Set Layer Common Properties

Regardless of whether the layer type is vector, raster, or image, you can set properties such as transparency, order, visible scale range, and filter display objects.

Set Layer Transparency

Transparency is a display property of the layer, which can be set in the numeric adjustment box under Transparency: in the Layer Properties panel.

The numeric adjustment box for transparency allows you to set the transparency level of the current layer or directly input a value to preview the results in real-time. The default transparency value is 0, indicating the layer is completely opaque. As the value increases, the layer becomes more transparent; when set to 100, the layer is fully transparent. Transparency values range from 0 to 100 as integers.

Adjust Layer Order

The stacking order of layers directly affects the map display effects. General rules for layer stacking order include:

Based on object map bounds, from top to bottom: small -> medium -> large;

Based on layer type, from top to bottom: text to point -> line to region.

Notes:

The above stacking order rules are generalized recommendations; other sorting methods may apply depending on specific map creation needs.

The following two maps show the display effects before and after moving a specific layer (RoadLine) to the bottom. These clearly demonstrate the importance of layer stacking order for map visualization.

Map display effects before layer adjustment Map display effects after layer adjustment

As shown above, a line layer "disappears" from the map; it was not removed but moved to the bottom layer for display.

Adjust layer order primarily through the following methods:

Notes:

Direct dragging requires enabling draggable layer nodes. In the layer manager toolbar -> Layer Control dropdown menu -> Layer nodes can be dragged controls whether layer order can be changed via dragging.

Use layer control
Operation steps:

If a map is open in the current workspace, open the Layer Control dialog via one of these steps:

In the layer manager, click the layer control button;

Right-click any layer in the layer manager and select Layer Control.

In the Layer Control dialog, select one or more layers, then adjust their order using toolbar buttons like move to top, move up, move down, or move to bottom. For details on layer control, refer to Layer Control.

Direct dragging
Operation steps:

Select one or more layers in the layer manager.

Drag the selected layers to the target position.

Release the mouse button.

Layer Blend Mode

Blend Mode sets the overlay method between two layers by calculating the combination of colors from the upper and lower layers, producing different rendering effects based on the selected mode.

Available modes are as follows:

Mode Category Mode Name Description

Normal mode Normal Does not alter layer colors; this is the default blend type.

Darken Darken Compares layer colors with those below and uses the minimum RGB values from both layers for the final rendering effect.

Multiply Multiplies layer colors with those below, typically resulting in darker rendering effects.

Color Burn Darkens colors of the lower layer; white remains unchanged.

Linear Burn Adds layer colors to those below and subtracts a value of 1.

Lighten Lighten Compares layer colors with those below and uses the maximum RGB values from both layers for the final rendering effect.

Screen Multiplies layer colors after subtracting white areas from both layers.

Color Dodge Reduces contrast between layers and increases brightness of the lower layer; black remains unchanged.

Linear Dodge Adds brightness of layers; black remains unchanged.

Contrast Overlay Multiplies areas where color values are below 0.5 in the lower layer, and uses screen mode for areas above 0.5.

Soft Light Uses the same algorithm as overlay mode but reduces layer color contrast.

Hard Light Multiplies areas where color values are below 0.5 and uses screen mode for areas above 0.5.

Vivid Light A combination of color dodge and color burn.

Linear Light Brightens areas where layer color brightness exceeds 0.5 and darkens areas below 0.5.

Pin Light If the current layer color is lighter than 50% gray, darker pixels are replaced; if darker, lighter pixels are replaced.

Difference Difference Subtracts the lower layer's color value from the upper layer's, divides the result by 2, then adds the lower layer's color value, producing an inverse effect.

Subtract Subtracts the upper layer's color from the lower layer's to obtain the resulting color.

Set Fill Mode

Fill mode controls the drawing method of symbols, supporting global and object modes to enrich symbol expression in maps.

