Color Map

Introduction to Color Map

A typical color map is a visualization chart that uses color to encode numerical data. It divides a rectangular area into a grid, with each grid cell representing an intersection point of categorical data, using color depth to indicate the magnitude of values. Unlike heat maps, color maps are typically used to display relationships between discrete categorical data rather than continuous data distributions.

Color maps are particularly suitable for showing relationships and patterns between multiple categorical variables, such as sales of different products across different time periods, or temperature changes across different regions over different years. Through color encoding, users can quickly identify high and low value areas and overall distribution patterns in the dataset.

It’s important to note that when there are too many categories in a color map, it may lead to label overlap and readability issues, which we’ll illustrate with examples below.

Other Names: Color Block Chart

Components

Basic Color Map

Chart Type	Basic Color Map
Suitable Data	Datasets with two categorical dimensions and one numerical dimension
Function	Display relationships between two categorical dimensions and one numerical variable
Data-to-Visual Mapping	Two categorical data dimensions mapped to grid rows and columns Numerical data mapped to color depth Text labels can be added to display specific values
Suitable Data Count	Usually no more than 20 categories per dimension, with total cells recommended not to exceed 400

import { Chart } from '@antv/g2';

const chart = new Chart({
  container: 'container',
  theme: 'classic',
});

chart.options({
  type: 'cell',
  autoFit: true,
  data: [
    { month: 'January', product: 'Product A', sales: 123 },
    { month: 'January', product: 'Product B', sales: 231 },
    { month: 'January', product: 'Product C', sales: 145 },
    { month: 'February', product: 'Product A', sales: 132 },
    { month: 'February', product: 'Product B', sales: 112 },
    { month: 'February', product: 'Product C', sales: 178 },
    { month: 'March', product: 'Product A', sales: 99 },
    { month: 'March', product: 'Product B', sales: 288 },
    { month: 'March', product: 'Product C', sales: 133 },
    { month: 'April', product: 'Product A', sales: 181 },
    { month: 'April', product: 'Product B', sales: 223 },
    { month: 'April', product: 'Product C', sales: 141 },
    { month: 'May', product: 'Product A', sales: 152 },
    { month: 'May', product: 'Product B', sales: 219 },
    { month: 'May', product: 'Product C', sales: 109 },
    { month: 'June', product: 'Product A', sales: 167 },
    { month: 'June', product: 'Product B', sales: 187 },
    { month: 'June', product: 'Product C', sales: 255 },
  ],
  coordinate: {
    type: 'cartesian',
  },
  legend: {
    color: {
      position: 'right',
      flipPage: false,
    },
  },
  scale: {
    color: {
      palette: 'rdBu',
      offset: (t) => 1 - t,
    },
  },
  encode: {
    x: 'month',
    y: 'product',
    color: 'sales',
    link: 'sales',
  },
  style: {
    inset: 1,
  },
  labels: [
    {
      text: 'sales',
      style: {
        fill: (d) => (d.sales > 200 ? '#fff' : '#000'),
      },
    },
  ],
});

chart.render();

Color Map with Conditional Formatting

Chart Type	Color Map with Conditional Formatting
Suitable Data	Datasets that need to highlight specific thresholds or ranges
Function	Apply different color encodings based on different value ranges, highlighting key data points
Data-to-Visual Mapping	In addition to basic color map mappings, custom color intervals and boundary markers can be added
Usage Suggestions	Add clear legend explanations for different color intervals Use contrasting colors to represent different data states Avoid using too many color intervals which can cause confusion

import { Chart } from '@antv/g2';

const chart = new Chart({
  container: 'container',
  theme: 'classic',
});

