Colour In Cartography

Question 1

Spectrophotometry

Answer 1

Scientific measurement of light. Compares sample with pure white.

Can plot % reflectance against wavelength

• curves = hue, lightness and saturation
• peak = hue
• area under curve = lightness
• shape of curve indicates saturation

Question 2

The Munsell system

Answer 2

• developed early 20th century
• colour defined by hue (100 steps. 5 named hue and 5 subsidiaries. Each have number and letters 1-10) , value (1-9, 0=black 10=white) and chroma (0-16, grey=0)
• uses visual equal steps on each scale
• derived by testing colour samples
• 1500 colours identified

Question 3

Ostwald notation

Answer 3

• Similar to Munsell
• 24 hues
• steps not visually equal