Adding MORE Depth with DEMs

This week, we are going to explore a simple yet effective trick that can make the terrain on your map pop out a bit, by playing with layers and blending. This method will add a cool depth effect to your maps, but be aware—it will distort your map, so use it with caution.

To get started here is what we will need:

1. One cool Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
2. An imagery layer

We are headed back to Mentone Beach in SoCal, and we are going to make some of those flood plain features have a little more depth.

Let's Get Started!

What we will need is our cool DEM and some imagery. We are going to use some sandwiching and blending to achieve a cool hill shade effect.

1. Take your imagery layer and make a copy of it.
2. Set the transparency of the top imagery layer to approximately 45%.
3. Keep the bottom imagery layer at 0% transparency.
4. Grab your cool DEM and position your DEM between your two imagery layers, like you're making a sandwich or a trifle.
5. Update the DEM symbology to Shaded Relief and choose a grey color ramp.
6. Change the Z-factor to 50. (Feel free to tweak this number to achieve different effects.)
7. Set the transparency of the DEM to around 45%.
8. Then navigate to the blend mode (located right below transparency) and select Luminosity.
9. Adjust the transparency of the first two layers to achieve your desired effects.

The z-factor is a scaling factor used to convert the elevation values for two purposes: converting elevation units and add vertical exaggeration for visual effects

Check out more Shaded Relief Functions Here!

Next Week, we are going to talk about how not all data is good data, and some of the methods and places I source reliable data from.

GIS you later!

Pro Tip: Do you sometimes wonder what the heck your map project is doing, because it looks like it is doing nothing, or hung up? Mash Ctrl+Alt+M to open the Diagnostic Monitor and see what the heck is going on.