper east cardinal edge.

    • Repeat this step at an angle of 135° (TG), to the lower side of the East and right-hand sides of the South; at an angle of 225° (BD) with the left side of the South and the lower side of the West; then at an angle of 315° (BL) with the top side West and the left side North. Your compass rose should look like this:

    

    Step 10. Add the last corner points, starting from the North-Northeast (UTL) point

    Starting at an angle of 22.5° on the outermost circle, draw a line from the outermost circle to the second circle on the top Northeast side.

    • Repeat the above steps at 67.5° (East-Northeast), draw a line until it touches the bottom side of the Northeast and the top side of the East.
    • From the point 112.5 ° (East-Southeast) to the lower side of the East and the upper side of the Southeast.
    • From the point 157.5 ° (South-Southeast) to the lower side of the Southeast and the right side of the South.
    • From the point 202, 5° (South-Southwest) to the left side of the South and the lower side of the Southeast.
    • From the point 247.5 ° (West-Southwest) to the upper South-East and lower-West sides.
    • From point 292.5 5° (West-Northwest) to the upper West and lower North-West sides.

    • Finally from the point 337.5° (North-Northwest) to the top side of the Northwest and the left side of the North. Your compass rose should look like this:

    

    Step 11. Give the directions for the cardinal names as shown in the picture:

    

    Step 12. Color the compass rose as you wish and happy sailing