Mapping, Color

Abstract

Color is used in both thematic and reference maps for representing information and highlighting important features. Using color effectively in maps requires understanding how the people see and understand color, the medium in which the map is published (electronic vs. paper), and characteristics of the data being represented in the map. Colors can be thought of as being comprised of three dimensions (color hue, color lightness, and color saturation) and are typically described using specialized mathematical systems called color specification systems, which allow precise communication about color characteristics. Effective color schemes match data characteristics to color dimensions in logical ways and choose colors with knowledge of their potential meanings to map readers