# Choose a colour

Official GBMaps guide for the classic map maker. VectorMaps has a different interface.

Source: https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=palette
Updated: 2026-10-22

The palette is used by territory squares and by many appearance controls. Check which item you clicked before choosing a new colour.

[Watch tutorial video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axV9l7lKqmc)

Some videos show an earlier layout. The written instructions below describe the current controls; this is a guide, not a video transcript.

![Choose a colour — current GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/palette.png)

The current panel, with its options expanded where useful. Select a numbered circle to read its explanation.

## 1. Click a swatch

Applies that swatch to the item whose colour control you opened. For a territory, all its assigned polygons follow the new colour. For a line or title control, only that part of the artwork changes.

[Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=palette#palette--choose)

## 2. Browse the colour families

Use the arranged shades to choose related colours, or a strong contrasting colour for something that needs to stand out. Pale fills with darker borders usually keep small labels more legible than very dark fills.

[Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=palette#palette--families)

## 3. Close the palette

Use its close control when you have finished or opened it by mistake. Opening a colour control is not itself a colour change. On smaller screens, move or scroll the palette as needed to reach the swatches.

[Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=palette#palette--close)

## 4. Exact colours for imported data

The advanced import dialogs accept colour names or hex values where their column guide says so. A hex value such as #E8AC25 is useful when the same brand colour must be repeated. The Excel territory import has its own colour-name catalogue; use names from that catalogue for predictable results.

[Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=palette#palette--imports)

## Related guides

- [Map Colours: page, labels & boundaries](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=colours)
- [START HERE: names, colours & territories](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=colouring)
- [Marker Boxes: labelled places](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers)
- [Create Dots: postcode locations](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots)