10 replies to this topic

[drew]

I am looking for hypsometric tint colour ramps, specifically the RGB values, that give a pseudo-natural appearance to shaded relief. Colour ramps included with software are hideous. I have found Nighbert's colours on the web, but that's all. Are there any other sources of earth-tone hypsometric tints available?

I'm using Manifold, but I don't care about format. I'm willing to type if I can get RGB values.

[David T]

I am looking for hypsometric tint colour ramps, specifically the RGB values, that give a pseudo-natural appearance to shaded relief.  Colour ramps included with software are hideous.  I have found Nighbert's colours on the web, but that's all.  Are there any other sources of earth-tone hypsometric tints available?

I'm using Manifold, but I don't care about format.  I'm willing to type if I can get RGB values.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Drew,

I do not use Manifold, so I don't know if what I use can be replicated in there. I use ArcGIS. I use two sets of Algorithmic Color Ramps, one laid on top of the other.

Ramp 1 (the top ramp):
Color 1: 0C 28M 49Y 39K
Color 2: 0C 0M 25Y 0K

Ramp 2 (the bottom ramp):
Color 1: 0C 0M 25Y 0K
Color 2: 44C 6M 0Y 43K

It produces a natural hypso tint. I also have a 55% transparency on it, to allow my shaded relief to peak through. (I've turned off the transparency for this example, though)

 cpen_hypso.jpg   114.58K   334 downloads

Keep in mind that my installation has elevations from Sea Level to 2900 feet / 880 meters. And especially since we're in southern California, the addition of 'snow capped peaks' isn't appropriate. So, you may need to adjust as appropriate for your elevations.

[Nick Springer]

You can create ramps and steps in Photoshop:

- Create an empty document (the size of it doesn't really matter, but big enough to see what you are doing - 400x100)
- Design a gradient as the ramp you want to use (too much to explain here - but it's pretty easy to figure out)
- Create a perfectly horizontal (use the shift key) gradient from one edge of the document to the other.
- Go to Image > Mode > Indexed Color...
--- Palette: Local (Selective)
--- Colors: [number of steps you need]
--- Forced: None [IMPORTANT]
--- Transparency: Off
--- Dither: None [IMPORTANT]
--- If preview is on you should see steps, adjust the number accordingly.
- Click "OK" and then you can use the eyedropper tool to get the RGB values.

[Matthew Hampton]

I would check out the Reliefshading website. There are several links from that site that will point you in several directions.

[mdsumner]

If you need custom colours for Manifold you can create them with XML files. I've used scripts (in other environments) to create or translate these. It can be a bit daunting to use customized XML, but once you've done it once it's pretty easy to understand - let us know if you need help creating them once you've found the colours you want.

[drew]

Gentlemen:
Thanks for your replies. I'm going to start using the colour values that David supplied as they appear to be closest to what I'm looking for.
regards,
Drew

[Martin Gamache]

http://www.alpinemap...f/Chapter13.pdf

The color plates also have some hypsometric schemes.

[stroeh]

http://www.alpinemap...f/Chapter13.pdf

The color plates also have some hypsometric schemes.

Can someone help me out and send a me copy of the PDF linked above or upload it to the web?
Thanks for your help,

[frax]

The book is for sale, as it has been reprinted by ESRI Press since the original post. It is available for online viewing through Google Books.

[Michael Schmeling]

You can also buy the book from Amazon:

Cartographic Relief Presentation

[stroeh]

thank you guys a lot.
If I wasn't so focused on finding a pdf version, I'd probably found it.
thanks again for putting me on the right path,