[Qgis-user] Re: QGIS + Inkscape
Morgan Hite
morgan at hesperus-wild.org
Fri Mar 23 12:57:47 PDT 2012
Hi Brylie,
I have been thinking about this for a few days, because I already use
these two programs for 90% of the mapping I do (see
http://www.hesperus-wild.org/GIS_carto.html). I would be very happy to
see closer linkage between QGIS and Inkscape!
Typically I prepare maps in QGIS (1.74 running under Ubuntu 10.04), and
export from a print composer to a PNG image. This I load into Inkscape
(0.4.7, also running under Ubuntu 10.04) as my lowest layer, and then
add text on top of it, taking advantage of Inkscape's ability to put
text on a curved path. This way I get my text labels exactly where I
want them without having to fiddle with automatic text placement. In
Inkscape I also add title blocks, north arrow and possibly some artwork.
In the end I export from Inkscape as PNG, but I can also save directly
as PDF.
Sometimes -- let's say I want the auto-placed labels on contour lines --
I will display a single layer in QGIS (contours), auto-label it, and
export what's in the print composer as SVG -- and then read this SVG
file into Inkscape as a new layer. As you probably know, this does not
work very well: the data is typically not clipped to the print
composer's extents. But if all I want are the auto-placed labels, so
that I can move them around in Inkscape, it's tolerable. I ungroup the
layer in Inkscape and delete all the objects except the labels.
This QGIS-Inkscape workflow works pretty well, but there are two
headaches.
One is that if I change the extents of the map in QGIS, I essentially
have to start over again in Inkscape.
The other is that the map prepared in QGIS is simply an image in
Inkscape. If I zoom in, it gets grainy, whereas of course the
vector-based Inkscape elements do not. The ideal, I think, would be to
be able to save all vector layers of the map out of QGIS as SVG
(including new symbology), and then save the final product out of
Inkscape as a vector-based PDF.
Thanks,
Morgan Hite
Hesperus Arts
Smithers, BC
morgan at hesperus-wild.org
>Message: 1
>Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:39:16 -0700
>From: Brylie Oxley <brylie at gnumedia.org>
>Subject: [Qgis-user] QGIS + Inkscape
>To: <qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org>
>Message-ID: <6e6a0066e901c4a5880609af3633b7b9 at mail.webfaction.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>
>Hello,
>My name is Brylie Oxley. I am a student at Sierra College in Nevada
>City, CA. I would like to apply for the GSoC program.
>
>I have been studying GIS at Sierra College, where the courses focus on
>proprietary tools. For libre GIS tools to be viable options, we need
>high quality cartographic tools. This is where I see Inkscape as an
>EXCELLENT candidate.
>
>I would like to make an extension for QGIS and/or Inkscape that would
>enable us to send data from QGIS directly to Inkscape. It would also be
>nice to be able to have Inkscape leverage the QGIS API to import
>data/layers into a cartographic project.
>
>I am glad to get any feedback regarding users' experiences sharing data
>between these two programs. I would also like to know what some of the
>components are that I can leverage to create a bridging
>extension/improved cartographic interface for QGIS.
>
>Thank you for your time and consideration,
>Brylie Oxley
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:41:30 +0000 (UTC)
>From: Jukka Rahkonen <jukka.rahkonen at mmmtike.fi>
>Subject: [Qgis-user] Re: QGIS + Inkscape
>To: qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org
>Message-ID: <loom.20120319T082223-556 at post.gmane.org>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>Brylie Oxley <brylie at ...> writes:
>
>>
>> Hello,
>> My name is Brylie Oxley. I am a student at Sierra College in Nevada
>> City, CA. I would like to apply for the GSoC program.
>>
>> I have been studying GIS at Sierra College, where the courses focus on
>> proprietary tools. For libre GIS tools to be viable options, we need
>> high quality cartographic tools. This is where I see Inkscape as an
>> EXCELLENT candidate.
>>
>> I would like to make an extension for QGIS and/or Inkscape that would
>> enable us to send data from QGIS directly to Inkscape. It would also be
>> nice to be able to have Inkscape leverage the QGIS API to import
>> data/layers into a cartographic project.
>>
>> I am glad to get any feedback regarding users' experiences sharing data
>> between these two programs. I would also like to know what some of the
>> components are that I can leverage to create a bridging
>> extension/improved cartographic interface for QGIS.
