Color palettes for maps
An open catalog of 60 palettes — where each one came from, what it is good for, and how it actually looks on a basemap. Every entry keeps its upstream citation and license.
Sequential
One direction, low to high — density, elevation, counts.
Multi-sequential
Several sequential ramps that stay distinguishable side by side.
Diverging
Two directions away from a meaningful middle.
Asymmetric diverging
Two directions from a middle that does not sit halfway.
Cyclic
Values that wrap — aspect, time of day, direction.
Qualitative
Unordered categories, told apart rather than ranked.