Tutorials

Step-by-step tutorials for working on mapping projects using GIS methods and software.

View the Project on GitHub HarvardMapCollection/tutorials

How to adjust opacity

In this tutorial you will learn how to adjust a layer’s opacity in QGIS so that you can “see underneath” or through the layer to the map data below.

  1. In the QGIS layer list, right-click the layer you would like to adjust the opacity for.

  2. Select Properties.

  3. In the properties menu, select Legend. Legend menu in QGIS layer properties interface

  4. Move Opacity slider from Available widgets to Used widgets by selecting Opacity slider and clicking the right-hand arrow Add selected widgets.

    The text “opacity slider” should move over into the Used widgets box.

  5. Select OK.

  6. An opacity slider should now appear in your layer list underneath the layer. You can slide this to make the layer more or less transparent.