Wikipedia:Graphics Lab/Resources/QGIS/Get ready: Difference between revisions
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'''QGis''' (full name: '''[[Quantum GIS]]''') is a GPL license, cross platform (Window, Linux, Mac), and rather friendly cartographic software making use of the [[Geographic Information Sytems]] (GIS). Basically, the GIS is the concept to associate to each geographic coordinate (dot) on the Earth a specific value from some survey. The best know example is altitude, the associate GIS file is a map of the Earth in which each pixel also carry information about its altitude. Reversely, an object can be placed on the Earth, and associated with specific coordinates, commonly roads, parks' shapes, lakes and rivers, states, provinces, urban areas, etc, and are georeferenced layers matching precisely.<br />This approach radically change the way of mapmaking. The mapmaker/graphist formerly had to draw himself from A to Z each layer of the map and combine them. It work's reliability was limited and precision was limited by the mapmakers resources and knowledge. Now, these precise GIS data/files can be collected by the mapmaker who have to load his selection of GIS files into a GIS software such QGis, with objects automatically placed to their exact coordinates, apply custom styles, and output a basemap which may be the end product, or a background to host the last layers of custom works (icons, labels, legend, etc.).<br />
For Wikipedia, the advantage of GIS maps are precision, reliability, and upgrade in visual elegance for our maps. It will be mainly '''useful to generate topographic background (png, svg), shaded reliefs (png), and political backgrounds (png, svg)'''. While [[GRASS GIS]] seems still to be the most common GIS software, it's usage is quite rude (lot of console). Also, beginners will prefer QGis, which is quite powerful, human friendly, integrate GRASS GIS and [[GDAL]], is used as a graphical user interface of GRASS GIS, and still have a lot of space to improve your GIS mapmaking skills.
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{{QGis tutorials}}
=== Installation of QGis ===
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