Preview modes

Introduction

This module is discusses the concept of preview modes in QGIS.

What you should already know

As an intermediate level workbook, you are expected to already know basic GIS concepts such as spatial data models and formats and QGIS functions such as loading and styling layers, running processing algorithms, saving QGIS projects, etc.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Understand the purpose of preview modes.
2. Explore the different preview modes available in QGIS

NOTE

For exercises 1.X in this workbook, you will use the bnhr_qgis-advanced-styling.gpkg inside the data subfolder in the BNHR_QGIS-Advanced-Styling-and-Symbology folder.

This geopackage contains all the data and projects associated with the exercises.

How would my maps look like when photocopied, faxed, or when viewed by a colorblind individual

In the Essentials course, we talked about how to utilize built-in color palettes in QGIS as well as other applications that allow us to generate color palettes such as ColorBrewer (https://colorbrewer2.org/) and Viz Palette (https://projects.susielu.com/viz-palette).

One of the advantages of using the built-in color palettes in QGIS and applications such as ColorBrewer is that they make it easy to create palettes that color blind safe. When selecting a color palette or color scheme for your maps, it is useful to make it as inclusive as possible in order to correctly relay information to the most people as possible.

In QGIS, you can use Preview Modes to see how your map would look like photocopied, faxed, or if viewed by someone with color blindness. This option can be found via View ▶ Preview Modes in the Menu bar.

Exercise 1.1

Exercise 1.1. Previewing maps in different modes

5 steps

PRO-TIP

For our training participants, you can load the completed/styled layer by loading the preview-modes project found inside bnhr_qgis-advanced-styling.gpkg

1. Load the ncr_municities layer found inside bnhr_qgis-advanced-styling.gpkg.
2. Apply a graduated symbology on the layer based on the pop2020 field. If you have a copy of the QGIS: Essentials workbooks, you may refer to Exercise 4.3.3 in Module 4. For example, your map might look like the one below.

Fig. 1NCR municities with graduated symbology using a Reds color palette on the pop2020 field

3. Go to Views ▶ Preview Mode and select Simulate Deuteranopia Color Blindness.

Fig. 2Applying a preview mode to the map

4. Your layer should appear like below.

Fig. 3NCR muniticites layer previewed to simulate Deuteranopia color blindness (no greens)

5. Try to use other preview modes with other color palettes.