Please note that these are all just suggestions and you must
take the responsibility for applying them appropriately to your map, given that it
has its own unique purpose, data, and circumstances. For example, in the Bodies of
Water section, the color palette shows eight shades of blue as suggestions for water
feature colors. While blue is a standard color choice for these features, you might
want to make an exception for a particular map. Perhaps you feel that light gray
would be good for the lakes on your map because you are required to use shades
of blue for a different feature. In this case, bucking convention allows the lakes to
be differentiated from the other feature type, a good reason for changing things up.
Some of the ideas in this chapter encourage creative solutions by giving examples of
what some innovative ideas might be. But do not let those limit your creativity. Come
up with your own original solutions too. By learning the conventions you should
become confident in determining where there is some room for creativity and where
you want to stick with the traditional methods.