How are conic map projections made?

Conic map projections are created by conceptually placing a hollow cone over a globe so that the cone is tangent to the Earth along a specific line, known as a standard parallel. In some variations, the cone may be positioned to intersect the Earth at two closely spaced standard parallels.12

The projection process involves the following characteristics:

• Geometric Derivation: Points on the Earth's surface are projected onto the cone. When the cone is subsequently slit along a meridian and laid out flat, the resulting map is formed.3
• Grid Structure: On the final map, parallels of latitude appear as arcs of concentric circles, while meridians are represented as straight lines that radiate from the cone's vertex.12
• Application: This method is particularly useful for mapping regions, as the distortion is minimized along the standard parallel(s) where the cone touches or cuts into the Earth.132

While the term "projection" is standard in cartography, most modern maps are actually formulated through complex analytic and mathematical processes rather than literal geometric projection.2