Create a New Point Symbol: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:50, 6 October 2016

Select the New command in the Symbol menu. Choose the Point symbol option in the New Symbol dialog box to create a new point symbol.

Point Symbol Dialog

The Point Symbol dialog appears.

Enter a number between 0.001 and 999999.999 in the Symbol number field.
Enter a description of the new symbol in the Symbol description field.
Check the Orientated to north when rotating the map option if you want that the symbol always stays orientated to north when you use the Rotate function.
Click the Edit button to edit the object. The Symbol Editor appears.

Symbol Editor

The main window changes to the symbol editor...

... when you create or edit a point symbol.
... when you create or edit a symbol for a structured line.
... when you create or edit a symbol for a structured area.

When you change to the symbol editor, the magnification changes to 64x and the Anti-Aliasing is switched off. The coordinate (0,0) is in the center of the screen. A number of menu functions are disabled when working in the symbol editor. However, you can open and adjust a Background Map if you have a scanned image of the desired symbol.

Symbol Element Style

On the right side of the drawing area the Symbol Editor menu is displayed. In the Symbol element style part of this menu you can make drawing adjustments of symbol elements.

Type
You can choose between four symbol element types: Line, Area, Circle or Dot (Filled Circles)..

Color
Choose a color from the Color dropdown menu. These colors are the same colors as in the Colors dialog of the Map menu and have to be defined before opening the Symbol Editor. Learn more about defining and editing colors on the Colors page. If you draw a structure for an area and this area has a background color, you must choose a color which is above the background color in the color table. Otherwise the element will be covered by it.
Click on the Open color dialog... button in the right of the color box to open the color dialog directly from the symbol editor

Line width
If you have chosen a Line or a Circle as a symbol element type, enter a line width in mm in this field. Note that the Line width is set to zero by default and with a Line width of zero the drawn symbol element is invisible!

Line style
If you have chosen a Line as a symbol element type, you can choose here how the corners and line ends of the line symbol element shall appear.

Diameter
If you have chosen a Circle or a Dot as a symbol element type, enter here the diameter the symbol element is meant to have. For circles, this diameter includes the line width of the circle line.

Draw a Symbol Element

When you made all those adjustments you can start drawing the symbol element. You can draw any number of elements for one symbol. The number of vertices of all elements is limited by 32768.
Line: A line symbol element can be drawn with the regular drawing modes (curve, ellipse, circle etc.).
Area: An area symbol element can be drawn with the regular drawing modes (curve, ellipse, circle etc.) as well.
Circle: A circle symbol element have to be placed like a point object where the placement point is the middle of the circle.
Dot: A dot symbol element have to be placed like a point object where the placement point is the middle of the filled circle.

The center of the drawing area (0mm/0mm) is equal to the center of the point object.

You can change the drawn symbol elements by selecting them and making adjustments in the Symbol Editor menu. Click the Change button at the bottom of the Symbol element style field to apply all changes to the symbol elements. It is also possible to add or remove vertices (Vertices) or use nearly all editing functions (Edit Object).

Scale Selected Symbol Element

In the Scale selected symbol element part of the Symbol Editor menu you can scale the selected symbol element(s):

Scale factor: Enter a scale factor in percentage.
Scale center: Use either the center of the symbol (center of the drawing area (0/0)) or the center of the symbol element (x/y) as a scale center.
Scale line width: Check this option to extend or reduce also the line width.
Click the Scale up/down button to scale the selected symbol element(s).

Select a symbol element and click the Center selected symbol element button to move it to the center of the drawing area (equals center of the symbol).
Click the Make screenshot for symbol icon button to make a screenshot and use it as symbol icon.

Draw Symbols for Structured Lines

When drawing symbols for a line, imagine that the line goes from left to right on the x-axis. If you want a tag to point to the right side of the line, draw it downwards from the origin (0, 0); if it should point to the left side, draw it upwards.

Draw Symbols for Structured Areas

If the area symbol has a background color, this background color is also shown. Note that the background color must be below the color of any elements in the color table, otherwise these elements are covered by the background color.
When you draw an element, it is also shown in gray in the neighboring fields to get a better impression of the structure.

Click the Close button when you are finished with drawing the symbol. The Point Symbol dialog box appears again. Click the Icon button to edit the icon manually in the Icon Editor. Click the OK button to save all changes and quit the dialog. The new symbol appears in the symbol box.

