Map Symbols
in map design
Map symbols are graphic marks used to encode thematic information on the map. Map symbols
provide a graphic, simplified representation of the environment and come in many di ferent
forms.
Figure 1: Example of Map Symbols
Geometric Symbols
Geometric symbols are commonly used map symbols. Geometric symbols do not visually
resemble the phenomenon being mapped as they are considered abstract representations.
Geometric symbols are typically pointed symbols and require a legend to understand since they
do not resemble the phenomena. Geometric symbols are circles, triangles, squares, crosses, and
symbols with crosshairs, dots, or other symbols embedded within.
.
Pictographic Symbols
Pictographic symbols visually resemble the
phenomenon being mapped. The pictographic
symbols typically represent point data sets. A
major bene t of pictographic symbols is that they
may be understood without a legend and since
many pictographic symbols are so widely used
they may be immediately interpretable by the
map reader. The use of pictographic symbols will
add to the theme or memorability of your map.
Color and Cartography
Color is an extremely valuable tool for cartographers.
Color grabs the attention of your map reader and
engages them with your map. Color also provides more
design options than black and white printing and
allows you to be more expressive and creative with your
map creations. To maximize the effectiveness of
our maps we must employ color in a proper fashion and
beware of the following pitfalls: color
complicates the map and makes reproduction more
difficult.
Color in map design
Why use colour in map making or map design?
• Color simplifies and clarifies, as well as unifies various map
elements.
• Color affects the general perceptibility of the map.
• Color elicits (draws) subjective reactions to the map. People
respond to colors; it creates mood.
• Used for symbolism
• Used to improve usability
• Used to communicate mood
• Establishes identity
• Color helps to convey structure
• Helps to enhance meaning
Printing in color is quite a bit more expensive
the printing and black and white. Additionally, if
colors are used incorrectly it may only confuse
your users or have users perceive the map as
being unattractive. People may perceive colors
differently depending on their own biases or
their culture. So while colors can really increase
the effectiveness of our map they must use be
with care and careful consideration.
Types of color
Primary color
These recognizable hues -red, green and blue form
primary [Link] color can be combined to create these 3
colors and all other colors include at least one of these
hues/colors. Using these bond tones with proper
execution kitchen will make dramatic design statement.
When we mix red, blue and green end result is white.
The production of various colors of light by mixing of the
three primary colors of light is known as color addition.
The color addition principles discussed can be used to
make predictions of the colors that would result when
different colored lights are mixed
Color additive
Additive color is light made up of red, green, and
blue which is commonly shortened to RGB. The
idea is that we combine the red green and blue
values to make all of the other colors. In the
additive color theory red, green, and blue are
considered the primary colors as they cannot be
made by combining any other colors. RGB is
used by monitors, TVs, movie lms, your
telephone screen, and other similar devices.
Subtractive color
Subtractive color is where light reflectance is
reduced by ink. Magenta, cyan, and yellow
which are often shortened to CMY are the
primary colors in the subtractive color theory.
You combine CMY values to create other colors
by reducing which light waves are reflected.
Magenta, cyan, and yellow are used in print.
Complementary colors of light
• Any two colors of light that when mixed
together in equal intensities produce white
are said to be complementary colors of each
other. This is possible since cyan light is
equivalent to a combination of blue and green
light, an blue and green light when added to
red light and cyan light( which is equivalent to
blue +green light) represent a pair of
complementary colors of light .
When you subtract i.e. magenta +cyan –yellow
=blue
Magenta +yellow –cyan=red
Yellow +cyan –magenta =green
Therefore red, green and blue can be called
light colours
Secondary colors
When two primary colors are mixed together,
secondary color is created and examples of
these colors are yellow, magenta and cyan. The
method to produce color by removing colors
from the white light is called color subtraction. A
process in which some wavelengths of an
illuminating light source are absorbed by
pigments in an object while the remaining
wavelengths are reflected.
Tertiary color
• Created by mixing color with neighboring secondary
color .the 6 tertiary color offer wide range of
possibilities with the 6 hues ,red-violet, red –
orange ,yellow –orange ,yellow green, blue-green and
blue –violet.
NOTE
• when you mix red and green the result will be yellow
(complementary)
• Red +blue +green we get white .(addition of colors)
• Magenta +yellow + cyan result will be black
(subtraction of colors)
Colour balance
• Use color balance so that dominant colors
occupying large areas do not overpower the
remainder of the map.
• Since areas are fixed in geography, only choice
of color is possible when planning balance.
NOTE – what is pleasant to one map reader may
not be pleasant to another.
Components of color
This section will cover the various components of
color: hue, saturation, and [Link]: Hue is the
name that we give to colors. Some common color
names are red, orange, green, blue, and violet,
among others. In the electromagnetic spectrum
each hue has its own wavelength. The
wavelengths generally run from the color red
which is the longest wavelength to violet which
has the shortest wavelength.
Saturation: The second component of color is
saturation. Saturation is also known as chroma,
intensity, or purity. Chroma represents how
intense the color is for a particular hue.
Saturation is specified in percentages where 0%
represents a neutral gray, and 100% represents
maximum color. Sometimes it is useful to think
about saturation as determining how much
great use in a color.
Value
The value component of color represents the
quality of lightness or darkness in a hue. Value is
often considered to represent the shades of a
hue. Value is specfied in percentages were 0%
represents a light neutral gray, and 100%
represents the color black.