>>
>> Thank you for your time and consideration,
>> Brylie Oxley
>
>There is heavy work going on with GDAL PDF driver http://gdal.org/frmt_pdf.html
>Mapserver can already make georeferenced PDF files like this with the trunk
>version of GDAL http://latuviitta.org/documents/Lahti_geospat.pdf
>Reading the geospatial info of that certain PDF needs TerraGo Toolbar which is
>an add-on to Adobe Acrobat reader. Here is another PDF output example
>http://latuviitta.org/documents/raitiovaunulinjat.pdf
>It is made with OpenJUMP derivative SkyJUMP and it demostrates using vector
>layers on to of a raster layer (tram lines in this case). User can toggle the
>layer visibility at least with Adobe Acrobat Reader. I am not sure if GDAL can
>do such layered output yet. However, I have a feeling that GDAL may soon be able
>to support direct conversion of raster files with OGR vector file overlays into
>layered and georeferenced PDF files. See recent PDF commits by Evan Rouault at
>http://trac.osgeo.org/gdal/timeline
>
>Perhaps that work will help you with the QGIS to Inkcape work flow. At least it
>might be good to study what could be done by feeding GDAL from QGIS before
>dublicating those functionalities into QGIS.
>
>
>-Jukka Rahkonen-
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 3
>Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:04:24 +0100
>From: "G. Allegri" <giohappy at gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [Qgis-user] Re: QGIS + Inkscape
>To: Jukka Rahkonen <jukka.rahkonen at mmmtike.fi>
>Cc: qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org
>Message-ID:
> <CAB4g1=xkAsp9NMocp6R32zwuRzs+FW3PyKub4EpG5_1nE_gGLw at mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>I agree with Jukka.
>Working to a lower level of binding (through GDAL/OGR) would let other foss
>software leavarage the improvements.
>I don't know Inkscape very much, but I've tried to import the latter
>example from Jukka (the multilayer PDF) and it keeps the layers correctly.
>Working on the GDAL level is probably harder then doing the work on the
>Python level directly between Qgis and Inkscape, but I feel it would be far
>most used and useful to improve the GDAL PDF support...
>
>giovanni
>
>2012/3/19 Jukka Rahkonen <jukka.rahkonen at mmmtike.fi>
>
>> Brylie Oxley <brylie at ...> writes:
>>
>> >
>> > Hello,
>> > My name is Brylie Oxley. I am a student at Sierra College in Nevada
>> > City, CA. I would like to apply for the GSoC program.
>> >
>> > I have been studying GIS at Sierra College, where the courses focus on
>> > proprietary tools. For libre GIS tools to be viable options, we need
>> > high quality cartographic tools. This is where I see Inkscape as an
>> > EXCELLENT candidate.
>> >
>> > I would like to make an extension for QGIS and/or Inkscape that would
>> > enable us to send data from QGIS directly to Inkscape. It would also be
>> > nice to be able to have Inkscape leverage the QGIS API to import
>> > data/layers into a cartographic project.
>> >
>> > I am glad to get any feedback regarding users' experiences sharing data
>> > between these two programs. I would also like to know what some of the
>> > components are that I can leverage to create a bridging
>> > extension/improved cartographic interface for QGIS.
>> >
>> > Thank you for your time and consideration,
>> > Brylie Oxley
>>
>> There is heavy work going on with GDAL PDF driver
>> http://gdal.org/frmt_pdf.html
>> Mapserver can already make georeferenced PDF files like this with the trunk
>> version of GDAL http://latuviitta.org/documents/Lahti_geospat.pdf
>> Reading the geospatial info of that certain PDF needs TerraGo Toolbar
>> which is
>> an add-on to Adobe Acrobat reader. Here is another PDF output example
>> http://latuviitta.org/documents/raitiovaunulinjat.pdf
>> It is made with OpenJUMP derivative SkyJUMP and it demostrates using vector
>> layers on to of a raster layer (tram lines in this case). User can toggle
>> the
>> layer visibility at least with Adobe Acrobat Reader. I am not sure if GDAL
>> can
>> do such layered output yet. However, I have a feeling that GDAL may soon
>> be able
>> to support direct conversion of raster files with OGR vector file overlays
>> into
>> layered and georeferenced PDF files. See recent PDF commits by Evan
>> Rouault at
>> http://trac.osgeo.org/gdal/timeline
>>
>> Perhaps that work will help you with the QGIS to Inkcape work flow. At
>> least it
>> might be good to study what could be done by feeding GDAL from QGIS before
>> dublicating those functionalities into QGIS.
