Colour whole areas or smaller districts
A map can contain a broad boundary layer and a more detailed one. The Colour: control tells you which level a click will affect. The Detail: control describes the map product itself.
Watch tutorial video Opens YouTube · some videos show an earlier layoutSee it on the map
Real map artwork · example settings
Colour: choose the boundary level
Click Colour: to choose which boundary level a click will affect. On UK postcode district or sector maps, zooming also changes the automatic mode between broad and detailed boundaries. On US state maps, your choice stays fixed while you zoom: choose States for a whole state, or Counties / ZIP codes for individual areas. Always read this label before coloring.
The whole-area warning
If smaller areas already have individual territory colours and you try to colour their whole parent area or state, the tool can warn before replacing that work. On UK postcode maps this includes a partly coloured area, even if its coloured shapes already use your selected colour. Choose Keep existing colours to cancel, or Colour whole area / Colour whole state to replace the assignments. On UK maps zooming can also change the automatic mode: check Colour before clicking.
After replacing a whole area
If you confirmed a replacement by mistake, use Undo straight away to restore the previous colors. To build a mixed territory, switch back to the smaller boundary level and color the individual districts, sectors, ZIP areas or counties instead.
Detail: see or choose another map
Opens a short explanation of the current boundary detail and a suggested more detailed map, where one exists. The preview/browse link opens another map choice; it is not a switch that adds new geometry to your current saved artwork. Save your current work before leaving.
Temporarily reverse a UK postcode click
On maps with district or sector artwork, hold Ctrl on Windows or ⌘ Command on Mac while clicking. In Districts/Sectors mode this colours the whole postcode area; in Areas mode it colours just the clicked smaller unit. The selected Colour mode stays unchanged. See Colour postcode areas faster for examples and replacement warnings.
What this looks like
Current GBMaps controls with example maps and account details. Choose View larger to see the details.
A partly coloured area can trigger this warning, including when its existing assignments use the selected colour.