[CV3-3] Colour

The selection of colours to use in data representation can be influenced by various factors (e.g. the production workflow, cultural differences, involved devices and media). There are various colour models (e.g. RGB, CMYK, CIE) that describe colours in a way that they can effectively convey visual information (e.g., qualitative, sequential, diverging, spectral) according to the meaning of the underlying data. The cultural background of the consumer is also relevant when it comes to choose colours that should have real-world connotations or should express psychological concepts (e.g. harmony, concordance, balance). A final important factor is if the consumer has colour limitations

External resources

• Brown, A., and Feringa, W. (2003). Colour basics for GIS users. Pearson Education.
  ISBN number: 9780130333438
• Christophe, S. (2019). Color Theory. The Geographic Information Science & Technology Body of Knowledge (1st Quarter 2019 Edition), John P. Wilson (Ed.)
• Olson, J. M., & Brewer, C. A. (1997). An evaluation of color selections to accommodate map users with color-vision impairments. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 87(1), 103-134

Learning outcomes

• 515 - List the range of factors that should be considered in selecting colors
  List the range of factors that should be considered in selecting colors
• 517 - Discuss how cultural differences with respect to color associations impact map design

  Discuss how cultural differences with respect to color associations impact map design

• 518 - Explain the common color models used in mapping

  Explain the common color models used in mapping

• 520 - Discuss the role of gamut in choosing colors that can be reproduced on various devices and media
  Discuss the role of gamut in choosing colors that can be reproduced on various devices and media
• 521 - Explain how real-world connotations (e.g., blue=water, white=snow) can be used to determine color selections on maps
  Explain how real-world connotations (e.g., blue=water, white=snow) can be used to determine color selections on maps
• 973 - Select a color palette appropriate for a representation

  Select a color palette appropriate for a representation

• 974 - Identify the most appropriate color palette for an online map for visually-impaired people

  Identify the most appropriate color palette for an online map for visually-impaired people

• 975 - Identify the most appropriate color palette for a printed map for visually-impaired people

  Identify the most appropriate color palette for a printed map for visually-impaired people

• 976 - Evaluate the colors used in a web map to be used indoors and outdoors

  Evaluate the colors used in a web map to be used indoors and outdoors

Self assessment

Outgoing relations

• [CV3-3] Colour subclassof [CV3] Design principles

Contributors

• Carlos Granell Canut
  Universitat Jaume I, Spain
  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=K9jGzhQAAAAJ&hl=es
• Estefanía Aguilar Moreno
  Universitat Jaume I, Spain
  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ECdjngIAAAAJ&hl=es