The presentation will cover experiments with styling a Swiss topographic map based on data from the 'Swiss Map Vector 25' dataset.

The presentation discusses and demonstrates styling, symbology and labelling topics, such as
- using units for either print or screen maps
- fixed reference scale (important primarily for print maps)
- the use of data-defined properties and expressions
- styling roads and trails with multiple symbol layers and advanced dashing
- splitting up layers according to drawing levels (e.g. buildings below or above railways or cable cars)
- organising layers: flat layer drawing order list vs. thematic organisation in layer tree
- point and area symbology tricks (e.g. advanced hachures (line pattern fills) that follow orientation of geometries)
- advanced labelling with manual or automatic labelling placement, labelling rules and data-defined expressions
- selective masking to better distinguish labels from darker geometry symbols in their background
- terrain representation (hillshading, rock drawing and contour lines)

The presentation will also discuss missing symbology features that, if implemented, would help to better style topographic maps, especially in the alpine regions with a lot of rocky areas.