Different Point Symbols

Examples

Create a Point Symbol out of Vector Data

With OCAD it is possible to import a vector image (for example a logo or a pictogram) and convert it into a symbol. In this example the US National Park Service Pictograms are imported, which can be downloaded as AI- or PDF-File.

Open a project.
First we import the vector image. Choose the Import command from the File menu.
Browse the vector image file and click the Open button.
The Save Cross Reference Table dialog appears. It is not neccessary to save one, therefore click the Cancel button.
OCAD imports the file. In this example a PDF-File is imported which contains exclusively vector data.
The PDF-File appears in the drawing area. The vector objects are displayed as Image Objects, which looks like a huge mess.
Search the pictograph in this chaos you want to create a symbol of. If you have troubles finding the desired pictograph, a look at the original PDF-File can probably help.
Select all pictopraphs you want to create symbols of and delete the other ones.
In this case the symbol for the airport was chosen, which looks still as follows:
Now, it is time to define the Colors. Choose the Colors item from the Map menu and add two new colors: A white color for the plane and a black color for the background. Make sure that the white color is above the black one.
Click the Close button.
Area symbols have to be defined now. Click in the Symbol Box with the right mouse button and choose the New command.
In the next dialog, choose the Area Symbol item and click the OK button.
The Area Symbol dialog appears. Adjust all parameters as desired. At least, the Fill option must be checked and the in the Fill color list, White must be chosen. Then click the OK button.
Repeat the last three steps for the Black color.
Select the fill of the pictograph and the symbol for the white area in the symbol box.
Click the Change Symbol (Selected Object) icon in the Edit Functions toolbar.
Repeat this with the black color for the background.
Select the whole pictograph (Select Multiple Objects).
Copy the selection (Ctrl+C).
Create a New Point Symbol.
In the Symbol Editor paste the selection (Ctrl+V).
Scale the symbol, make a screenshot for the symbol icon and click the Close button.
Finished! The pictograph can be used as a point symbol now.

