[Qgis-user] Importing SVG + Designing maps from scratch

Fri Oct 4 20:38:09 PDT 2013

I'd start with the center of yout imaginary planet. Assuming it's an
alternative Earth I would define where is the center of your alternative
Earth, maybe an isle of a certain area, maybe this point of reference would
be meta-imaginary. From this point I would have a coordinate reference
system wich is modelled from an imaginary place... everythung else would be
relative to this place.

What I mean is:

1. Create an imaginary point of reference and a polygon associated with
well known dimensions and coordinates (I would choose 0 and 0 latitude
longitude).
2. Rasterize your maps and draw them around this central imaginary
point/area using the georreferencer (i.e. decide in your map where is the
imaginary point of reference and mark it, then derive points of reference
from the polygon associated, finally reference your rasterized map and draw
your stuff).

It may be a lot of work, but surely is not starting from scratch... just
have to draw again using a geographic coordinate system.

BTW, it's a very interesting use of QGIS.

2013/10/4 . <digitalmaps at cox.net>

>  Inkscape does have a "Save to DXF" option. From there the dxf2shape
> converter plugin(dxf file to shape file), then shape file into QGIS gets
> your data into QGIS. You would need to use one of the translation tools to
> then scale the data. It seems technically possible. I think in the transfer
> you will loose much of the pretty formatting that was developed in
> Inkscape.
>
> An issue would be scaling the vector data to the GIS coordinate reference
> system (CRS). One method that does not involve DXF or translation tools
> would be to export a map from Inkscape to a bitmap (ie. raster) file and
> use the tools in QGIS to trace over the bitmap with vectors. Use Google
> Earth as the first step in scaling or what is known as "georefrencing" the
> raster image.
>     Place reference marks on the top and bottom edges of the raster, three
> along the top - one in each corner     and one in the middle. Put two along
> the bottom at the 1/3 and 2/3 positions. Import into Google Earth, then
> scale the map so that the units work out in both x and y dimensions (QGIS
> won't do this step automatically     yet). Then draw a vector "W"
> connecting the dots at the top and bottom of the raster. Export the W
>             vector to .kml. Import the kml into QGIS. Wherever  the W was
> drawn in Google Earth, thats where it will         appear in QGIS with some
> Coordinate Reference System (WGS 84:EPSG 4326).
>
> Using QGIS's georeferencing tool and the W vector import the raster image,
> scaled to real world units. Then digitize your map.
>
> I've never used the DXF/translate method. I can't say how easy or hard it
> is. I have used the georeferencing feature.
>
> Keep in mind QGIS hasn't a completely WYSIWYG interface, allowing you to
> merely point and click your way through entering the data. At times some
> forethought and calculation is necessary.
>
> I would develop my base map in QGIS. When I was ready to publish a
> finished map I would either use QGIS's built-in map composer or then
> re-export to SVG and do final composition in Inkscape. This also opens the
> possibility of using one of the many GIS web server applications that would
> allow you to make your world available online. There is even an animation
> plugin. Using QGIS opens up many new possibilities.
>
> To do a proper GIS then I would use a database like PostGIS to hold the
> data in the form of tables. Separate tables for vectors and point data.
> QGIS allows use of many types of data sources, PostGIS being one of them.
>
> This would necessitate the understanding of SQL databases (ie. PostGIS)
> and GIS systems (QGIS). These are free versions of expensive commercial
> software that are used world-wide.
>
> You'll need QGIS, PostGIS, GoogleEarth and some patience. Your hobby could
> lead you to a career.
>
> Just take your time. Read the manuals. It should work.
>
>
> On 10/4/2013 10:22 AM, Robbie Smith wrote:
>
> Hello everyone
>
> I’m very new to GIS, and I’ve been reading a lot of manuals and
> information, but I thought I’d ask a couple of questions here.
>
> One of my major hobbies is drawing maps of a completely imaginary country;
> it’s part of a massive project of mine. I’m getting to the point where I’m
> reaching practical limitations in the way I’m drawing the maps. The first
> is that to extend in any direction I need to either make the canvas size
> bigger or create a new image and line up elements exactly, which is quite
> error-prone and time consuming. The other major problem is different zoom
> levels: if I want to draw, say, a more detailed map of a town, again I’d
> have to draw a completely new image and try to copy and/or scale elements
> of an existing drawing, which is also time-consuming and error prone.
>
> As I’m trying to make my maps (and everything else) as realistic as
> possible, I’ve been starting to think that maybe moving to using some sort
> of GIS application might be the way to go. With GIS, I could store all the
> geographical information in a database, and then just generate maps that
> cover the area and scale that I want. And if I wanted to create different
> types of maps, such as topographical or a road map, I could easily select
> which layers I want to export. The possibilities are pretty-much endless.
>
> However, I’ve already done quite a lot of work on these SVG maps in
> Inkscape, and I really would prefer not to start completely from scratch.
> Can I import an existing SVG map into QGIS and use it as a starting point,
> preserving the existing paths and shapes? Can I define an arbritary grid to
> align things to? Learning and adapting to GIS is going to be challenging
> enough without having to redo years of work.
>
> Any links, books, manuals or whatever that you could recommend for this
> kind of project would be great, as I honestly have no idea where to start.
>
> TLDR: Is it possible to import completely fictional maps into (Q)GIS and
> design them from scratch, and if so, where to begin?
>
> regards
> Robbie
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>
>
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-- 
Saludos,

Yasser
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