Des.Kartes SUPPORT: About "natural" map coloring

The coloring scheme used on a map is certainly one of the most important elements determining both its aesthetics and effectiveness.

If, for example, you examine your topo maps, comparing these from map publishers in different countries, you will immediately see how the use of color is part of the map's "trademark". The same is true if you compare atlases from different publishing houses.

At Des.Kartes -- unless you specifically indicate to us that you prefer to use a specific color scheme ("ramp") -- we prefer to begin by designing your map based on what are generally recognized by cartographers as "natural" colors. Thus, water is represented in blue shades, vegetation uses varying greens, bare mountain heights by yellow-browns and greys.

Here you have a map example showing one use of (many possible variations! on) a natural coloring scheme.