Make A Custom Symbol for QGIS

This is a document describing what I had to learn to create a custom point symbol to use in QGIS. This process involved some workarounds that appear to be unique to Apple OSX 10.10.

In order to accomplish this task I needed to:

• Do some research¹.
• Have QGIS installed on your computer.
  • I am running version 2.8.2²
• Have software capable of creating an SVG file.
  • In my case I chose InkScape is an open source vector drawing program that natively creates SVG files.
  • In order to use Inkscape with OSX 10.10³, first install XQuartz. I had to overcome a bug where InkScape will not launch⁴.
• Import or draw the design that you want to use for your custom symbol.
  • In my case I’m trying to create the brand of my grandfather’s ranch. Which so far looks very rough, but the possibilities are promising.
• Save the drawing out as a SVG file.
• Alter the SVG file so QGIS can control the fill color the border color and the border width.
  • Do more research⁵
  • Open the SVG file in a text editor.
  • Find the line in your saved SVG file that reads style="fill:#4d4d4d;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:1;stroke-linejoin:miter;stroke-miterlimit:4;stroke-dasharray:none;stroke-opacity:1"
  • Delete that line.
  • insert the following line in it’s place.
  • fill="param(fill) #FFF" stroke="param(outline) #000" stroke-width="param(outline-width) 1"
• Use your new marker symbol in QGIS.
  • Open the Layer Properties window for a point vector layer.
  • Change to the Style tab.
  • Expand the single listed Marker symbol to see the Simple marker layer.
  • Click to highlight the Simple marker.
  • Change the Symbol layer type to SVG marker.
  • Look for a text box containing a full path and file name. Click the button to the right with three dots.
  • Browse to the SVG file just edited and Open it.
  • Now the various attributes are available to adjust.
• Add custom SVGs to the QGIS interface.
  • Collect all the SVGs you want to make available into a directory.
  • Open the Options window from the Settings menu.
  • Select the System tab.
  • Click the Add button above the Path(s) to search for Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG) symbols list box.
  • Browse to the directory where you have placed your custom SVGs.
  • Click the Choose button.
  • Now you will see your custom symbols as choices when you go into the SVG marker window.

Footnotes