const data = [
  { month: 'January', product: 'Product A', sales: 123, target: 150 },
  { month: 'January', product: 'Product B', sales: 231, target: 200 },
  { month: 'January', product: 'Product C', sales: 145, target: 150 },
  { month: 'February', product: 'Product A', sales: 132, target: 150 },
  { month: 'February', product: 'Product B', sales: 112, target: 200 },
  { month: 'February', product: 'Product C', sales: 178, target: 150 },
  { month: 'March', product: 'Product A', sales: 99, target: 150 },
  { month: 'March', product: 'Product B', sales: 288, target: 200 },
  { month: 'March', product: 'Product C', sales: 133, target: 150 },
  { month: 'April', product: 'Product A', sales: 181, target: 150 },
  { month: 'April', product: 'Product B', sales: 223, target: 200 },
  { month: 'April', product: 'Product C', sales: 141, target: 150 },
  { month: 'May', product: 'Product A', sales: 152, target: 150 },
  { month: 'May', product: 'Product B', sales: 219, target: 200 },
  { month: 'May', product: 'Product C', sales: 109, target: 150 },
  { month: 'June', product: 'Product A', sales: 167, target: 150 },
  { month: 'June', product: 'Product B', sales: 187, target: 200 },
  { month: 'June', product: 'Product C', sales: 255, target: 150 },
];

// Calculate performance status for each cell
const processedData = data.map((d) => ({
  ...d,
  // Calculate ratio to target
  performance: d.sales / d.target,
  // Add status label
  status:
    d.sales < d.target * 0.8
      ? 'Below Target'
      : d.sales < d.target
      ? 'Near Target'
      : d.sales < d.target * 1.2
      ? 'Met Target'
      : 'Exceeded Target',
}));

chart.options({
  type: 'cell',
  autoFit: true,
  data: processedData,
  coordinate: {
    type: 'cartesian',
  },
  legend: {
    color: {
      position: 'right',
      flipPage: false,
    },
  },
  scale: {
    color: {
      type: 'threshold',
      domain: [0.8, 1, 1.2],
      range: ['#F4664A', '#FAAD14', '#30BF78', '#0891B2'],
    },
  },
  encode: {
    x: 'month',
    y: 'product',
    color: 'performance',
  },
  style: {
    inset: 1,
  },
  labels: [
    {
      text: (d) => `${d.sales}/${d.target}`,
      style: {
        fill: (d) => (d.performance > 0.95 ? '#fff' : '#000'),
        textAlign: 'center',
        fontSize: 11,
      },
    },
  ],
});

chart.render();

Use Cases of Color Maps

Suitable Use Cases

Example 1: Hangzhou Metro Fare Chart

The chart below is a simulation of Hangzhou Metro fare chart. This color map shows the fare relationship between different metro stations, with color depth representing different fare levels. You can quickly identify fare zones and the cost of traveling between any two stations.

from	to	price
Xianghu	Binhe Road	2
Xianghu	Xixing	3
…	…	…

import { Chart } from '@antv/g2';

const chart = new Chart({
  container: 'container',
  theme: 'classic',
  height: 500,
});

// Metro stations on Line 1
const sites = [
  'Xianghu',
  'Binkang Road',
  'Xixing',
  'Binhe Road',
  'Jiangling Road',
  'Jinjiang',
  'Wujiang Road',
  'Chengzhan',
  "Ding'an Road",
  'Longxiang Bridge',
  'Fengqi Road',
  'Wulin Square',
  'West Lake Cultural Square',
  'Datieguan',
  'East Railway Station',
  'Zhalongkou',
  'Pengbu',
  'Qibao',
  'Jiuhe Road',
  'Jiubao',
  'Passenger Transport Center',
  'Xiaxi West',
  'Jinsha Lake',
  'Gaosha Road',
  'Wenze Road',
];

// Generate metro fare data
const data = [];
for (let i = 0; i < sites.length; i++) {
  for (let j = sites.length - 1; j >= i; j--) {
    let price = 0;
    const step = Math.abs(j - i);
    if (step <= 2) {
      price = 2;
    } else if (step <= 4) {
      price = 3;
    } else if (step <= 7) {
      price = 4;
    } else if (step <= 13) {
      price = 5;
    } else if (step <= 16) {
      price = 6;
    } else if (step <= 21) {
      price = 7;
    } else {
      price = 8;
    }
    data.push({ from: sites[i], to: sites[j], price: price });
  }
}

