SVG textures + blend modes = Cool QGIS Maps

Did you know you can use textures to fill a polyon in QGIS? No? Well you do now!

The cool thing is you can get results like this with a simple SVG and a texture.

So how do you do it? Lets give it a go.

First grab a texture you want from http://texturelib.com/

Install Inkscape, or any other tool that can create svgs with textures.

Drag and drop your texture into Inkscape and embed the texture into the SVG:

Twaek any settings you need in Inkscape and save it somewhere QGIS can find.

Tip: You can configure extra search paths for svg in Options -> System -> SVG Paths

Open QGIS and load a polygon layer

Change the symbol type for the style to SVG fill and selet your SVG

Hit apply.

Opps that’s not right

Enter the handy blend modes added by Nyall.

Change the blend mode to Soft Light and move the layer to the top of the drawing list

SWEEEET!!!!

Now go and make some pirate maps.