For each course (not just All Controls), go through each leg to check that the control circle, control number and line between the controls do not obscure a route that may be used. Instructions below are for Purple Pen.

For the control number, just select it and drag it to a new location

For the control circle or the line, select it (it will turn red) and then click on the break icon in the top bar. Click on the location you want to insert the break. You may adjust the size of the break by hovering over either end until the crosshair of your pointer goes black and then dragging

Line can also have bends inserted. Use these to indicate a mandatory route where there is no route choice such having to use a single crossing point through a fence. If there are multiple crossing points, and thus multiple routes, the line should not be bent. It is also possible to put a bend right at the end of the line along the circumference of the circle if you want to offset the line (e.g. if the line would otherwise run on top of a path).

Runners will often be printing the map on their home printers which may not have the best colour reproduction. Also, if your course is in an urban area and is on a real orienteering map or using the PseudO layout from OpenOrienteeringMap, controls and their numbers can be difficult to see against the grey of the buildings (especially when running at night). To make your courses as readable as possible if using Purple Pen, pick Customize Appearance... on the Event Menu.

Control numbers can have a white border added which means they are readable whether on a dark or light background. You may also choose to add a small dot in the centre of each circle. This is usually unnecessary, but can be useful if using unmapped features for your controls such as lamp-posts, particularly with the StreetO layout of OpenOrienteeringMap which has few details. A white outline of 0.30mm is usually right.

To improve the contrast of the purple overprint of the control circles and lines when using a real orienteering map or using the OpenOrienteeringMap PseudO layout:

• Leave Blend purple with underlying map colors ticked
• Untick Use purple color from map
• Set Cyan to 0.0
• Set Magenta to 100.0 (this is the default)
• Set Yellow to 10.0
• Set Black to 25.0

Experience shows that adding this little bit of black, when combined with the colours being blended with the underlying map, makes the lines and circles stand out. If you are using the StreetO layout of OpenOrienteeringMap, then the page is mainly white so the default of Use purple color from map enabled (which sets Cyan,Magenta,Yellow,Black to 35,85,0,0) will be fine.

If you have decided to use control descriptions, the descriptions should be on the map. Runners are unlikely to want to print out separate descriptions. As noted earlier, descriptions may be unnecessary especially if you have chosen controls to all be on the same type of feature such as:

• Lamp-post
• Postbox
• Fire hydrant signs
• Road junction (ideally always same side, e.g. NW)

Control descriptions can be easily added using the Add Descriptions button and then dragging the area out that you wish to use. By adjusting the aspect ratio of the area, the descriptions will split over a different number of columns. Take note of the following:

• Size should be no smaller than 5.0mm. You can see the current size at the bottom-left when the descriptions are selected
• The descriptions must not obscure any potential routes
• If right at one edge, bear in mind that some printers may have large margins, so the descriptions may be cut off. The same is true of the controls themselves, of course...
• New runners will prefer text descriptions rather than symbols. If you have space, you can have both