Adding an image layer
With an image layer, you can configure your map chart to use images in combination with both geographical and non-geographical data. For example, you can add a background image and position markers on top of the image.
Procedure
Image layer examples
Using a background image works similarly to the map with markers, but with the difference that you do not need to have map data in a data table in order to set it up. If you use a GeoTIFF image, where geographical information is included as metadata in the image file, then the image will automatically be positioned correctly. The example below shows a GeoTIFF image that is projected onto a map layer, and the markers are placed on top of the image layer.

Note that for the GeoTIFF image to be placed correctly on the map, the image must include projection metadata, and that some projections are not supported.
With other types of image files, the data table must contain X and Y coordinates for the markers to be placed correctly in geographical positions.
A map chart can also be used to show non-geographical data. The example below shows a map chart where the background is an image illustrating the three weather types sunny, partly cloudy, and rainy. The markers placed on top of the image show how many days in the month of August that were sunny, partly cloudy, and rainy respectively.

See Positioning markers on an image background to learn more about this example.
You can choose how you want the image to be displayed when it is scaled up compared to its original size and resolution. Select the check box Preserve sharp edges when upscaling image in the Appearance section on the Properties popover if you want to keep sharp (pixelated) edges, and avoid smoothing, when scaling up the image.
The example below shows the difference between the two options in an upscaled image. In the image to the left, the check box is cleared. In the image to right, the check box is selected.
- Moving and resizing images
Images in image layers can be moved and resized on top of the map chart directly. The possibility to move images can be useful when you, as illustrated below, want to position a satellite photo on top of an ordinary map layer, or when you have a number of images to arrange on top of a map. - Positioning markers on an image background
The background of the markers in a map chart does not have to be geographical; you can position markers on any spatial background. You can, as the background to the markers, simply use an image layer instead of a map layer. To exemplify, your image in the image layer can represent a human body, where you place markers showing medical data, or a drawing of a hotel, where the room occupancy or other data is displayed. To position markers on top of an image layer requires that your data contains appropriate X and Y coordinates.