chart.options({
  type: 'cell',
  autoFit: true,
  data,
  coordinate: {
    type: 'cartesian',
  },
  legend: {
    color: {
      position: 'right',
      title: 'Fare (CNY)',
      flipPage: false,
    },
  },
  scale: {
    color: {
      domain: [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8],
      range: [
        '#ffffcc',
        '#c7e9b4',
        '#7fcdbb',
        '#41b6c4',
        '#2c7fb8',
        '#253494',
        '#081d58',
      ],
    },
    from: {
      values: sites,
    },
    to: {
      values: sites.slice().reverse(),
    },
  },
  axis: {
    x: {
      title: false,
      grid: false,
      tickLine: false,
      labelRotate: -Math.PI / 4,
      labelOffset: 5,
    },
    y: {
      title: false,
      grid: false,
      tickLine: false,
    },
  },
  encode: {
    x: 'from',
    y: 'to',
    color: 'price',
  },
  style: {
    inset: 1,
    stroke: '#fff',
    strokeWidth: 1,
  },
  labels: [
    {
      text: 'price',
      style: {
        fill: (d) => (d.price > 5 ? '#fff' : '#000'),
        textAlign: 'center',
        fontSize: 10,
      },
    },
  ],
});

chart.render();

Analysis:

Station names are mapped to the x and y axis to determine position
Fare prices are mapped to color depth
Fare data is simulated and only represents general relationships
The color map makes it easy to identify fare zones and travel costs between stations

Example 2: Exam Score Analysis

import { Chart } from '@antv/g2';

const chart = new Chart({
  container: 'container',
  theme: 'classic',
});

const students = [
  'Alex',
  'Ben',
  'Charlie',
  'David',
  'Emma',
  'Frank',
  'Grace',
  'Helen',
];
const subjects = [
  'Math',
  'English',
  'Physics',
  'Chemistry',
  'Biology',
  'History',
];

// Generate score data
const data = [];
students.forEach((student) => {
  subjects.forEach((subject) => {
    // Random score between 50-100
    const score = Math.floor(Math.random() * 51) + 50;
    data.push({
      student,
      subject,
      score,
    });
  });
});

chart.options({
  type: 'cell',
  autoFit: true,
  data,
  coordinate: {
    type: 'cartesian',
  },
  legend: {
    color: {
      position: 'right',
      flipPage: false,
      title: 'Score',
    },
  },
  scale: {
    color: {
      domain: [60, 70, 80, 90],
      range: ['#F4664A', '#FAAD14', '#30BF78', '#0891B2', '#5B8FF9'],
    },
  },
  encode: {
    x: 'subject',
    y: 'student',
    color: 'score',
  },
  style: {
    inset: 1,
  },
  labels: [
    {
      text: 'score',
      style: {
        fill: (d) => (d.score > 85 ? '#fff' : '#000'),
        textAlign: 'center',
      },
    },
  ],
});

chart.render();

Unsuitable Use Cases

Example 1: Too Few Data Points

When a dataset has only a few category intersections, a color map may not be the best choice. In such cases, a simple table or bar chart might be more intuitive.

import { Chart } from '@antv/g2';

const chart = new Chart({
  container: 'container',
  theme: 'classic',
});

// Very few data points
const data = [
  { region: 'East', year: '2022', value: 125 },
  { region: 'West', year: '2022', value: 87 },
];

chart.options({
  type: 'cell',
  autoFit: true,
  data,
  encode: {
    x: 'year',
    y: 'region',
    color: 'value',
  },
  style: {
    inset: 1,
  },
  labels: [
    {
      text: 'value',
    },
  ],
});

chart.render();

In this case, using a bar chart would be more intuitive:

import { Chart } from '@antv/g2';

const chart = new Chart({
  container: 'container',
  theme: 'classic',
});

chart.options({
  type: 'interval',
  autoFit: true,
  data: [
    { region: 'East', year: '2022', value: 125 },
    { region: 'West', year: '2022', value: 87 },
  ],
  encode: {
    x: 'region',
    y: 'value',
    color: 'region',
  },
  labels: [
    {
      text: 'value',
      position: 'top',
    },
  ],
});

chart.render();

Example 2: Need to Show Precise Trend Changes

When you need to show precise changes in trends over time, a color map is not as intuitive as a line chart. Below is an example of using a color map to show monthly data changes, but this situation is better suited for a line chart.

