Color Optimization
EasyMap can automatically assign easily distinguishable colors to the territories. This can already be done in the course of an area optimization (see additional option in the last step of the area optimization wizard). The automatic assignment of new colors in the course of area optimization should, however, be avoided if you have balanced existing territories and want to preserve the colors for better comparability with the status quo.
Types of color optimization
Color optimization is also possible independently of area optimization (see menu Territory organization and context menu for control window Territory organization). For color optimization, three different color assignment methods can be selected:
Of course, you can change the colours of each territory manually afterwards for each variant. To do this, right-click on a territory on the map and select the Properties command from the context menu. Alternatively, you can also click on the color field for a territory in the Territory work table and then select a different color.
Allow
With the variant color optimization/free each territory gets a different color. EasyMap generates as many different colors as there are territories. Neighbouring territories receive well distinguishable colours. This procedure naturally leads to very colourful maps for many territories.
The color settings such as brightness and saturation can be found at the bottom of the Color Optimizer Type dialog box.
User-Defined
In the Color Optimization/User Defined variant, the user specifies a limited number of colors. At least 4 colors should be selected in order to achieve an optimal result. EasyMap distributes the predefined colors to the territories in such a way that neighboring territories receive different colors. This procedure also leads to a well readable map image for many territories. However, this variant assigns the same color to several territories.
Add Colors automatically adds another color. You can also remove colors from this list using Delete Marked Lines or adjust them by clicking on the color area.
The functions Shift up and Shift down allow you to change the order of the colors.
Generate Random Colors allows you to determine the brightness and saturation of the selected colors.
As in other dialogs, you can also save these colors (as *.PAL) and use them in other territory organizations, for example, and load them again at this point.
In the radio button you can additionally set whether all colors should be used as often as possible or whether as few colors as possible from the selected color palette should be used.
Hierarchical
With the variant color optimization/hierarchical EasyMap derives the colors of the territories from the colors of the superordinate areas. The colors of all territories in a region are based on the color of the region to which the territories belong. The colors of the territories within a region differ only in the hue. By this system of the color assignment, not only the territories are well distinguishable among each other. It is also easy to see that the territory belongs to the higher territorial units. This variant of color optimization is of course only applicable for territory structures with several layers.