>>
>>
>> -Jukka Rahkonen-
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Qgis-user mailing list
>> Qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user
>>
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>------------------------------
>
>Message: 4
>Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:30:37 +0200
>From: Ari Jolma <ari.jolma at gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [Qgis-user] Re: QGIS + Inkscape
>To: qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org
>Cc: 'gdal-dev' <gdal-dev at lists.osgeo.org>
>Message-ID: <4F66EEAD.9010100 at gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>On 03/19/2012 10:04 AM, G. Allegri wrote:
>> I agree with Jukka.
>> Working to a lower level of binding (through GDAL/OGR) would let other
>> foss software leavarage the improvements.
>> I don't know Inkscape very much, but I've tried to import the latter
>> example from Jukka (the multilayer PDF) and it keeps the layers correctly.
>> Working on the GDAL level is probably harder then doing the work on
>> the Python level directly between Qgis and Inkscape, but I feel it
>> would be far most used and useful to improve the GDAL PDF support...
>
>I agree too, but would like to see SVG better supported in GDAL. Right
>now there seems to be only read support. Some years ago I made some
>tests using librsvg and GDAL and writing glue code in Perl. It works and
>the basics are not difficult but with styles and rasters it gets more
>complicated.
>
>librsvg seems to me the best choice for the low level library to use.
>
>gdal-dev cc'd.
>
>Ari
>
>>
>> giovanni
>>
>> 2012/3/19 Jukka Rahkonen <jukka.rahkonen at mmmtike.fi
>> <mailto:jukka.rahkonen at mmmtike.fi>>
>>
>> Brylie Oxley <brylie at ...> writes:
>>
>> >
>> > Hello,
>> > My name is Brylie Oxley. I am a student at Sierra College in Nevada
>> > City, CA. I would like to apply for the GSoC program.
>> >
>> > I have been studying GIS at Sierra College, where the courses
>> focus on
>> > proprietary tools. For libre GIS tools to be viable options, we need
>> > high quality cartographic tools. This is where I see Inkscape as an
>> > EXCELLENT candidate.
>> >
>> > I would like to make an extension for QGIS and/or Inkscape that
>> would
>> > enable us to send data from QGIS directly to Inkscape. It would
>> also be
>> > nice to be able to have Inkscape leverage the QGIS API to import
>> > data/layers into a cartographic project.
>> >
>> > I am glad to get any feedback regarding users' experiences
>> sharing data
>> > between these two programs. I would also like to know what some
>> of the
>> > components are that I can leverage to create a bridging
>> > extension/improved cartographic interface for QGIS.
>> >
>> > Thank you for your time and consideration,
>> > Brylie Oxley
>>
>> There is heavy work going on with GDAL PDF driver
>> http://gdal.org/frmt_pdf.html
>> Mapserver can already make georeferenced PDF files like this with
>> the trunk
>> version of GDAL http://latuviitta.org/documents/Lahti_geospat.pdf
>> Reading the geospatial info of that certain PDF needs TerraGo
>> Toolbar which is
>> an add-on to Adobe Acrobat reader. Here is another PDF output example
>> http://latuviitta.org/documents/raitiovaunulinjat.pdf
>> It is made with OpenJUMP derivative SkyJUMP and it demostrates
>> using vector
>> layers on to of a raster layer (tram lines in this case). User can
>> toggle the
>> layer visibility at least with Adobe Acrobat Reader. I am not sure
>> if GDAL can
>> do such layered output yet. However, I have a feeling that GDAL
>> may soon be able
>> to support direct conversion of raster files with OGR vector file
>> overlays into
>> layered and georeferenced PDF files. See recent PDF commits by
>> Evan Rouault at
>> http://trac.osgeo.org/gdal/timeline
>>
>> Perhaps that work will help you with the QGIS to Inkcape work
>> flow. At least it
>> might be good to study what could be done by feeding GDAL from
>> QGIS before
>> dublicating those functionalities into QGIS.
