---
title: "Layer styling | Guides | Map design"
description: "Style map layers and adjust colors in Map Designer."
---

> For AI agents: a documentation index is available at [/llms.txt](https://docs.maptiler.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of all pages are available by appending .md to any URL.

# Layer styling

This page describes how to **style map layers** in MapTiler Map Designer. This way, you can adjust colors in any MapTiler map to your brand design. You can also style multiple layers at once and use advanced paint properties.

## How to style a layer

Go to the **Layers panel** (Alt+L) and click on a preferred layer. By clicking on paint properties such as **Fill** or **Outline**, you will get to a **color picker**. You can also adjust the color **opacity**.

![layer-styling.png](./17414968501009_f677981e01.webp)

### Polygon styling

Layers visualized as polygons have two main paint properties - **Fill** and **Outline**. If a map has loaded [sprite](https://docs.maptiler.com/gl-style-specification/sprite/), you can also pick a **pattern**.

![polygon-styling.png](./17414968505873_bef4fa1a4b.webp)

MapTiler maps with sprites included by default:

-   [Bright](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/bright-v2/)
-   [OpenStreetMap](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/openstreetmap/)
-   [Outdoor](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/outdoor-v4/)
-   [Streets](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/streets-v4/)
-   [Toner](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/toner-v2/)
-   [Topo](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/topo-v4/)
-   [Winter](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/winter-v4/)

### Line styling

Layers visualized as lines don’t have the option to adjust the Fill color (because of the [GL Style Specification](https://docs.maptiler.com/gl-style-specification/layers/#line) that doesn’t support line-fill property). You can adjust **Outline** color, **opacity,** and **width** or specify **a blur** under the **Effects.**

**![line-styling.png](./17414968508433_c0690060af.webp)**

A specific paint property for lines is a **dash array** under **Advanced outline properties**. The format is: `number, number` (**lengths** of the alternating dashes, **gaps** that form the dash pattern). Dashed lines are commonly used for borders, roads under construction, intermittent rivers, or paths.

![dasharray.png](./17414985484817_b31ad1d145.webp)

### Symbol styling

Layers visualized as symbols have **Fill** and **Outline** paint properties. You can also add **icons** that will differentiate between Icon and Text paint properties.

![symbol-styling.png](./17414985487249_03d9145449.webp)

To adjust the position of labels, go to the **Layout** properties (scroll down in the Style tab).

![layout-properties.png](./17414968518801_78ba44a681.webp)

### Raster styling

Rasters have specific paint properties depending on the data. For example, in [MapTiler Satellite](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/satellite-v4/) map, you can adjust contrast, hue, saturation, or brightness.

![raster-styling.png](./17414968520849_9b0ebe6808.webp)

### Hillshade styling

Many of our maps contain hillshading that adds perspective to mountainous terrain and ocean depths. To learn about hillshading layers and how to customize them, see section [Terrain styling](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-design/terrain/hillshading/).

## Styling of multiple layers

MapTiler Map Designer allows the styling of multiple layers at once: **hold Shift while selecting**. To change the styling, click on the paint properties with multiple values, **reset** them to default, and then style. Layers need to be of the **same visualization [type](https://docs.maptiler.com/gl-style-specification/layers/#type)**!

![multiple-layers.png](./17415917529105_feef8a5185.webp)

![multiple-layers-reset.png](./17415933644433_dc1013280e.webp)

## Next steps

Continue to [Style by the zoom range](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-design/style-by-the-zoom-range/) to learn how to style your maps based on the zoom level in MapTiler Map Designer.

## Useful links

[Style by the zoom range](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-design/style-by-the-zoom-range)  
[Add a new style layer](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-design/add-a-new-style-layer)  
[Using sprites](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-design/icons/)  
[GL Style Specification](https://docs.maptiler.com/gl-style-specification/)