by Jeff Howe, Maponics Quality Manager on April 22, 2008 at 9:06PM
If you have been involved in map creation for any period of time, chances are that you’ve heard of ColorBrewer. Originally created for academics by Cindy Brewer and Mark Hanower, this popular site helps novices and experts alike select optimized color schemes for their maps. The site’s simple 3 step process guides you through palette selection by providing information and tips, as well as visualization tools, that make each choice you face easier.
Step 1: Select the number of colors you intend to use on your map.
Step 2: Select a legend type. Choose sequential, qualitative, or diverging – the differences between all three are explained.
Step 3: Select from an array of palettes that correspond to the legend type you chose and see how each looks on the demo map featured. Color values are provided in RGB, CMYK, HEX, LAB, and ArcView 3.x. Information is also offered on whether a scheme 1) is printer/projector/LCD/CRT monitor friendly, 2) copies well, and 3) is distinguishable to a color-blind person.
This site makes coming up with a map color scheme easy – check it out!
http://www.personal.psu.edu/cab38/ColorBrewer/ColorBrewer_intro.html
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by Jeff Howe, Maponics Quality Manager on April 11, 2008 at 12:24PM
ESRI’s Mapping Center is a year old and continues to expand its collection of useful cartographic information. While focusing on ESRI’s ArcGIS, most of the ArcGIS-related tools and suggestions can be applied to non-ArcGIS platforms, and many non-ArcGIS resources are provided as well. Some cool features include:
Ask a Cartographer
This is a searchable database of questions sent in by users and answered by the ESRI Mapping Center Team. Equally useful are the comments left by readers in response to the ESRI sponsored solutions. Questions covered include:
• General cartographic design
• Page layout
• Data
• Cartographic effects
The Blog
Posts to the blog are not exclusively made by ESRI staff, but also include interesting reader contributions. Informative questions/answers are pulled from the “Ask a Cartographer” portion of the website as well. Topics covered include:
• Cartographic design tips
• Current mapping topics
• Unique solutions to various mapping issues
Map Library
The Map Library features seven very different sample maps with accompanying articles and tips on how various cartographic effects were manipulated to create the best map for the purpose and audience. Sample tips include:
• Creating a hierarchy of label sizes
• Presenting numeric data with proportional 3D symbols
• Rounding and presenting data values in a legend
Resource Center – ARC GIS & Other Resources
The site also offers two resource centers, one focusing on ARCGIS tools and another with universally appealing resources.
ARCGIS Resources
• Styles
• Tools, Models & Scripts
• Expression Queries & Statements
• Data
Other Resources
• Presentations
• Publications
• Other ESRI Resources
• Cartographer’s Favorites
ESRI’s Mapping Center offers plenty for both beginners and professionals to explore, so check it out!
http://mappingcenter.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=home.welcome
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