Back to the Create a New Symbol page.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Category:Create a New Symbol]]
+[[Category:Create a New Symbol]][[Category:Symbol]][[File:PointSymbols.PNG]]
+[[File:Pro40px.PNG|This function is available in OCAD Professional.|link=https://www.ocad.com/en/products/ocad-for-cartography]][[File:Std40px.PNG|This function is available in OCAD Orienteering.|link=https://www.ocad.com/en/products/ocad-for-orienteering]][[File:Sta40px.PNG|This function is available in OCAD Starter.|link=https://www.ocad.com/en/products/ocad-for-orienteering]][[File:CS40px.PNG|This function is available in OCAD Course Setting.|link=https://www.ocad.com/en/products/ocad-for-orienteering]]
+Select the '''New''' command in the '''[[Symbol]]''' menu. Choose the '''Point symbol''' option in the '''New Symbol''' dialog box to create a new point symbol.
+[[File:NewSymbol.JPG]]
+==Point Symbol Dialog==
+The '''Point Symbol''' dialog appears.
-Select the '''New''' command in the '''Symbol''' menu. Choose the '''Point symbol''' option in the '''New Symbol''' dialog box to create a new point symbol. The '''Point Symbol''' dialog appears.
-===Point Symbol Dialog===
 [[File:NewPoint.JPG|Create a New Point]]
 <br />
@@ Line 8: / Line 15: @@
 Enter a description of the new symbol in the '''Symbol description''' field.<br />
 Check the '''Orientated to north when rotating the map''' option if you want that the symbol always stays orientated to north when you use the '''[[Edit Object#Rotate|Rotate]]''' function.<br />
-Click the '''Edit''' button to edit the object. The '''[[Create a New Symbol#Symbol Editor|Symbol Editor]]''' appears.
+Click the '''Edit''' button to edit the object. The '''[[Create a New Point Symbol#Symbol Editor|Symbol Editor]]''' appears.
-===Symbol Editor===
+==Symbol Editor==
 The main window changes to the symbol editor...
 * ... when you create or edit a point symbol.
@@ Line 16: / Line 23: @@
 * ... when you create or edit a symbol for a structured area.
-When you change to the symbol editor, the magnification changes to 32x and the coordinate (0,0) is in the center of the screen. A number of menu functions are disabled when working in the symbol editor. However, you can open and adjust a '''[[Background_Map|Background Map]]''' if you have a scanned image of the desired symbol.
+When you change to the symbol editor, the magnification changes to 64x and the '''[[Anti-Aliasing]]''' is switched off. The coordinate (0,0) is in the center of the screen. A number of menu functions are disabled when working in the symbol editor. However, you can open and adjust a '''[[Background_Map|Background Map]]''' if you have a scanned image of the desired symbol.
-[[File:NewPointSymbol.JPG|500px|Create a New Point Symbol]]<br />
+[[File:NewPointSymbol.PNG|660px|Create a New Point Symbol]]<br />
-<br />
+===Symbol Element Style===
+[[File:SymbolElementStyle.PNG|right]]
 On the right side of the drawing area the '''Symbol Editor''' menu is displayed. In the '''Symbol element style''' part of this menu you can make drawing adjustments of symbol elements.
 <br /><br />
@@ Line 26: / Line 34: @@
 You can choose between four symbol element types: [[File:Linebtn.gif|line button]] '''Line, [[File:Areabtn.gif|area button]] Area, [[File:Circlebtn.gif|circle button]] Circle or [[File:Dotbtn.gif|dot button]] Dot (Filled Circles).'''.<br /><br />
 '''Color'''<br />
-Choose a color from the '''Color''' dropdown menu. These colors are the same colors as in the '''Colors''' dialog of the '''Map''' menu and have to be defined before opening the '''Symbol Editor'''. Learn more about defining and editing colors on the '''[[Colors]]''' page. If you draw a structure for an area and this area has a background color, you must choose a color which is above the background color in the color table. Otherwise the element will be covered by it.<br /><br />
+Choose a color from the '''Color''' dropdown menu. These colors are the same colors as in the '''Colors''' dialog of the '''Map''' menu and have to be defined before opening the '''Symbol Editor'''. Learn more about defining and editing colors on the '''[[Colors]]''' page. If you draw a structure for an area and this area has a background color, you must choose a color which is above the background color in the color table. Otherwise the element will be covered by it.<br>[[File:Hint.jpg|hint]] Click on the '''Open color dialog...''' button in the right of the color box to open the color dialog directly from the symbol editor <br /><br />
 '''Line width'''<br />
 If you have chosen a '''Line''' or a '''Circle''' as a symbol element type, enter a line width in mm in this field. Note that the '''Line width''' is set to zero by default and with a '''Line width''' of zero the drawn symbol element is invisible! <br /><br />
@@ Line 34: / Line 42: @@
 If you have chosen a '''Circle''' or a '''Dot''' as a symbol element type, enter here the diameter the symbol element is meant to have. For circles, this diameter includes the line width of the circle line.<br /><br />
+===Draw a Symbol Element===
 When you made all those adjustments you can start drawing the symbol element. You can draw any number of elements for one symbol. The number of vertices of all elements is limited by 32768.<br />
 '''Line''': A line symbol element can be drawn with the regular drawing modes (curve, ellipse, circle etc.).<br />
@@ Line 43: / Line 52: @@
 You can change the drawn symbol elements by selecting them and making adjustments in the '''Symbol Editor''' menu. Click the '''Change''' button at the bottom of the '''Symbol element style''' field to apply all changes to the symbol elements. It is also possible to add or remove vertices ('''[[Vertices]]''') or use nearly all editing functions ('''[[Edit Object]]''').<br /><br />
