Vocabulary

Introduction

Cartography

The practice of drawing maps.

3.1 Color

Additive Color Model

A color model that combines emitted light to display color variations.

CMYK

Cyan, magenta, yellow, black; the most common subtractive color model and is occasionally referred to as a “four-color process.”

Color Wheel

A visual representation of colors arranged according to their chromatic relationships. Primary hues are equidistant from each other with secondary and tertiary colors intervening.

Cool Colors

Colors associated with overcast days. Cool color hues range from blue-green through blue-violet and include the majority of gray variants.

HSL

Hue, saturation, lightness; based on cylindrical coordinate systems whereby the angle around the central vertical axis corresponds to the hue; the distance from the central axis corresponds to saturation, and the distance along the central axis corresponds to either saturation or lightness.

HSV

Hue, saturation, value; based on cylindrical coordinate systems whereby the angle around the central vertical axis corresponds to the hue; the distance from the central axis corresponds to saturation, and the distance along the central axis corresponds to either saturation or lightness.

Hue

The dominant wavelength or color associated with a reflecting object.

RGB

Red, green, blue; The RGB color model combines light beams of the primary hues of red, green, and blue to yield additive secondary hues of magenta, cyan, and yellow.

Saturation

The intensity of color. Full saturation results in pure colors, while low saturation colors approach gray — variations in saturation yield different shades and tints.

Shades

Produced by blocking light, such as by an umbrella, tree, curtain, and so forth. Increasing the amount of shading results in grays and blacks.

Subtractive Color Model

Involves the mixing of paints, dyes, or inks to create full-color ranges. Subtractive models display color on the assumption that white, ambient light is being scattered, absorbed, and reflected from the page by the printing inks.

Tint

The opposite of shade and is produced by adding white to a color.

Value

The amount of white or black and is often synonymous with contrast.

Warm Colors

Colors associated with a bright, sunny day. Warm colors are typified by hues ranging from red to yellow, including browns and tans.

3.2 Symbology

Centroid

The center of mass of a geometric object of uniform density.

Pictogram

A pictorial symbol for a word or a phrase.

Proportional Symbols

Symbols for a single, quantitative variable that are sized proportionally to match the data values.

Range Graded Symbols

Group raw data into classes with each class represented by a differently sized symbol.

Texture

The compactness of the marks that make up the symbol; also referred to as spacing.

3.3 Cartographic Principles

Data Source

Where the map data was derived from.

Frame Line

The first feature that should be placed into the map layout. This line is essentially a bordering box that surrounds all the map elements.

Insets

Secondary map areas, each encased within their neat line; often display the primary mapped area in relation to a larger area.

Kerning

A typographic effect that alters the space between adjacent letters in a word.

Label

A word or words used to specify a point on the map; it’s purpose is to communicate attribute or ancillary information to the map user.

Leader Line

A line that establishes a connection between a location on a map and text.

Leading

The vertical distance between lines of text.

Legend

Provides users with information about how geographic information is represented graphically.  Usually consist of a title that describes the map, as well as a clear definition of various symbols, colors, and patterns that are used on the map.

Mapped Area

The primary geographic component of the overall map. The mapped area contains all of the features and symbols used to represent the spatial phenomena being displayed.

Neat Lines

Border boxes that are placed around individual map elements; must occur within the frame line.

Orientation

The relationship between the directions on the map and the corresponding compass directions in reality.

Scale

The ratio between the distance between two locations on a map and the corresponding distance on Earth’s surface.

Serif

A slight projection finishing off a stroke of a letter in certain typefaces.

Title

The name of a map.