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The relief shaded image we created looks pretty dull without any color on it. When creating a map, the chosen color scheme is very important. Cartographers use lots of color schemes to represent regions, population, topology, urban concentrations, transportation and more. In this case we will concentrate in only one color scheme: the Hypsometric color palette. Check the mini guide at the end of this tutorial for more information on other color schemes.
The Hypsometric color palette uses colors to represent the elevation of the map, just like the DEM map we used as a base of this tutorial, but instead of using a grayscale palette, we use a color (Hypsometric) palette to represent different heights.
1 - Make the RELIEF layer invisible and click on the BACKGROND layer
2 - Click on the ADJUSTMENT LAYERS icon.
3 - Select GRADIENT MAP from the pop up menu
4 - A new layer will be inserted and the GRADIENT MAP window will open.
Click on the gradient and and the GRADIENT EDITOR will open.
In the GRADIENT EDITOR window reproduce the gradient on the right. Try to copy it as accurately as you can. Concentrate more on the position of the arrows than on the exact color. After that, press the NEW button to add the gradient to the list. Then, press OK. If you know how to load a gradient, then download this gradient here and install it.
After creating or loading the gradient, your image should look like this one below. Remember that Hypsometric colors are used to represent heights, not nature. But in this case, this Hypsometric palette intentionally tries to simulate the natural colors of a imaginary topography. Notice how the light blue simulates the water, the green colors simulate the vegetation in the plains, and the brown colors represent the mountainous topography.
Now the best part. Make the RELIEF layer visible, and choose LUMINOSITY as the layer blending type and voila! we have a shaded relief map.
But the map doesn’t look that good. So lets make some adjustments. Change the RELIEF layer opacity to 50% and apply the SHARPEN filter (FILTERS > SHARPEN > SHARPEN) to the RELIEF layer once. Now things look much much better.
To finish the map, I made some manual retouching, specially in the rivers, shore and sea, and added a frame to make it look as a printed map.
I wanted to keep the whole process free of external applications, but I can recommend you to take a look at AufoFX Crease Plugin to give the map a “folded” look. Also, AvBros PageCurl Pro can add some magic to the final image.
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