2. Working with Vector Layers

Vector layers represent discrete geographic features such as Points, Lines and Polygons. QGIS provides powerful symbolization tools for creating professional cartographic maps.

1. Go to Layer → Add Layer → Add Vector Layer.
2. Browse to your .shp, .geojson or .gpkg file and click Open.
3. Right-click the layer and choose Properties → Symbology.
4. Choose one of the rendering styles:
   • Single Symbol
   • Categorized
   • Graduated
   • Rule-Based
   • Point Cluster
5. Customize colors, outline width, transparency, labels and scale visibility according to your project.
6. Click Apply and then OK.

3. Raster Composites & Elevation Models

Raster layers store continuous spatial information such as satellite imagery, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), land surface temperature, vegetation indices and terrain models.

1. Go to Layer → Add Layer → Add Raster Layer.
2. Select your GeoTIFF (.tif) raster file.
3. Open Layer Properties → Symbology.
4. Choose an appropriate renderer such as
   • Singleband Gray
   • Singleband Pseudocolor
   • Multiband Color
   • Hillshade
5. Choose a color ramp suitable for elevation or imagery visualization.
6. Click Classify to generate elevation classes.
7. Click Apply.

Creating RGB Composite

For multispectral satellite imagery, assign Red, Green and Blue bands under Multiband Color to create Natural Color or False Color Composite images.

4. Georeferencing Scanned Paper Maps

Georeferencing aligns scanned paper maps or historical maps with real-world geographic coordinates using Ground Control Points (GCPs).

1. Open Raster → Georeferencer.
2. Click Open Raster and load your scanned map (.jpg, .png or .tif).
3. Zoom to a known map intersection.
4. Click Add Point and enter the corresponding geographic coordinates.
5. Repeat the process for at least 4–10 well distributed GCPs.
6. Open Transformation Settings.
7. Choose Polynomial 1 or Thin Plate Spline transformation.
8. Select the destination CRS (e.g. WGS84 / UTM).
9. Specify an output GeoTIFF.
10. Click the green Start Georeferencing button.

After processing, the scanned paper map will align accurately with other GIS layers.

5. Print Layout Composer

The Print Layout tool allows you to create professional maps for reports, presentations, journals and GIS projects. You can combine multiple map frames, legends, labels, images and scale bars into a single printable layout.

Creating a New Layout

1. Go to Project → New Print Layout.
2. Enter a layout name.
3. A blank layout window will open.
4. Select the Add Map tool.
5. Draw a rectangle on the page where your map should appear.
6. The current map canvas will automatically be displayed.

Adding Map Elements

Professional GIS maps usually contain several important cartographic elements.

1. Map Title
2. Legend
3. North Arrow
4. Scale Bar
5. Coordinate Grid
6. Text Labels
7. Organization Logo
8. Author Information

Exporting the Layout

After completing the layout, export your map in one of the following formats.

• PDF (Recommended)
• PNG Image
• JPEG Image
• SVG Vector Graphic

High-resolution PDF export is recommended for printing and academic publications.

Create Layout

↓

Insert Map

↓

Add Legend

↓

Add Scale Bar

↓

Add North Arrow

↓

Export PDF / PNG

6. Professional Cartography Tips

Good cartographic design makes your maps easier to understand and more visually attractive.

1. Keep enough white space around the map.
2. Use readable fonts.
3. Avoid using too many colors.
4. Maintain proper symbol hierarchy.
5. Use meaningful legends.
6. Always include a north arrow and scale bar.
7. Use high-resolution exports for printing.
8. Maintain consistent margins throughout the layout.

Recommended Export Resolution

Following these guidelines will produce publication-quality maps suitable for scientific reports, engineering projects and GIS documentation.

7. Essential Plugins (SCP & QuickMapServices)

One of the biggest advantages of QGIS is its extensive plugin ecosystem. Plugins add powerful new capabilities such as satellite image download, remote sensing analysis, geocoding, terrain processing, network analysis, 3D visualization and much more.

Installing Plugins

1. Open Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins.
2. Wait for the plugin repository to load.
3. Search for the desired plugin.
4. Select the plugin.
5. Click Install Plugin.
6. Restart QGIS if required.

Plugins
      ↓
Manage and Install Plugins
      ↓
Search Plugin
      ↓
Install
      ↓
Enable
      ↓
Start Working

Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin (SCP)

The Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin (SCP) is one of the most powerful remote sensing plugins available for QGIS. It simplifies the download, preprocessing and classification of satellite imagery from sources such as Landsat, Sentinel and MODIS.

Main Features

• Download Sentinel & Landsat imagery
• Band Set Management
• Band Combination
• Atmospheric Correction
• Supervised Classification
• Unsupervised Classification
• Spectral Signature Library
• NDVI & Spectral Index Calculator
• Classification Accuracy Assessment
• Post Classification Processing

QuickMapServices (QMS)

QuickMapServices allows you to instantly load popular online basemaps inside QGIS without manually configuring XYZ tiles.

Popular Basemaps

• Google Satellite
• Google Hybrid
• Google Terrain
• Google Streets
• OpenStreetMap
• Bing Satellite
• ESRI World Imagery
• CartoDB Positron
• Stamen Terrain
• NASA Blue Marble

Using QuickMapServices

1. Install the plugin.
2. Open Web → QuickMapServices.
3. Choose a basemap.
4. The selected map will instantly appear beneath your GIS layers.
5. Adjust layer order if necessary.

QuickMapServices is extremely useful for visual interpretation, digitization, land use mapping and field verification.