QGIS export as .tiff

Introduction

Figure 1. Example of a TIFF image made in QGIS. Showing a combination of the AHN3 height map and OSM.

Exporting your maps to a tagged image file format or TIFF (.tiff) can be useful when working with raster layers for example. Using the TIFF format for images is favorable compared to other image formats, as it can store an image without losing any data. Making it an extremely useful image format for scientific data.
TIFF exports do not only have to be full maps such as figure 1, but it can also contain raster specific data such as height per 0.5 by 0.5 meter raster. Importing these TIFF maps (adding image via the Data Source Manager) allows users to do research on several urban scales. Finally, you can export your research map as a lossless TIFF image to share or print. Adding an additional referency system, so it is linked to its location, you create a GeoTIFF.

Exporting QGIS to .tiff

Figure 2: Creating a new layout file

Figure 3: Additional features for the map export

Figure 4: GeoTIFF export options.

Figure 5: GeoTIFF export example.

• Step 1: Prepare your map, make sure you use the right CRS (coordinate reference system, check this tutorial). Additionally bookmark at your preferred view.
  

For TIFF prints follow step 2 and 3

• Step 2: Go to: Project > New print layout and give it a proper name (see figure 2).
  

• Step 3: To change the print size go to: Layout > Page setup.... Now you can add your map to the layout with the Adds a new Map to the layout tool. You can also add additional features such as a scale bar, legend and north arrow (see figure 3).
  

• Step 3: Now go to Layout and select Export as Image..., you can ignore the message if it pops up. Within the Save Layout As screen select the TIFF format as type, give it a proper name and save the image. Resulting in an image like figure 1.
  

For GeoTIFF exports follow step 4 and 5

• Step 4: To create a GeoTIFF image right click on the layer that you want to have exported and select Save as....
• Step 5: Select the right options shown in figure 4. Make sure you have selected the output mode as Rendered image, the format as GeoTIFF, the correct CRS, resolution as colums and finalles the profile (under Create Options as No compression. Finally click on OK to save the GeoTIFF. This will result in an image such as figure 5.