Exercise Two:

Color Perception

Introduction & Objectives

Cartographic research on user perception of color offers valuable information on the effective use of color for aesthetics and symbolization on maps. This exercise focuses primarily on the practical application of color perception theory for the improvement of map clarity and visual appeal. Color dimensions and specification systems, and specifics on color in symbolization will be covered in subsequent exercises. The color perception concepts covered in this exercise are:

Figure Ground/Color Contrast
User Preferred Hues
Advance/Retreat Colors
Color Conventions
Mood Hues

Web Sites

Additional Materials

Textbook - Robinson, A., J. Morrison, P. Muehrcke, J. Kimmerling, S. Guptil: Elements of Cartography, Sixth Edition, John Wiley and Sons, 1995;
Textbook - Dent, B.: Cartography, Thematic Map Design, Fifth Edition, Wm. C. Brown Publishers, Dubuque, IA, 1999;
Module Overview notes on Color Theory;
Adobe Illustrator 7.0 or your individual/institutional equivalent graphics software.

Instructions

Read each question carefully.
Link to the relevant web sites where required.
You may wish to download a copy of the exercise for ease of use;
Answer all written questions in the spaces provided;
For Adobe Illustrator questions, create files as per instructions (Note: instructions are for Adobe Illustrator only; the same operations can be achieved in other software using the relevant tools and tasks).
After viewing relevant web sites, use the BACK toolbar icon in Netscape to return to this exercise.
Marks are indicated per question.
There are a series of instructions (below) that require you to create colors in Adobe Illustrator and save them in a file that can be submitted to your instructor for grading purposes. There are corresponding questions that must be answered and submitted on-line for assessment. Be sure to fill in your instructors email address where requested so that your answers will be sent directly to your instructor.
Save your graphic files as indicated per question.

Fill in the following submission information:

Your name:

Your instructors e-mail address:

Subject, e.g., Exercise Two:

Part 1 - Color Contrast & Figure Ground (12 marks)

A. (6 marks)

Use Adobe Illustrator (or equivalent) to create 3 good, and 3 poor examples of Figure-Ground by applying the concepts of Color Contrast. Indicate which examples you feel are good and which are poor.
Hint: Make 2 layers, one for the "ground" and one for the "figure".
Use contrasting shapes as well, such as a circle inside a square.
Make sure that the ground layer is beneath the figure layer.
Colors are created in the same way as was done in Exercise One (refer to Exercise One for those instructions if needed).
Save your file as Color Contrasts

B. (6 marks)
Answer Question 1a and b:
1a. What mix of CMYK did you use for each Figure/Ground combination? (3 marks)

1b. What generalizations can you make about color combinations and Figure/Ground? (3 marks)

Part 2 - User Preferred Hues ( 7 marks)

A. (5 marks)

Use Adobe Illustrator (or equivalent) to create 6 examples of preferred hues and 4 examples of less preferred hues.
You may use a mixture of shapes.
Indicate which are preferred and which are less preferred.
Save your file as User Preferred Hues

B. Answer question two (2 marks):
2. Describe briefly why certain hues are "preferred" and others are less preferred.

Part 3 - Advance/Retreat Colors (5 marks)

A. (2 marks)

Use Adobe Illustrator (or equivalent) to create 2 examples of Advance-Retreat colors.
The "advance" color should be placed on top of the "retreat" color (i.e., different layers and shapes).
Save your file as Advance-Retreat

B. Answer question three (3 marks):
3. How might Advance/Retreat colors be used in cartography.

Part 4 - Color Conventions (3 marks)

Use Adobe Illustrator (or equivalent) to draw symbols to represent each of the topographic map features listed below.
Use relevant color conventions to draw each symbol.
Place the symbols in legend format, including labels.
Save your file as Color Conventions

The Symbols:

a) River
b) Lake
c) Road
d) Contour Line
e) Forest
f) Building

Part 5 - Mood Hues (15 marks)

A. (13 marks)

Use Adobe Illustrator (or equivalent) to create shapes with colors to represent each of the following Mood Hues (Save your file as Mood Hues):
a) Hot m) Earth y) Dynamic
b) Cold n) Alluring z) Folksey
c) Warm o) Fresh
d) Cool p) Luxurious
e) Peace q) Tranquil
f) Serenity r) Exciting
g) War s) Natural
h) Anger t) Spring
i) Surprise u) Youth
j) Love v) Mature
k) Jealousy w) Feminine
l) Envy x) Masculine

Answer question four (5 marks):
4. What are some ways that Mood Hues can be used in cartography?

Due Date:

To Be Submitted: Color Perception File(s) and Answers to Questions.

Assessment for Exercise 2:

Color Contrasts- 6 marks
Question One-a - 3 marks
Question One-b - 3 marks
Preferred Hues - 5 marks
Question Two - 2 marks
Advance/Retreat - 2 marks
Question Three - 3 marks
Color Conventions - 6 marks
Mood Hues - 13 marks
Question Four - 5 marks

Total Possible - 45 marks

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Go to: Introduction & Objectives

Return to: Module Overview OR Introduction to Color Theory

For questions or comments: email: lagaro@email.uncc.edu

Created 5/25/98 by Laurie A. B. Garo. Last updated 5/21/99 by lg.
The URL for this page is http://www.uncc.edu/lagaro/cwg/color/exercise2a.html