# Magic Lane Studio: writing map styles

> Magic Lane map styles are JSON files in the Magic Lane engine format, which is not the style format of other web map libraries. To write or check a style, read the four files below; they are the complete reference.

## Reference

- [Style file format](https://developer.magiclane.com/docs/guides/map-studio/reference/style-file-format.md): The structure of the file, paint values, colours as ABGR integers, drawing order, filters, text, images, the style's font (fonts_section: never write it, add fonts in Studio), the differences from other map style formats, and a complete small example.
- [Map data sources](https://developer.magiclane.com/docs/guides/map-studio/reference/map-data-sources.md): Which map data each layer type draws, by sourcedata_id; a layer's data is its type and sourcedata_id together. Also the POI categories (metaCategoryID).
- [Layer types reference](https://developer.magiclane.com/docs/guides/map-studio/reference/layer-types-reference.md): Every layer type and the paint properties it takes.
- [JSON Schema](https://developer.magiclane.com/docs/schemas/engine-style.schema.json): The rules a style file must follow (JSON Schema draft 2020-12), with ranges and the checks a schema cannot express.

## Examples

- [A complete small style](https://developer.magiclane.com/docs/samples/map-studio/example-small-style.json): Nine layers; valid against the schema.
- [Basic 1 template](https://developer.magiclane.com/docs/samples/map-studio/template-basic-1.json): A full official template, 222 layers; valid against the schema.