Adding Icons
Where does the icon appear on the platform?
- Primary icon - the first icon you select will appear on the base map as the Marker, click it to see the place’s details
- Once clicked, or searched: All secondary icons will appear on the Marker’s details on the left side of the map
- On the Map’s Cover page. Here, each marker has a preview box with a row of icons under the site’s title and photo (yes, these Marker Covers can be made into posters to reach off-line audiences),
- Lastly, on Browse>icons>your icon set(s)
The icon will appear the same on the marker, regardless if it is used on a point (site), or to chart routes (lines) or areas (polygons).
You can make your icons larger, change the background colour, add a border etc with Styles, and add meaning with Attributes.
Your icon set can belong to your team’s maps or be shared. You should own the copyright to icons that you upload unless they are open source and/or you can clearly post permission to use them. You can include full credits and terms of use information in the Icon Set description.
Shared sets are usable by anyone, while non-shared sets can only be used for your own team’s maps. If you want your icon set to become one of the “shared” sets that anyone can use, please contact Green Map System (info@greenmap.org). Your set must be complete with credits, terms of use, titles, definitions, etc. to become shared as a default set.
Note: Green Map System or GISCollective are not responsible for the use of any icons you place on this platform. We reserve the right to make icon sets private if no one is using them or if the set appears unfinished.
The Image is the starting point
Each Icon needs an image, a short clear title, and a brief definition.
Similar to tagging, there is an ‘other names’ field where you can include related terminology since many people explore the Platform using the Search function.
If you are making several symbols, consider setting categories that separate themes and organise the icons in folders on the platform. Fewer categories (2 or 3) will make your map’s legend easier to use for both your team and for the map’s users. Use broad terms, such as Land, Water, Air.
When naming your set, we suggest including your project’s place, theme or event, or your organisation’s name such as Glasgow’s COP26 Icons or Recovery Icons.
Create a spreadsheet to make it easy for people to comment before you finalise and upload. Yes, you can use your choice of languages!
| Image | Title | Definition | Other Names | Category | Comments |
We suggest you make a list or spreadsheet to confirm the order of the icons, and to organise your Categories,Titles & Definitions before uploading.
Your icons will appear on the icon page and in the legend in the order you set in the icon editor (the first one is on the top left). You can drag them around at any time, so don’t worry if you upload them in a different order. You can share your spreadsheet as a user guide later, or keep it as a team resource.
Here’s a spreadsheet we made for the Food Icons, yours can similarly allow public comment.
Add your icons to the platform
Once your images and your spreadsheet are ready, it’s time to upload them. Everything happens in the icon editor, and our Managing icons guide walks you through it step by step:
- create your icon set, with its title, description and cover image
- add your icons by dragging the image files into the editor, many at a time
- give each icon its title, definition, category and attributes
- put them in order by dragging them around
- make the set public when it’s ready. Leave it private for use only on your map (and while your work is in progress).
We suggest you test on a map as you go to make sure your icons look as planned. Remember to add your new set to the icon sets field of your map, to enable them on that map.