Study on the Basic Tone of Thematic Map Color

Color is a vivid factor among map visual variables. Map color has information value and aesthetic value. Because of the complexity of color design, color using becomes one of the most interesting and challenging aspects of cartography. In thematic map designing, basic tone of color is firstly taken into account, which is the essence attribute of color. This study is mainly about the design of basic tone of color of thematic maps. With the analysis of different tonality attributes, this study puts forward principia and processes of the design of basic tone of thematic maps’ color. What’s more, the paper discusses in detailed the design of basic tone of color, including classificatory color, distinction color and rifeness color. Classificatory color refers to the color of type maps. Generally maps of geology, relief and soil utilizing have their specifically standard color system, which reflects inherent features of these geographic phenomena and accords with physical identity. Distinction color refers to the color of distinction statistical map, whose color shows quantity guideline of geographical phenomena. Color selecting should obey the sequence of color change. Rifeness color is mainly used in choropleth maps, which shows continuous variables as they occur within the boundries of unit areas. And it is also used in statistical maps differentiated by area which could show the non-distinctive color of grounding. * Corresponding author. GAO Jianjun