How to Make VTT Map Note Labels Readable When Icons Overlap

Diagnose what is overlapping

Zoom in on the problem area and check three things: whether the icons themselves cover each other, whether their labels collide, or whether the pointer cannot reliably select the intended icon. These problems can occur together, but they call for different adjustments. Enlarging a label may help someone read it while making collisions worse; shrinking an icon may expose more map art while making it harder to click.

Also check whether the labels are always visible or appear on hover. If only one player sees the clutter, their display settings may differ from the rest of the group. Foundry lets each user toggle whether map notes appear across all scene layers, while Roll20 has nameplate display options in VTT Settings > Graphics. Foundry’s Map Notes guide and Roll20’s Map Pins guide describe these controls.

Separate icon collisions before changing label style

If the clickable icons are stacked on the same point, move one or more notes a short distance to a nearby clear area. Keep each icon visually associated with its location—for example, by placing it beside the feature it marks rather than over a doorway or token. In Foundry, select a note and drag it; the note configuration also includes coordinates for fine adjustments. Its documentation notes that map notes remain draggable after placement. Foundry Map Notes

Make small changes and test them at the zoom level players typically use. A pin that seems clearly separated while zoomed in may still merge with its neighbor when the map is viewed at normal scale. If two map features are close together, choose different nearby positions for their icons rather than placing both on the same landmark. This is a practical layout recommendation: the official tools provide movable notes, but they do not automatically arrange nearby pins for you.

When there is no suitable space right beside a landmark, move the icon to the nearest open area that still makes its association clear. Avoid spreading pins so far that players cannot tell which feature each one marks. If the VTT supports a separate map label or drawing, that may offer another layout option, but it can behave differently from a note icon: in Foundry, for example, text drawings place text directly on the canvas, while map notes link icons to journal entries or pages. Foundry Drawing Tools

Make labels shorter and easier to scan

Use the label to identify the destination, not to summarize its full contents. Short names such as “North Gate,” “Old Bridge,” or “Supply Room” are easier to scan around a cluster than long descriptions. Put detail in the linked note or handout, then make the label a compact cue that helps the player choose the correct clickable icon.

Keep names distinct within the same area. If three nearby icons are called “Ruins,” “Ruins East,” and “Ruins West,” players may still have to guess. Give each one a useful distinguishing word, such as a specific feature or direction, and use the same naming pattern for nearby notes. The best short label is one that stays recognizable without requiring the player to open several pins to compare them.

Foundry lets a map note’s text label override the linked journal title; if no label is entered, it defaults to the journal entry’s name. Roll20 pins can use a nameplate and can display linked handout or custom tooltip information. These features mean you can keep the on-map identifier brief while preserving fuller content in the linked material. Foundry Map Notes · Roll20 Map Pins

Tune icon size and label placement

If icons obscure each other or cover too much map artwork, try reducing their size. If players cannot distinguish or click them after resizing, restore some size and create more space by moving pins apart instead. Foundry’s map-note configuration includes icon size, font size, text color, and text anchor point; the anchor changes where the label sits in relation to the icon. Roll20 allows pin size adjustments and offers several size options. Foundry Map Notes · Roll20 Map Pins

Change one setting at a time, then inspect the cluster at both close and ordinary play zoom. A label placed above an icon might clear a neighboring pin but overlap a map feature; placing it to the side might solve one collision and create another. Treat placement as a local fit: try another anchor or position, then keep the setting that remains legible without making the icon hard to select.

Color can help distinguish nearby markers, but it should reinforce a clear label and position rather than carry the whole meaning. Foundry offers icon tint and text color controls, and Roll20 offers pin color choices. Use colors consistently if your group already recognizes them, and check that the label remains readable against the map background. Foundry Map Notes · Roll20 Map Pins

Use hover or zoom behavior to control clutter

When a VTT supports hover-only labels, showing names on demand can reduce visual competition among close pins. This works best when players can already identify the icon or know where to point. It is less helpful when every nearby icon looks alike or players must hunt for a hidden label. Roll20 documents a setting to show nameplates on hover and options to disable them or have them auto-hide when zoomed out. Roll20 Map Pins

Foundry’s built-in map-note guide describes text labels as appearing when the pointer hovers over a note, and separately provides a per-user toggle for whether notes are visible across scene layers. If a player says a note is missing, first check the display toggle and whether that player has permission to see the linked journal entry. Foundry notes that a player with Limited permission can see a linked note’s position and label but may not be able to open it. Foundry Map Notes

Keep the icon easy to click

A readable label does not guarantee an easy click. If two pins sit close together, the pointer may land on the wrong one, especially at the group’s usual zoom. Separate their positions enough to make each target distinct, and test by clicking each icon in turn to confirm it opens the intended linked note. If you use hover labels, pause over each marker and verify that the displayed name matches its destination before relying on it during play.

Do not solve a click problem by making every label permanently large. That can increase overlap and obscure the scene. Instead, make names distinct, space the icons, and use the label-display options your VTT actually provides. If a marker is still ambiguous, reposition it or choose a more recognizable icon or color where available. Roll20, for example, supports symbol and color customization, while Foundry provides icon selection, tint, and label placement controls; availability and details are tool-specific. Roll20 Map Pins · Foundry Map Notes

A quick adjustment sequence

Use this order when a crowded map area needs cleanup:

This sequence is a practical decision aid, not a feature guaranteed by every VTT. Controls differ, and some platforms may not support configurable anchors, hover-only labels, or per-pin sizing. Use the nearest equivalent settings available; if the platform does not offer a needed option, spacing and concise names remain useful layout choices.

Check permissions and visibility separately

Sometimes a player can see the icon but cannot open its content. That can look like a broken or confusing pin even when its label is clear. Check the note’s sharing or permission settings, and confirm the player can access the linked page or handout. In Foundry, access to a linked map note depends on the journal entry or page’s permissions; a Limited permission can expose the pin and label without allowing the player to open its text. Foundry Map Notes

Visibility is also distinct from overlap. Foundry notes may be limited by scene fog and token vision unless configured as globally visible, and players can toggle whether notes display on all layers. Roll20 pins have their own visible or hidden state. If one player cannot see a marker, check those visibility conditions before changing its position or label style. Foundry Map Notes · Roll20 Map Pins

Final check before play

Ask a player to view the map at the scale they normally use, locate the clustered notes, and open each one. If the player can identify the right marker without guessing and click the intended note, the layout is doing its job. If not, return to the specific failure: create more spacing for competing icons, simplify or reposition labels, or review display and permission settings. Small, targeted changes usually preserve the scene’s useful information while making its clickable notes easier to use.

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