Create a thematic map (it doesn't matter what, for this exercise)
Add landuse layer (a vector layer called lus8) , orthophoto (a raster called 2_117902.tif) and a road layer (a vector rd5k) to QGIS.
Change name of layer in TOC to “Land Use”, “Orthophoto” and “ Roads” respectively.
Save project (intermediate, but important step). Call it "yourname_map" (with your name, and without the quotes).
Set map units (Click “Settings > Project Properties” and set “Map units” as meters.
By this step you should have something like this:
Figure 1: Ref
Add “north arrow” and “copyright sign” (available as plug-ins)
Make this plug-ins available: Click “Plug-ins > Plugins Manager” and make “CopyrightLaber”, “NorthArrow” and “ScaleBar” plugins available.
To insert north arrow symbol to a thematic map, click “Plugins > Decorations > NorthArrow”. Specify element’s properties, location and angle. As you see the symbol was added to the map. You can also add a scale bar and copyright symbol.
Design a publishable map (printable map).
Start a print composer. Click “File > Print”. The map composer window will appear.
Click the add new map button. Create a box at the location and of the size you would like the map to appear.
Set paper size/page properties. For this demo we will use landscape letter size paper.
Please spend some time studying the toolbar (enlarge the image below by clicking on it).
Figure 2: Ref
The functions of tools (from left to right)
Open Template (not available initially)
Save Template (also not available yet)
Export as Image
Export as SVG (scalable vector graphics)
Print map
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Zoom in, zoom out, zoom to full extend and refresh
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Add new map
Add an image
Add new label
Add new vector legend
Add new scale bar
Select/Move item
Add new map
: Click on the tool. Map element will appear in the layout. Please
note that “Item” bar become active. Set parameters of the map such
as a spatial extent, scale and dimensions.
Add a legend
: Click on the legend tool . Legend will be added to the layout.
Click on “Item” tab and specify properties of the legend. Please
note that legend includes only vector layers and doesn’t include the
orthophoto (which is questionable solution?).
Add a scale
bar : Click on the scalebar tool . Allocate the scalebar
on the map layout. Specify detail parameters at the “Item” tab on
the right side of the map composer window.
Add title :
Click on the label tool . Change/specify text of the label at “Item”
tab.
It seems that the map is ready. After this, your map should look like this
Figure 3: Ref
Save or print your map.
The preferable solution is to save the map as an image, as you can edit it later with some image processing application, such as Gimp, Photoshop, Fireworks, etc.
Click on the “Save as image”
button.Specify name and location of the image.
Try to open this image with external image editor/viewer or import the image into a word processor.