A label is the text displayed next to an object on the map, and labelling is the process of configuring labels. It is simply a caption on a map, e.g. the name of a town next to the outline of a city or the name of a river along its course.
Labels are very widely used for quick visual identification of objects. They also carry information value on printouts.
Labels are configured in the Symbolisation Manager in the right-hand section.
Labelling settings
- Value – we can select one or more attributes that the label will consist of
- Font size – is the size of the font in points
- Font colour – any colour from the RGB palette
- Font thickness – normal or bold
- Visibility scale – is the value of the scale above which the font should be visible. For example, selecting 17 means that the font will be visible in scales from 17 to 22
- X offset – offset of the label in the X axis (right<>left). The offset will be from the point or area centroid.
The X offset manoeuvre does not apply to lines.
The line label always displays at the centre of the line object. - Y offset – offset of the label in the Y axis (up<>down). This allows you to set the location of the font above, below or baseline to the centre of the object.
- Outline, also known as halo. It is useful to add a bright outline. This makes the font more visible on a dark background.
- outline colour – halo colour
- outline size – halo size.