Application Example

Case description: Using fill mode for all prefecture-level cities in Sichuan Province as an example, you can set area object symbol modes to global or object to enhance symbol expression.

Data description: Region dataset.

Main operation steps

Select the area layer in the layer manager that requires symbols. In the styles tab -> fill style group -> symbols dropdown, choose the desired symbol style.

Right-click the area layer in the layer manager that needs fill mode settings and select layer properties from the context menu.

In the layer properties window, under display control -> fill mode, choose global fill or object fill.

Different fill modes yield varying results:

Left image Global mode: Drawing starts from the top-left corner of the entire layer, filling symbols across the whole layer.

Right image Object mode: Drawing starts from the top-left corner of each object, filling symbols individually per object in the layer.

Notes:

For CAD datasets containing point, line, and area objects, fill mode only applies to area objects.

Set Layer Visible Scale Range

Filter objects in the layer by setting the visible scale in layer properties or applying a filter.

Minimum Visible Scale

The minimum visible scale combo box sets the current layer's minimum visible scale. After configuring the minimum visible scale, if the map scale is smaller than this value, the layer becomes invisible.

Maximum Visible Scale

The maximum visible scale combo box sets the current layer's maximum visible scale. After configuring the maximum visible scale, if the map scale exceeds this value, the layer becomes invisible.

Notes:

The dropdown button on the right provides different scale options depending on the context:

If the current map has fixed scales set, the dropdown offers fixed scale options;

If no fixed scales are set, the dropdown provides eight basic scale options from 1:5000 to 1:1000000;

If you customize scale values in the numeric adjustment box beside Maximum/Minimum Visible Scale, the dropdown saves your custom values for reuse.

Display Filter

The filter expression sets the display filter for the current layer, determining which objects are visible, helping users focus on relevant features while hiding others.

Enter an SQL expression in the Display Filter text box as the filter and press Enter to apply it, making objects meeting the filter visible. Alternatively, click the button beside the text box to open the SQL Expression dialog, build the filter expression, and click OK to apply it.

Click Join Attribute Table... to open the Join Attributes dialog, linking external tables via association fields to filter layer content using expressions involving external table fields.

Related Topics

Set Vector Layer Properties

Set Raster Layer Properties

Set Image Layer Properties


Map display effects before layer adjustment	Map display effects after layer adjustment

Mode Category	Mode Name	Description
Normal mode	Normal	Does not alter layer colors; this is the default blend type.
Darken	Darken	Compares layer colors with those below and uses the minimum RGB values from both layers for the final rendering effect.
	Multiply	Multiplies layer colors with those below, typically resulting in darker rendering effects.
	Color Burn	Darkens colors of the lower layer; white remains unchanged.
	Linear Burn	Adds layer colors to those below and subtracts a value of 1.
Lighten	Lighten	Compares layer colors with those below and uses the maximum RGB values from both layers for the final rendering effect.
	Screen	Multiplies layer colors after subtracting white areas from both layers.
	Color Dodge	Reduces contrast between layers and increases brightness of the lower layer; black remains unchanged.
	Linear Dodge	Adds brightness of layers; black remains unchanged.
Contrast	Overlay	Multiplies areas where color values are below 0.5 in the lower layer, and uses screen mode for areas above 0.5.
	Soft Light	Uses the same algorithm as overlay mode but reduces layer color contrast.
	Hard Light	Multiplies areas where color values are below 0.5 and uses screen mode for areas above 0.5.
	Vivid Light	A combination of color dodge and color burn.
	Linear Light	Brightens areas where layer color brightness exceeds 0.5 and darkens areas below 0.5.
	Pin Light	If the current layer color is lighter than 50% gray, darker pixels are replaced; if darker, lighter pixels are replaced.
Difference	Difference	Subtracts the lower layer's color value from the upper layer's, divides the result by 2, then adds the lower layer's color value, producing an inverse effect.
Difference	Subtract	Subtracts the upper layer's color from the lower layer's to obtain the resulting color.