[Qgis-user] Hillshade default direction

Raymond Nijssen r.nijssen at terglobo.nl
Mon Jan 22 23:38:03 PST 2024


Hi David,

On 23-01-2024 06:39, David Strip via QGIS-User wrote:
> After a lifetime of NW hillshades, my eye reverses hills and valleys 
> when I shift the sun.

This is not caused by looking at NW hillshades, but by looking at real 
life objects where light normally comes from above. This is what your 
brain is expecting and therefore it generates a 3D "bump map" for you 
that way.

And that's why a GIS uses a sun position from the top of the map, often 
north.

(Turning your SW map upside down should fix the problem.)

Raymond


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