Cartographic Design

From Wiki.GIS.com

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

Cartographic design is the visual representation of geographic and spatial information on a map.^[1] The goal of effective cartographic design is to create a map which is visually appealing to the eye and conveys information to the audience in the way intended by the cartographer. Basic design concepts in cartography include:

• Color
• Symbology
• Text
• Map size
• Scale

Contents 1 Color 2 Text 3 Inset Maps 4 References

[edit] Color

It is important to keep in mind the age group and gender of the intended audience when creating a map. Color preferences vary among different age groups and genders. Generally, both men and women prefer blue to any other color. Women on average prefer purple as a second favorite color, while most men consider purple one of their least favorite colors (green would be a man's second favorite color). Women tend to favor shades and softer colors while men tend to prefer tints as well as brighter colors. When it comes to age groups, with maturity comes a greater liking for hues of shorter wave length (blue and green) than for hues of longer wave length (red, orange, and yellow). For example, children generally have a liking for yellow and will slowly begin to dislike the color into maturity.^[2]

Color can have different connotations with different viewers. It is important to keep in mind the feelings/emotions certain colors may create in the target audience. See also Color.

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page.

[edit] Text

Labeling Point Features

Cartographers should avoid overprinting underlying graphics, which is to place a label on top of a map feature. Labels for points should not be placed directly to the right or the left of the point. The preferred position of labels for points is to the upper right of the point. The second best location is to the lower right. Labeling on the left side in a like manner is also acceptable, but less preferred. Do not allow other map features to come between the point and its label because this may cause confusion for the map reader. Consider using a mask or a halo if the preferred locations of the point label doesn’t work. Use leader lines if a mask or halo doesn’t suit the point. Leader lines should be thin and should not touch the point or its label. Multiple line labels should be centered and placed in the preferred location of point labels.^[3]

[edit] Inset Maps

An inset map is a small map used in conjunction with and within the frame of the main map. Reasons for including an inset map within the main map are: to clarify a certain subject within the map, enlarge or focus on a small area of the map, or to provide a reference for an area presumed to be unfamiliar to the reader. Another reason for using inset maps is to show irregular shapes that don't easily fit into a given format, an example being an inset map of Alaska when showing a map of the United States. Inset maps are a great asset to cartographic design, but if overused will create a choppy, cluttered appearance and the design will not appear unified.^[4]

[edit] References