Tune gradient fade thickness by format and orientation

create_map_poster.py

@@ -165,13 +165,15 @@ def crop_axes_to_ratio(ax, target_ratio, pad=0.03):
         ax.set_ylim(cy - new_h / 2, cy + new_h / 2)
 
 
-def create_gradient_fade(ax, color, location='bottom', zorder=10):
+def create_gradient_fade(ax, color, location='bottom', zorder=10, thickness=0.25):
     """
-    Creates a fade effect at the top or bottom of the map
-    without altering the map aspect/limits.
+    Creates a fade effect at the edges of the map without altering aspect/limits.
+    location: 'bottom', 'top', 'left', 'right'
+    thickness: fraction of the axis range to cover (e.g. 0.25 = 25%)
     """
+    thickness = float(max(0.02, min(0.40, thickness)))  # clamp safe
+
     vals = np.linspace(0, 1, 256).reshape(-1, 1)
-    gradient = np.hstack((vals, vals))
 
     rgb = mcolors.to_rgb(color)
     my_colors = np.zeros((256, 4))
@@ -179,29 +181,50 @@ def create_gradient_fade(ax, color, location='bottom', zorder=10):
     my_colors[:, 1] = rgb[1]
     my_colors[:, 2] = rgb[2]
 
-    if location == 'bottom':
-        my_colors[:, 3] = np.linspace(1, 0, 256)
-        extent_y_start = 0
-        extent_y_end = 0.25
-    else:
-        my_colors[:, 3] = np.linspace(0, 1, 256)
-        extent_y_start = 0.75
-        extent_y_end = 1.0
-
-    custom_cmap = mcolors.ListedColormap(my_colors)
-
     # Save current view/aspect so imshow can't distort the map
     xlim = ax.get_xlim()
     ylim = ax.get_ylim()
     aspect = ax.get_aspect()
 
+    x_range = xlim[1] - xlim[0]
     y_range = ylim[1] - ylim[0]
-    y_bottom = ylim[0] + y_range * extent_y_start
-    y_top = ylim[0] + y_range * extent_y_end
+
+    if location == 'bottom':
+        gradient = np.hstack((vals, vals))  # vertical
+        my_colors[:, 3] = np.linspace(1, 0, 256)
+        y0 = ylim[0]
+        y1 = ylim[0] + y_range * thickness
+        extent = [xlim[0], xlim[1], y0, y1]
+
+    elif location == 'top':
+        gradient = np.hstack((vals, vals))  # vertical
+        my_colors[:, 3] = np.linspace(0, 1, 256)
+        y0 = ylim[1] - y_range * thickness
+        y1 = ylim[1]
+        extent = [xlim[0], xlim[1], y0, y1]
+
+    elif location == 'left':
+        gradient = np.vstack((vals.T, vals.T))  # horizontal
+        my_colors[:, 3] = np.linspace(1, 0, 256)
+        x0 = xlim[0]
+        x1 = xlim[0] + x_range * thickness
+        extent = [x0, x1, ylim[0], ylim[1]]
+
+    elif location == 'right':
+        gradient = np.vstack((vals.T, vals.T))  # horizontal
+        my_colors[:, 3] = np.linspace(0, 1, 256)
+        x0 = xlim[1] - x_range * thickness
+        x1 = xlim[1]
+        extent = [x0, x1, ylim[0], ylim[1]]
+
+    else:
+        return
+
+    custom_cmap = mcolors.ListedColormap(my_colors)
 
     ax.imshow(
         gradient,
-        extent=[xlim[0], xlim[1], y_bottom, y_top],
+        extent=extent,
         aspect='auto',
         cmap=custom_cmap,
         zorder=zorder,
@@ -420,6 +443,22 @@ def create_poster(city, country, point, dist, output_file):
     orientation = THEME.get("_orientation", "portrait")
     figsize = get_figsize(map_format, orientation)
 
+    target_ratio = figsize[0] / figsize[1]  # width/height
+
+    # Tune fade thickness by format/orientation (carto-friendly defaults)
+    if map_format == "panoramic" and orientation == "landscape":
+        fade_tb = 0.12
+        fade_lr = 0.22
+    elif orientation == "landscape":
+        fade_tb = 0.15
+        fade_lr = 0.18
+    elif map_format == "plan":
+        fade_tb = 0.18
+        fade_lr = 0.18
+    else:  # portrait (default)
+        fade_tb = 0.22
+        fade_lr = 0.10
+
     fig = plt.figure(figsize=figsize, facecolor=THEME['bg'])
 
     # Map axis: full-bleed
@@ -451,12 +490,16 @@ def create_poster(city, country, point, dist, output_file):
     )
 
     # Crop view to match output aspect ratio
-    target_ratio = figsize[0] / figsize[1]
     crop_axes_to_ratio(ax_map, target_ratio=target_ratio, pad=MAP_PAD)
 
-    # Layer 3: gradients
-    create_gradient_fade(ax_map, THEME['gradient_color'], location='bottom', zorder=10)
-    create_gradient_fade(ax_map, THEME['gradient_color'], location='top', zorder=10)
+    # Layer 3: gradients (thickness adapts to layout)
+    create_gradient_fade(ax_map, THEME['gradient_color'], location='bottom', zorder=10, thickness=fade_tb)
+    create_gradient_fade(ax_map, THEME['gradient_color'], location='top', zorder=10, thickness=fade_tb)
+
+    # Add side fades for wide layouts; thinner in portrait by design
+    if target_ratio >= 1.15:
+        create_gradient_fade(ax_map, THEME['gradient_color'], location='left', zorder=10, thickness=fade_lr)
+        create_gradient_fade(ax_map, THEME['gradient_color'], location='right', zorder=10, thickness=fade_lr)
 
     # Build displayed strings
     spaced_city = "  ".join(list(city.upper()))