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A conic map projection is created by projecting Earth's surface onto a cone. This method involves placing a cone over the Earth's globe so that it touches the surface along one or two lines of latitude. Because the cone is placed in a manner that captures the curvature of the Earth, it allows for relatively accurate representation of shapes and areas, particularly in mid-latitude regions. The process of projecting the spherical Earth onto a conical surface minimizes distortion in the areas around the lines where the cone touches the globe, making it useful for certain geographical representations, such as in maps of the United States.

The other methods described do not apply to conic projections. Flattening the Earth onto a grid pertains to planar or flat map projections, while viewing from a single point relates more to perspective drawings or cylindrical projections. Wrapping a cylinder around the globe describes how cylindrical projections, like the Mercator projection, function, which is distinctly different from conic projections, where the focus is on the cone.