Are you wanting a custom look with the GPS device? You can have it with custom symbols and I will show you how to improve your Garmin GPS and Basecamp with custom waypoint symbols.
Your Garmin’s GPS devices will come with over fifty different symbols to choose from. But if you’re not happy with the default choices, you have the option to create a custom symbol to suit your needs. You just need to create the symbol. Give it the proper name and then copy it over to the appropriate folder on your computer and your GPS device under the “custom waypoint symbols” folder. It’s that simple.
How to create custom symbols for your Garmin GPS:
The first thing you need is a program to create and edit images such as GIMP or Paint.net. Both of these are FREE! Next, start the program. You will need to create your custom symbol(s) with the following guidelines:
- Create an image that is no larger than 32 pixels in width or height
- Create transparent pixels by setting the color to magenta (RGB= 255, 0, 255)
- If applicable, ensure no color space information is saved
- Save the file with the name 0??.bmp. You can create up to 56 custom files starting from 000.bmp up to 055.bmp.
- Be sure to save the image as a 24-bit Windows-style bitmap format (.bmp)
Basecamp custom symbols for your Garmin GPS
The image above is a screenshot of my available custom waypoints using Garmin’s BaseCamp. You can download my custom waypoint file below if you like. As you can see there are several cryptid symbols like dogman, sasquatch, and paranormal ones like ghosts and aliens. I also have ones for fishing, shooting, AZ flavored markers for historical places, etc.
Download Spike’s custom waypoints.
So I’ll leave learning to make your symbols up to you. It’s not that difficult and if you have trouble with your graphics software, you can Google the solution to your issue easily. But you’ll need to make two copies of that one symbol file. The first one you save as a 3 digit.bmp file (ex: ” 012.bmp “) the other you can save that 012.bmp under a different file name. Let’s call it ” custom 12.bmp “.
The difference between both images is one file goes on your pc, and the other you will copy over to your Garmin gps device. Also be aware that your GPS device may not support custom waypoints. My Garmin GPSMAP 64 does, but my older Garmin Nuvi 50 (Garmin discontinued that model) does not.
Copying Custom Waypoints to You’re Desktops Basecamp Folder
As you can see in the image below, I copied all my ###.bmp files into the File Explorer’s Documents/My Garmin/Custom Waypoint Symbols folder. These files are what show up in Basecamp once you’ve set it in the waypoints display properties under Custom.
Garmin desktop folder -File Explorer’s Documents/My Garmin/Custom Waypoint Symbols folder
Copying Custom Waypoints to You’re Garmin Device
Next.., you will want to copy the ” custom ##.bmp ” file(s) onto your Garmin device. Plug in your USB cable connecting your PC and GPS device. Open up the device in File Explorer, browse to Garmin, then drill down to the CustomSymbols folder. Copy all your custom ##.bmp file into that folder. Restart your GPS unit and BAM! It’s done…
Garmin device-File Explorer, browse to Garmin, then drill down to the CustomSymbols folder
As you can see, this isn’t too difficult, is it? It’s easy and gives your GPS device a great look as well as your Basecamp desktop.
Garmin Basecamp With Custom Waypoint Symbols
