Cartographer's Toolkit

Cartographer's Toolkit is like a big cheat-sheet for cartography. Its three chapters: Colors, Typography, and Composition Patterns build from individual map components to cohesive cartographic constructions. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction explaining relevant theory, key definitions, and usage suggestions. The pages that follow each introduction provide an abundance of visual demonstrations that are the basis for the tools in the toolkit. The book contains:



Colors: 30 color palettes of 10 colors each, in 3 categories: coordinated palettes, color ramps, and differentiated;



Typography: 50 typefaces showcased in 3 categories: standard, free, and for-fee; and



Composition Patterns: 28 patterns, illustrated with 36 maps by many of today's leading cartographers.



Here you will find design tools for the advanced cartographer-and those who wish to become advanced cartographers-for producing the high-level static and interactive maps required in our current innovative environment. The information presented in this book, along with the more fundamental cartography theory in the author's first book, GIS Cartography: A Guide to Effective Map Design, equips cartographers with the tools they need to perform at the top of the map making field, producing maps that are informative, inspired, and original.



"Cartographer's Toolkit is an excellent new book. It focuses on real-world solutions rather than cartographic theory, and is full of ideas that will inspire new approaches and creative solutions for cartographers. I love the book's clean, accessible, no-nonsense approach."

-Allen Carroll, Former Chief Cartographer at National Geographic, Esri



"For any geo technology professional, would-be cartographer, and mapping aficionado, Cartographer's Toolkit is a must-have. You'll get hooked on the amazing examples, sample maps, and images that are used throughout."

-Glenn Letham, Editor, GISuser.com



"A book full of little cartographic nuggets."

-Clint Brown, Director of Software Products, Esri



Gretchen N. Peterson is the owner of the geospatial analysis firm PetersonGIS, which creates custom solutions for clients in the natural resources field and produces cartography products. Peterson is also the author of "GIS Cartography: A Guide to Effective Map Design", CRC Press, April 2009. Peterson writes a cartography blog at www.gretchenpeterson.com/blog, is on the application review committee for the GIS Certification Institute, is a co-founder of Ignite Spatial Northern Colorado, and publishes technical articles in leading geo media outlets and on www.petersongis.com. Peterson lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.