diff --git a/dev/README.md b/dev/README.md
index 2ec39e467..2ea16c39e 100644
--- a/dev/README.md
+++ b/dev/README.md
@@ -11,3 +11,10 @@ The highway shield [color palette](americana.gpl) can be imported into Inkscape
 3. Import [americana.gpl](americana.gpl).
 4. Restart Inkscape.
 5. Click the ◀ button to the right of the color palette strip at the bottom of the window (or in the top-right corner of the Color Palette panel), then choose americana.gpl from the menu.
+
+## Map sample images
+
+Map sample images can be generated with a script. See [sample_locations.json](test/sample_locations.json) for the format.
+
+1. Create a JSON file with the map location and clipping rectangles
+2. Run the generate_samples script and pass the JSON file location: `npm run generate_samples -- test/sample_locations.json``
diff --git a/scripts/generate_samples.ts b/scripts/generate_samples.ts
index 0d47d0b73..f9b920dc0 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_samples.ts
+++ b/scripts/generate_samples.ts
@@ -35,9 +35,12 @@ const loadSampleLocations = (filePath: string): SampleSpecification[] => {
 
 const sampleFolder = "./samples";
 
-const screenshots: SampleSpecification[] = loadSampleLocations(
-  "test/sample_locations.json"
-);
+const jsonSampleLocations = process.argv[2] || "test/sample_locations.json";
+
+console.log(`Loading sample locations from ${jsonSampleLocations}`);
+
+const screenshots: SampleSpecification[] =
+  loadSampleLocations(jsonSampleLocations);
 
 fs.mkdirSync(sampleFolder, { recursive: true });