Wikipedia:Graphics Lab/Resources/QGIS/Get ready: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:57, 10 June 2011

Revision as of 23:20, 10 June 2011

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This tutorial series will teach you '''how to use QGis to generate reliable maps for Wikipedia'''. Accordingly, it is Wikipedia-centered and focuses on outputting general public encyclopedic maps while following the [[Wikipedia:WikiProject_Maps/Conventions|Wikipedia map conventions]].

=Step 1: Get the tools=

=== The tools ===

;==Install QGis==

QGis is the rather friendly GIS mapmaking software we are willing to use.

* Install : [http://www.qgis.org/wiki/Download#Windows Windows] ([http://www.qgis.org/wiki/DownloadFr fr]; [http://vimeo.com/9476971 Install video])

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* Forum : http://forum.qgis.org ({{green|very active, answer in ~ 6 hours}})

==Create some helpful folders==

;Empty folders to create

* /Desktop/ (or other suitable place)

** /QGis/

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The /Data_[sourcename] folders are need since each data source may have different copyrights status, coverage quality, subjects (topography ? politic ?), and is usually made of dozens of files/tiles, so create separate data folders make sense. /My_tutorials, /My_mapcolors, /My_projects, /My_examples, /My_outputs will likely be useful too. /My_tutorial will host interesting tutorials (webpages, pdf, etc) you will find, you may also edit them, and take your own notes. /My_mapcolors will host the color styles you will find online or create and save there. /My_projects will host your QGis projects. /My_examples will be a collection of maps you saw on wikipedia, love, and want to study ([[copy engineering]]). /My_outputs will host the some dozen of intermediate outputs you will generate and frequently look at to improve yourself through your learning process.

;First==Save your first color style==

Copy-paste the following color code in an empty text document, then save in ./QGis/My_mapcolors/ as '''Wikicarto_2.0.qml'''. We will frequently use it later.

{{summarization|title=: Colormap "Wikicarto_2.0.qml"|1=<pre>

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}}

===Step 2: Download the GIS data ===

{{in progress}}

{{stub}}<!-- Need to collect and organize GIS sources into a separate page.

{GIScitation|name=|license=|year=|topic=(topo, bary, rivers, etc.)|urlintro=|urldownload=|precision_equator=|covered_area=|format=|size_zip=|size_unzipped=|publisher=|tiles_total=number of files|tile_size=|datum=}

-->

==Types of data==

;===Topography/bathymetry===

{{see also|:fr:Aide:Cartographie/Ressources cartographiques géoréférencées#Sources des données|:de:Hilfe:GMT#Topographische_Datens.C3.A4tze}}

* ETOPO1 ([[:en:topography|topography]]/[[:en:bathymetry|bathymetry]]): One file for all the Earth (landmass and waters). Low quality (1px = 1000x1000m ; all earth unzipped: 1.1Go), but convenient for large maps.<br />http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/global/global.html

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[[file:QGis_ETOPO1_vs_SRTM3_-_quality_match.jpeg|thumb|800px|center|Quality comparison ETOPO1 vs SRTM3 (better). This difference doesn't matter when you make large maps >1000km]]

;===Other GIS data===

* NaturalEarthData,com (Public Domain) : collection of GIS data, with:

:A. Cultural (human or political including: Countries polygons ; Sub-countries polygons ; Borders lines ; urban areas ) ;

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:http://www.naturalearthdata.com/features/

;==Which data forshould YOUI get?==

'''New users''' will prefer to simply download ETOPO1 for topography (precision: 1px = 1km x 1km). Don't use ETOPO2 which is actually an oldest version (1px = 2km x 2km).

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# '''Load''' them into QGis.

===Step 3: Load thea GIS file (layer) into QGis===

{| class="wikitable" align="right"

| [http://vimeo.com/9739284 QGis tutorial video,<br />watch the first minute.]

|}

;Load data (topography)

Start QGis > in QGis' topbar, click icon "Add a Raster Layer" > Select the unzipped "ETOPO1_Ice_g_geotiff.tif", .shp, .shx, etc. > open.

The data will appear in greatgrey by default.<br />

If you have a vector layer to load : click icon "Add a Vector Layer". Etc.

<gallery widths="600px" heights="300px">

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</gallery>

=Step 4: Load some custom colors=

=== Custom colors ===

:''Main page : [[Wikipedia:Graphic Lab/Resources/QGis mapcolor files]] - for more colormap files''

To set custom colors, it is need to edit the layer's properties. Topographic GIS data are by default displayed using greys : a palette or mapcolor going from white to black. But you can use other paletterspalettes/mapcolors. Palettes/mapcolors are a set of colors that you appreciate and generally use.

<gallery widths="600px" heights="300px">

<!-- file:QGis_Load_mapcolor_style_-_01_properties_window.png |Properties window (by default). -->

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file:QGis Print composer output - 06 localizator starting point (correct).png | Final result, either by loading or slow edition.

</gallery>

Since the Graphic labs developpeddeveloped such guidelines for colors, the following mapcolors have been created, and shared, to ease the creation of wiki maps. Enjoy !

==Existing color palettes==

;Installation

ToThe [[Wikipedia:Graphic Lab/Resources/QGis mapcolor files|QGis mapcolor files]] page already has some palettes you can use. Simply copy-paste inthe code into a text document, then save as PALETTENAME'''.qml'''. Then, in QGis : LAYER > Properties > Load a style > [browse and select the .qml file]

===Step 5: Output :your map, ''aka'' using the Print composer ===

[[file:QGis Print composer output - 11 bitmap (png).png|right|300px|thumb|What we want is this : an high quality topographic output (you can zoom in a lot !). With QGis and experience, we can get this in about 5 to 10 mins]]

You are now working with QGis, your GIS data (namely: ETOPO1), your customized palette. To output your first topographic background, don't use File > Save as Image, which is a simple screenshot. For a better quality :

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Then : Composer > File > Export as image/PDF/SVG, and that's it, an high quality topo background.

;OthersOther functionalities

'''Grids:''' Within the Print Composer > selecting an item > Item (right side) > Grid > customize as you wish/can.

'''Add icons:''' user/share/qgis/svg/

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</gallery>

=== Links ===

{{Digital cartography tutorials}}