import { Chart } from '@antv/g2';

const chart = new Chart({
  container: 'container',
  theme: 'classic',
});

const months = [
  'Jan',
  'Feb',
  'Mar',
  'Apr',
  'May',
  'Jun',
  'Jul',
  'Aug',
  'Sep',
  'Oct',
  'Nov',
  'Dec',
];
const data = months.map((month, index) => ({
  month,
  metric: 'Sales',
  value: 100 + Math.sin(index / 2) * 50 + Math.random() * 10,
}));

chart.options({
  type: 'cell',
  autoFit: true,
  data,
  encode: {
    x: 'month',
    y: 'metric',
    color: 'value',
  },
  style: {
    inset: 1,
  },
  labels: [
    {
      text: (d) => d.value.toFixed(0),
    },
  ],
});

chart.render();

Using a line chart is more suitable for showing trends:

import { Chart } from '@antv/g2';

const chart = new Chart({
  container: 'container',
  theme: 'classic',
});

const months = [
  'Jan',
  'Feb',
  'Mar',
  'Apr',
  'May',
  'Jun',
  'Jul',
  'Aug',
  'Sep',
  'Oct',
  'Nov',
  'Dec',
];
const data = months.map((month, index) => ({
  month,
  value: 100 + Math.sin(index / 2) * 50 + Math.random() * 10,
}));

chart.options({
  type: 'line',
  autoFit: true,
  data,
  encode: {
    x: 'month',
    y: 'value',
  },
  style: {
    lineWidth: 2,
    point: {
      fill: '#1890ff',
      r: 4,
    },
  },
  labels: [
    {
      text: (d) => d.value.toFixed(0),
      position: 'top',
    },
  ],
});

chart.render();

Comparing Color Maps to Other Charts

Color Maps, Heat Maps, and Treemaps

Chart Type	Main Features	Suitable Scenarios	Data Requirements
Color Map	Uses a regular grid to show intersections of two categorical dimensions	Comparing relationships between categorical data	Two categorical dimensions and one numerical dimension
Heat Map	Can use continuous scales, showing spatial distribution of data	Displaying spatial density or intensity distribution	Usually requires continuous or near-continuous data
Treemap	Displays hierarchical data through nested rectangles	Representing proportional relationships in hierarchical data	Requires a clear hierarchical structure

Best Practices for Color Maps

Design Suggestions

Color Selection
- Use sequential color palettes to represent changes in continuous data magnitude
- Use diverging color palettes to represent deviation from a center value
- Add clear legends and explanations for colors
Grid Design
- Keep grid cell sizes consistent to ensure readability
- Add value labels in cells to enhance precision
- Consider adding spaces between cells to improve distinction
Labels and Interaction
- Add labels for important data points
- Add hover interactions to display detailed information
- Consider adding sorting functionality for easier data comparison

import { Chart } from '@antv/g2';

const chart = new Chart({
  container: 'container',
  theme: 'classic',
});

// 生成示例数据
const rows = ['A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E'];
const cols = ['P1', 'P2', 'P3', 'P4', 'P5', 'P6'];
const data = [];

rows.forEach((row) => {
  cols.forEach((col) => {
    const value = Math.floor(Math.random() * 100);
    const baseline = 50;
    data.push({
      row,
      col,
      value,
      diff: value - baseline,
      performance: value >= baseline ? '达标' : '不达标',
    });
  });
});
console.log('data', data);

chart.options({
  type: 'cell',
  autoFit: true,
  data,
  scale: {
    color: {
      type: 'threshold',
      domain: [0],
      range: ['#2B83BA', '#D7191C'],
    },
  },
  tooltip: {
    title: (d) => `${d.row}-${d.col}`,
    items: [
      { field: 'value', name: '数值' },
      { field: 'diff', name: '与基准差异' },
      { field: 'performance', name: '达标状态' },
    ],
  },
  legend: false,
  interaction: [{ type: 'tooltip' }, { type: 'elementHighlight' }],
  encode: {
    x: 'col',
    y: 'row',
    color: 'diff',
  },
  style: {
    inset: 2,
  },
  labels: [
    {
      text: 'value',
      style: {
        fill: (d) => (Math.abs(d.diff) > 25 ? '#fff' : '#000'),
        textAlign: 'center',
        fontWeight: 'bold',
      },
    },
  ],
});

chart.render();