QGIS | Symbology
> Objective
The students will learn how to style vector and raster layers
This section shows how to style pointcloud data
The students will learn how to create map themes
The students will also learn about how to create symbols and labels
> Index / Table of Contents
Introduction
Tutorial(s)
Styling basics for vector layers
Specific styling methods for vector layers
Styling basics for raster layers
Add hillshades to raster layers
Styling methods for pointcloud data
Raster and vector classification
Map themes
Symbols
Labels
QGIS installation
> Summary and Highlights
Introduction
The symbology of a layer refers to the visual appearance of a layer, which is very important to inform the users about the relevant information illustrated on the map. First, some tutorials are listed on how to style vector, raster and pointcloud layers. Then, the creation of map themes is addressed, which enables the users to easily switch from one map style to another one. The creation of labels and symbols are also covered at the end of this section.
Tutorial(s)
Styling basics for vector layers
Style data and create maps Erik Meerburg (3D geoinformation research group): “Urbanism GIS Course 3: Styling data and creating maps” Language(s): English Time: 10min 31s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-TZbf__6yY
Style a map showing the distribution of renewable and non-renewable fuels used in all power plants in the World Ujaval Gandhi: “Basic Vector Styling (QGIS3)”/”Basis opmaken van vectoren (QGIS3)” Language(s): English, Dutch Chapters: overview of the task, get the data, procedure EN: https://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/3/basic_vector_styling.html NL: https://www.qgistutorials.com/nl/docs/3/basic_vector_styling.html
Style vector layers and store them and their styles in a GeoPackage Hans van der Kwast: “Styling vector layers in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 19min 28s Chapters: GeoPackage (start-4:50), QuickMap services (4:50-7:30), layer styling panel (7:30-15:10), exporting styling (15:10-end) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i95xHt51eqI
Style a river line vector and add curved labels Hans van der Kwast: “Style and Label Line Vector Layers in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 2min 27s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlTpRXKko5g
Style lake polygons and add labels Hans van der Kwast: “Style and Label Polygon Vector Layers in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 3min 3s Chapters: intro (start-0:20), styling (0:20-1:30), label (1:30-end) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKRlLRdBo_o
Change the symbology of vector and raster layers TOI-pedia: “Changing layer symbology” Language(s): English Chapters: introduction, changing vector symbology (basic styling, categorised styling, changing raster symbology, singleband gray, singleband pseudocolor, changing transparency, raster toolbar) http://wiki.bk.tudelft.nl/toi-pedia/Changing_layer_symbology
Create the symbology of a vector layer QGIS Training manual: “2.4. Symbology” Language(s): English Chapters: changing colors, changing symbol structure, scale-based visibility, adding symbol layers, ordering symbol levels, symbol layer types, generator symbology, creating a custom SVF fill https://docs.qgis.org/3.10/en/docs/training_manual/basic_map/symbology.html
Download, style and label cities and towns from OpenStreetMap Hans van der Kwast: “Download, Style and Label Cities and Towns from OpenStreetMap” Language(s): English Time: 4min 30s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6YkJZwGMPc
Introduction symbology Erik Meerburg (Geogoeroe): “intro kaartopmaak in QGIS” Language(s): Dutch Time: 10min 48s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uheA-k6uMQw
Specific styling methods for vector layers
Generate lines and add neon effects to a map Mariëlle Geers-Plasmans (Geojuffie): “Neon effect toevoegen en geometrie generator gebruiken” Language(s): Dutch Time: 8min 43s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nt3lRgtGpE
Symbolize point data with circles Hans van der Kwast: “Symbolizing Point Data with Circles of Varying Size in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 10min 27s Chapters: introduction (start-0:30), importing the data (0:30-2:12), styling the data (2:12-end) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PEZ8dUNCJk
Use the inverted polygon shapeburst fills method to highlight a study area Hans van der Kwast: “Inverted Polygon Shapeburst Fill In QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 2min 8s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4tJ1gtL894
