QGIS – Clip Layout to Shape

by David Crowther

Top Tip for QGIS 3.16 Release:

While looking for what’s new in QGIS 3.16, I found a great update to the Print Layout where you can clip the Layout Frame to a Shape, so that you can print non-rectangular maps!

By default, your Print Layouts will add a Map as a rectangular Frame.

Simply > Add a Shape such as an Ellipse and stretch it to the desired size.

Now select the Map Frame from the Items list…

and then click the new CLIP Settings icon from the Item Properties panel. This is the last icon on the end of the icon toolbar.

In the Clip Settings there are options to Clip to an Atlas Feature, but below that we will choose the Clip to Item option.

Having ticked Clip to item, choose the selected shape to use for clipping, in this case the Ellipse.

The Map Frame will now be clipped to the chosen shape.

Finally, you can use the Force labels inside clipping shape option to ensure that you don’t have any overlapping labels.

By creating different Shapes e.g. a Triangle, you can Clip the Map as desired.