+===Scale Selected Symbol Element===
+[[File:ScaleSelectedSymbolElement.PNG|right]]
 In the '''Scale selected symbol element''' part of the '''Symbol Editor''' menu you can scale the selected symbol element(s):<br /><br />
 '''Scale factor''': Enter a scale factor in percentage.<br />
@@ Line 50: / Line 61: @@
 Select a symbol element and click the '''Center selected symbol element''' button to move it to the center of the drawing area (equals center of the symbol).<br />
-Click the '''Make screenshot for symbol icon''' button to make a screenshot and use it as symbol icon.<br /><br />
+Click the '''Make screenshot for symbol icon''' button to make a screenshot and use it as symbol icon.<br /><br /><br /><br />
-====Drawing symbols for structured lines====
+===Draw Symbols for Structured Lines===
 When drawing symbols for a line, imagine that the line goes from left to right on the x-axis. If you want a tag to point to the right side of the line, draw it downwards from the origin (0, 0); if it should point to the left side, draw it upwards.
-====Drawing symbols for structured areas====
+===Draw Symbols for Structured Areas===
 If the area symbol has a background color, this background color is also shown. Note that the background color must be below the color of any elements in the color table, otherwise these elements are covered by the background color.<br />
 When you draw an element, it is also shown in gray in the neighboring fields to get a better impression of the structure.<br /><br />
-Click the '''Close''' button when you are finished with drawing the symbol. The '''Point Symbol''' dialog box appears again. Click the '''Icon''' button to edit the icon manually in the '''[[Create a New Symbol#Icon Editor|Icon Editor]]'''. Click the '''OK''' button to save all changes and quit the dialog. The new symbol appears in the symbol box.
+Click the '''Close''' button when you are finished with drawing the symbol. The '''[[Create a New Point Symbol#Point Symbol Dialog|Point Symbol]]''' dialog box appears again. Click the '''Icon''' button to edit the icon manually in the '''[[Create a New Symbol#Icon Editor|Icon Editor]]'''. Click the '''OK''' button to save all changes and quit the dialog. The new symbol appears in the symbol box.
+[[File:Camera.jpg|video available]] '''[http://www.ocad.com/howtos/64.htm Different Point Symbols]'''
+==Examples==
+===Create a Point Symbol out of Vector Data===
+With OCAD it is possible to import a vector image (for example a logo or a pictogram) and convert it into a symbol. In this example the '''[http://www.nps.gov/hfc/carto/map-symbols.cfm US National Park Service Pictograms]''' are imported, which can be downloaded as AI- or PDF-File.
+# '''[[File#Open|Open]]''' a project.
+# First we import the vector image. Choose the '''[[Import Files|Import]]''' command from the '''[[File]]''' menu.
+# Browse the vector image file and click the '''Open''' button.
+# The '''Save [[Cross Reference Table]]''' dialog appears. It is not neccessary to save one, therefore click the '''Cancel''' button.
+# OCAD imports the file. In this example a PDF-File is imported which contains exclusively vector data.
+# The PDF-File appears in the drawing area. The vector objects are displayed as '''[[Image Objects]]''', which looks like a huge mess.
+#: [[File:PointSymbolVectorData1.PNG|600px]]
+# Search the pictograph in this chaos you want to create a symbol of. If you have troubles finding the desired pictograph, a look at the original PDF-File can probably help.
+# Select all pictopraphs you want to create symbols of and delete the other ones.
+# In this case the symbol for the airport was chosen, which looks still as follows:
+#: [[File:PointSymbolVectorData2.PNG|600px]]
+# Now, it is time to define the '''[[Colors]]'''. Choose the '''[[Colors]]''' item from the '''[[Map]]''' menu and add two new colors: A white color for the plane and a black color for the background. Make sure that the white color is above the black one.
+#: [[File:PointSymbolVectorData3.PNG]]
+# Click the '''Close''' button.
+# Area symbols have to be defined now. Click in the '''[[Symbol Box]]''' with the right mouse button and choose the '''New''' command.
+# In the next dialog, choose the '''Area Symbol''' item and click the '''OK''' button.
+# The '''[[Create a New Symbol|Area Symbol]]''' dialog appears. Adjust all parameters as desired. At least, the '''Fill''' option must be checked and the in the '''Fill color''' list, '''White''' must be chosen. Then click the '''OK''' button.
+#: [[File:PointSymbolVectorData4.PNG]]
+# Repeat the last three steps for the '''Black''' color.
+# Select the fill of the pictograph and the symbol for the white area in the symbol box.
+#: [[File:PointSymbolVectorData5.PNG]]
+# Click the [[File:Icon_ChangeSymbolOfObject.PNG]] '''[[Change Symbol|Change Symbol (Selected Object)]]''' icon in the '''Edit Functions''' toolbar.
+# Repeat this with the black color for the background.
+# Select the whole pictograph ('''[[Select#Select_and_Edit_Multiple_Objects|Select Multiple Objects]]''').
+# Copy the selection (Ctrl+C).
+# '''[[Create a New Point Symbol#Point Symbol Dialog|Create a New Point Symbol]]'''.
+# In the '''[[Create a New Point Symbol#Symbol Editor|Symbol Editor]]''' paste the selection (Ctrl+V).
+# Scale the symbol, make a screenshot for the symbol icon and click the '''Close''' button.
+# Finished! The pictograph can be used as a point symbol now.
+#: [[File:PointSymbolVectorData6.PNG]]
-[[File:Camera.jpg|video available]] [http://www.ocad.com/howtos/64.htm Different point symbols]
+----
+Back to the '''[[Create a New Symbol]]''' page.