Create a funny Lego map of the elevation in a catchment Hans van der Kwast: “Create a LEGO Style Map of Elevation in a Catchment with QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 12min 41s Chapters: introduction (start-0:29), create a regular grid (0:29-2:45), style the grid (2:45-3:18), refine the styling (3:18-6:03), change the units (6:03-end) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZzMk4V8yEs
Styling basics for raster layers
Style and renders raster layers Hans van der Kwast: “Use the Layer Styling Panel to Style and Render Rasters in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 16min 47s Chapters: introduction (start-0:59), singleband gray renderer (0:59-4:15), singleband pseudocolor renderer (4:15-8:31), hillshade renderer (8:31-10:05), contours renderer (10:05-12:32), style discrete raster with the paletted/unique values renderer (12:32-13:44), style ordinal rasters with the paletted/unique values renderer (13:44-15:55), raster legends in the print layout (15:55-end) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwZonn5_Xfw
Create a thematic map of the global population change between 2000 and 2010 Ujaval Gandhi: “Basic Raster Styling and Analysis (QGIS3)”/”Basis opmaken en analyses van rasters (QGIS3)” Language(s): English, Dutch Chapters: overview of the task, get the data, procedure EN: https://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/3/raster_styling_and_analysis.html NL: https://www.qgistutorials.com/nl/docs/3/raster_styling_and_analysis.html
Change the symbology of vector and raster layers TOI-pedia: “Changing layer symbology” Language(s): English Chapters: introduction, changing vector symbology (basic styling, categorised styling, changing raster symbology, singleband gray, singleband pseudocolor, changing transparency, raster toolbar) http://wiki.bk.tudelft.nl/toi-pedia/Changing_layer_symbology
Change the symbology of a raster layer QGIS Training manual: “7.2. Changing Raster Symbology” Language(s): English Chapters: changing raster layer symbology, singleband gray, singleband pseudocolor, changing the transparency https://docs.qgis.org/3.10/en/docs/training_manual/rasters/changing_symbology.html
Add hillshades to raster layers
Hillshades helps to visualise the relief of the terrain by using light and shadows.
Create a 3D hillshade of a scanned topographical map Hans van der Kwast: “Create hillshade 3D views of scanned topographical maps in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 7min 45s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcx8-m2nHpI
Style DEM as a color hillshade Hans van der Kwast: “Style DEMs with Color Hillshade in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 1min 57s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-M9y9eL0uM
Create contours and hillshades Ujaval Gandhi: “Working with Terrain Data (QGIS3)”/”Werken met gegevens over het terrein (QGIS3)” Language(s): English, Dutch Content: overview of the task, get the data, procedure EN: https://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/3/working_with_terrain.html NL: https://www.qgistutorials.com/nl/docs/3/working_with_terrain.html
Styling methods for pointcloud data
Sample RGB values from an orthophoto to visualise a pointcloud with realistic colours Hans van der Kwast: “Sample colours from an orthophoto to visualise a pointcloud in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 5min 19s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lj9kEUL_ek
Raster and vector data classification
Reclassify thematic rasters with a lookup table Hans van der Kwast: “Reclassify Rasters by Table in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 2min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7KrIjvcCz0
Attribute classification and symbology QGIS Training manual: “3.3. Classification” Language(s): English Content: follow along: classifying nominal data, try yourself more classification, follow along: ratio classification, try yourself refine the classification, follow along: rule-based classification, in conclusion, what’s next https://docs.qgis.org/3.10/en/docs/training_manual/vector_classification/classification.html
Feature classification and styling Mariëlle Geers-Plasmans (Geojuffie): “S02 Categorieën” Language(s): Dutch Time: 13min 32s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLvbfHFFSmg
Graduated classification Mariëlle Geers-Plasmans (Geojuffie): “S05 Gradueel” Language(s): Dutch Time: 7min 52s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w2fSX4osgc
Map themes
Map themes enable the users to easily switch from one map style to another one.