>>
>>
>> -Jukka Rahkonen-
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Qgis-user mailing list
>> Qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org <mailto:Qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org>
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Qgis-user mailing list
>> Qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user
>
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>Message: 5
>Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:53:14 +0100
>From: Rainer M Krug <r.m.krug at gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [Qgis-user] Re: QGIS + Inkscape
>To: "G. Allegri" <giohappy at gmail.com>
>Cc: Jukka Rahkonen <jukka.rahkonen at mmmtike.fi>,
> qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org
>Message-ID: <4F66F3FA.90607 at gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
>-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>Hash: SHA1
>
>On 19/03/12 09:04, G. Allegri wrote:
>> I agree with Jukka. Working to a lower level of binding (through GDAL/OGR) would let other foss
>> software leavarage the improvements. I don't know Inkscape very much, but I've tried to import
>> the latter example from Jukka (the multilayer PDF) and it keeps the layers correctly. Working
>> on the GDAL level is probably harder then doing the work on the Python level directly between
>> Qgis and Inkscape, but I feel it would be far most used and useful to improve the GDAL PDF
>> support...
>>
>> giovanni
>>
>> 2012/3/19 Jukka Rahkonen <jukka.rahkonen at mmmtike.fi <mailto:jukka.rahkonen at mmmtike.fi>>
>>
>> Brylie Oxley <brylie at ...> writes:
>>
>>>
>>> Hello, My name is Brylie Oxley. I am a student at Sierra College in Nevada City, CA. I would
>>> like to apply for the GSoC program.
>>>
>>> I have been studying GIS at Sierra College, where the courses focus on proprietary tools. For
>>> libre GIS tools to be viable options, we need high quality cartographic tools. This is where
>>> I see Inkscape as an EXCELLENT candidate.
>>>
>>> I would like to make an extension for QGIS and/or Inkscape that would enable us to send data
>>> from QGIS directly to Inkscape. It would also be nice to be able to have Inkscape leverage
>>> the QGIS API to import data/layers into a cartographic project.
>>>
>>> I am glad to get any feedback regarding users' experiences sharing data between these two
>>> programs. I would also like to know what some of the components are that I can leverage to
>>> create a bridging extension/improved cartographic interface for QGIS.
>>>
>>> Thank you for your time and consideration, Brylie Oxley
>
>I think that would be a good idea - essentially a mapcomposer on steroids.
>
>What would be needed (just some ideas) is:
>
>a) the possibility to send a map with selected layers and everything to inkscape as an object this
>could be done via gdal, but I *think* it might be easier to make this directly
>
>b) implement the basic map related features (north arrow, scale, legend, ...) in the same way
>
>c) make sure that inkscape (for the map related elements) is *aware* of the fact that it is a map,
>i.e. if the map is rotated, the north arrow should rotate as well, scale changes, ...)
>
>I don't think the pdf driver from gdal offers the flexibility needed (but I must admit I don't
>know it).
>
>
>
>Cheers,
>
>Rainer
>
>
>
>>
>> There is heavy work going on with GDAL PDF driver http://gdal.org/frmt_pdf.html Mapserver can
>> already make georeferenced PDF files like this with the trunk version of GDAL
>> http://latuviitta.org/documents/Lahti_geospat.pdf Reading the geospatial info of that certain
>> PDF needs TerraGo Toolbar which is an add-on to Adobe Acrobat reader. Here is another PDF
>> output example http://latuviitta.org/documents/raitiovaunulinjat.pdf It is made with OpenJUMP
>> derivative SkyJUMP and it demostrates using vector layers on to of a raster layer (tram lines
>> in this case). User can toggle the layer visibility at least with Adobe Acrobat Reader. I am
>> not sure if GDAL can do such layered output yet. However, I have a feeling that GDAL may soon
>> be able to support direct conversion of raster files with OGR vector file overlays into layered
>> and georeferenced PDF files. See recent PDF commits by Evan Rouault at
>> http://trac.osgeo.org/gdal/timeline
>
>
>>
>> Perhaps that work will help you with the QGIS to Inkcape work flow. At least it might be good
>> to study what could be done by feeding GDAL from QGIS before dublicating those functionalities
>> into QGIS.
>>
>>
>> -Jukka Rahkonen-
>>
>> _______________________________________________ Qgis-user mailing list
>> Qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org <mailto:Qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org>
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________ Qgis-user mailing list
>> Qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user
>
>
>- --
>Rainer M. Krug, PhD (Conservation Ecology, SUN), MSc (Conservation Biology, UCT), Dipl. Phys.
>(Germany)
>
>Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology
>Stellenbosch University
>South Africa
>
>Tel : +33 - (0)9 53 10 27 44
>Cell: +33 - (0)6 85 62 59 98
>Fax : +33 - (0)9 58 10 27 44
>
>Fax (D): +49 - (0)3 21 21 25 22 44
>
>email: Rainer at krugs.de
>
>Skype: RMkrug
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