Adding a little color to surveys

I've dabbled in colors in the past. I agree that the softer "subtle" accents seem to make a difference. I have a current client that prefers their logo in color on RW parcel exhibits. And the parcels have to be filled solid with color 146 (?!)...their choice, not mine.

One drawback though...beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And you would really be surprised how many colorblind people there are out there.

Wisely chosen colors can really help on an ALTA with abundant easements!

I applaud your experimenting.

I would think that once digitally recorded or electronically certified plats and maps are the norm color will be more widely used and accepted.

MPOLYGON

I have been working on colors for a while. Big hatches become cumbersome, so I try to use MPOLYGON instead. The bonus is MPOLYGONS list areas and multiple can be combined.

To make the colors bearable, I use a 5, 10 or 15 scale dot for my hatch.

That would not be legal for a plat to be recorded in Virginia. Here plats must be uniform black line or blue line. Check your local and state recording standards.

Most of my clients prefer color. Mylar has to be black for recording. Not a problem, just print it black. A color plat should be made the same as a black with proper text sizes, linetypes, legends, etc. so that it is readable either way. But color can help make it easier to read for the layman.

I've been producing color plats since 1996 and received lots of projects because of it. But, my advice, don't map with only color in mind. Map like you always have, but add color to help enhance things.

Doesn't everyone use color and layers in CADD mapping anyway? Can't imagine drawing everything in black in CADD.

The only problem I have found with colors is on recorded plats. Many attorneys tend to describe things as shown in red or blue. The problem is many court houses in my area can't copy in color so you have to highlight the colored area.

> Wisely chosen colors can really help on an ALTA with abundant easements!
>
> I applaud your experimenting.
>
> I would think that once digitally recorded or electronically certified plats and maps are the norm color will be more widely used and accepted.

I've gone away from colors. Use shades of black and gray now... maybe 4. My home county scans plats in in black and white and if you use certain colors (red for round corner symbols) it turns into a blotchy gray. They can only print in black/grayscales also. I use some hatching, but not too much. I'm just glad I found the textmask and know how to use it now.

Carl

I've been experimenting too. I like red for encroachments and POBs, and I use random colors for plotting exceptions on title surveys. I don't mess with color on record plats. I will say that some people go a little cray cray with the colors.

Not saying we don't use colors when we can, but tend to think in terms of clarity when printing in B&W because of recording standards which is a state law.

Many times when you think in colors it doesn't translate well to B&W.

We have been printing in color since 1991 and had to change our palette when, several years later, the APWA finally adopted standards that were almost the reverse:-D We have always had a gray scale equivalent shade to each color, so, we never had an issue printing in shades of gray or B/W. Back in the day it was a serious challenge to do, but, today easy ... Gray scale maps are boring:-P

Interesting topic. I use the solid grey scale hatch, screened at varying levels for contrast, and 'sent behind" all the other linework as well. I'd be interested if anyone would like to share what their final product looks like and how you got there.

I've seen some maps that go way overboard, where everything is a different color.

Do you use individual layer states for the different types of objects you are hatching?

My problem is consistency... sometimes I'm just not into it and don't use it at all.

Andy

Some scanners do not recognize certain colors.

It's not only scanners, I've had problems with topo plans where if they've been sent to the client as a pdf or dwg and their printer doesn't print many of the pale colours. Of course yellow is useless on any kind of drawing!

I have also just got into it, as my topos were looking a bit dull compared to the competition, i think the engineers and architects that use my plans , just turn off my solid hatches and colour gradients and use the line work, however it does make the plan easier to read at face value and i think the non technical client or big boss who is paying for the product , thinks the product looks good , probably because he can read it better, so is happier to part with his money...... I hope 🙂

It takes a bit of effort to do it and I am going way overboard with the colour palette, but will keep at it.

Will try post and example

I use color on maps that aren't going to be recorded. Clients seem to really like them. Here is an example.

Anything recorded in this neck of the woods, WA or ID must be completely black and white.

I think color on topo type drawings can be useful for client discussions and viewing but I don't think they belong on the final stamped version. Somewhere down the line, usually sooner than later, it will get copied in black and white. Some colors show up as black under this scenario thus ruining your attempt at clarity.

I really like it when I run across this statement on a deed or easement "...as shown in red on Exhibit B". If exhibit B is even attached to the document it is ALWAYS IN BLACK AND WHITE, typically it's just completely missing.

Great example, DAL, thanks! (I also like that it's still in a vector format.)

Check out the color on this plat!

ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Monthly_Plats/Montgomery/230859.pdf