The Development of Process-Printed Munsell Charts for Selecting Map Colors

Color charts aid cartographers in the difficult task of choosing color schemes for maps. The perceptual organization of Munsell charts presents many potential color schemes. The colors on Munsell charts, however, are painted and many maps are printed with process-color inks. Combinations of process inks (percentages of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) that approximate the Munsell organization are developed using color measurement followed by systematization of percentage progressions and visual adjustment. Diagonal arrangements of progressions of ink percentages approximate the perceptual organization of the painted Munsell charts. Value and chroma progressions and constancy of hue on ten printed Munsell chart are shown to be acceptable by measuring and mapping discrepancies between the original and printed colors.