Create map themes Hans van der Kwast: “Map themes in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 1min 55s Chapters: introduction (start-0:10), adding a map theme (0:10-0:29), sentinel false color (0:29-0:47), offline theme (0:47-1:00), online theme (1:00-1:22), conclusion (1:22-end) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StcKk0yY3C0\
Create map themes Hans van der Kwast: “Create Map Themes in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 1min 32s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHF6lJ2hHZQ
Symbols
Symbols help to easily identify features on a map.
Customize simple symbols Mariëlle Geers-Plasmans (Geojuffie): “S01 Enkelvoudige symbolen” Language(s): Dutch Time: 12min 57s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU-c7ZRvkNQ
Use SVG symbols Mariëlle Geers-Plasmans (Geojuffie): “S03 SVG symbolen” Language(s): Dutch Time: 6min 42s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9c6rqIC9R8
Create SVG symbols and extract them from projects Mariëlle Geers-Plasmans (Geojuffie): “SVG symbolen in QGIS projecten” Language(s): Dutch Time: 4min 42s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbaMl2cR13k
Style elevation peaks using SVG symbols and add labels Hans van der Kwast: “Style and Label Point Vector Layers in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 3min 36s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nakK5vaL54
Make SVG symbols suitable for the GeoServer Erik Meerburg (Geogoeroe): “Starten met SVG in SLD” Language(s): Dutch Time: 10min 20s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF9j_LBIiCA
Make SVG symbols suitable for the GeoServer Erik Meerburg (Geogoeroe): “SVG issues oplossen” Language(s): Dutch Time: 6min 46s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwOq9Ay02D4
Labels
Labels provide information by text and help identify features on a map.
Apply useful and good-labels to a layer QGIS Training manual: “3.1. Labels” Language(s): English Chapters: follow along: using labels, follow along: changing label options, follow along: using labels instead of layer symbology, try yourself customize the labels, follow along: labelling lines, follow along: data defined settings, try yourself using data defined settings, further possibilities with labelling, in conclusion, what’s next https://docs.qgis.org/3.10/en/docs/training_manual/vector_classification/label_tool.html
Create simple impressive labels Mariëlle Geers-Plasmans (Geojuffie): “Complexe labels maken in QGis” Language(s): Dutch Time: 9min 17s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIEtY_8KL-0
Create labels Mariëlle Geers-Plasmans (Geojuffie): “S04 Labels” Language(s): Dutch Time: 9min 59s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3DIP5gJRGc
Style elevation peaks using SVG symbols and add labels Hans van der Kwast: “Style and Label Point Vector Layers in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 3min 36s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nakK5vaL54
Style a river line vector and add curved labels Hans van der Kwast: “Style and Label Line Vector Layers in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 2min 27s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlTpRXKko5g
Style lake polygons and add labels Hans van der Kwast: “Style and Label Polygon Vector Layers in QGIS” Language(s): English Time: 3min 3s Chapters: intro (start-0:20), styling (0:20-1:30), label (1:30-end) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKRlLRdBo_o
Download, style and label cities and towns from OpenStreetMap Hans van der Kwast: “Download, Style and Label Cities and Towns from OpenStreetMap” Language(s): English Time: 4min 30s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6YkJZwGMPc
Add a logo as label Erik Meerburg (Geogoeroe): “Logo’s plaatsen als labelachtergrond” Language(s): Dutch Time: 9min 4s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TriXbZAJU1c
> QGIS Installation
Do you still need to install QGIS? The QGIS installation and update section explains how to install QGIS on Windows and macOS.
Useful Links
Erik Meerburg (3D geoinformation research group)
Ujaval Gandhi (QGIS Tutorials and Tips website)
Hans van der Kwast YouTube channel
Mariëlle Geers-Plasmans (Geojuffie) YouTube channel
Erik Meerburg (Geogoeroe) YouTube channel
#QGIS, #Styling, #Symbology, #Map themes, #Vector data, #Raster data, #Poincloud data, #OpenStreetMap, #Symbols, #Labels, #Hillshades, #GeoServer
Erik Meerburg. (2021, June 16). Urbanism GIS Course 3: Styling data and creating maps [Video]. YouTube.