science

Map coloring

Map coloring is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Map coloring rather than just read about it. In short: In cartographic design, map coloring is the act of choosing colors as a form of map symbol to be used on a map. Color is a very useful attribute to depict different features on a map.

Key takeaways

Map coloring belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Map coloring to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Map coloring from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In cartographic design, map coloring is the act of choosing colors as a form of map symbol to be used on a map. Color is a very useful attribute to depict different features on a map. Typical uses of color include displaying different political divisions, different elevations, or different kinds of roads. A choropleth map is a thematic map in which areas are colored differently to show the measurement of a statistical variable being displayed on the map. The choropleth map provides an easy way to visualize how a measurement varies across a geographic area or it shows the level of variability within a region. In addition to choropleth maps, a cartographer should strive to depict colors effectively on any kind of map. Displaying the data in different hues can greatly affect the understanding or feel of the map. In many cultures, certain colors have connotations. These connotations lie under a field of study called color symbolism. For example, coloring a certain nation a color that has a negative connotation in their culture could be counterproductive. Likewise, using assumed skin colors to show racial or ethnic patterns will likely cause offense. It is not possible to always predict the color connotations of every map reader or to avoid negative connotations, but it is helpful to be aware of common color connotations in order to make a map as appealing and understandable as possible. Cartographers may also choose to pick hues that are associated with what they are mapping. For example, when mapping precipitation, they may choose to use shades of blue or for a map of wildfires they may use yellows, reds, and oranges. Carefully choosing colors ensures that the map is intuitive and easy to read. This process is referred to as feature association. Also, the cartographer must take into account that many people have impaired color vision, and colors must be used that are easily distinguishable by such readers.

A general rule is that most people can differentiate only between 5-8 different shades of one color. Rather than more than 8 shades of a color, it is best to use multiple colors. Most GIS programs provide users with carefully curated color schemes to choose from, thus making the process of selecting colors easier. Colors can also be used to produce three-dimensional effects from two-dimensional maps, either by explicit color-coding of the two images intended for different eyes, or by using the characteristics of the human visual system to make the map look three-dimensional.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Map coloring

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Map coloring claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Map coloring before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Map coloring ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Map coloring

In research: Map coloring appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Map coloring in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Map coloring is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Cartography, Color, Visualization (graphics), so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Map coloring outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Map coloring in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Map coloring means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Map coloring out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Map coloring in simple terms?

In cartographic design, map coloring is the act of choosing colors as a form of map symbol to be used on a map. Color is a very useful attribute to depict different features on a map.

Why does Map coloring matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Map coloring?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Map coloring.