A framework for color design of digital maps: An example of noise maps

Abstract

We give an overview of the manifold perceptional and psychological effects of color, such as color contrast, effect of depth, effects on the perceived object size, the emotional and associative aspects of color, and (situational) color vision deficiencies. While in recent cartographic work on color often the technical aspect, e.g., automatically generating palettes is the focus we intended to highlight the broad range of aspects that need to find consideration and developed preliminary guidelines and decision criteria. To make a suitable choice the guidelines for color design—(1) harmonical hierarchy, (2) match value or class distances and color distances, (3) consistency of colors, and (4) avoid colors that are not suitable for (situational) color vision deficiencies—are based on research in color science and cartography. The design of a color scheme to represent sound pressure level in maps showed its relevance and proved a need to come up with decision criteria to choose a final scheme. Suggested decision criteria are user tasks, the level of abstraction and emotional aspects.