Custom color palettes for Data Library layers

You can style a Data Library layer (a layer from the Data Catalogue, such as ZIP codes, counties or congressional districts) with your own colors. Build a palette by hand, generate one from a short description with AI, and save it to My palettes so you can use it again on other layers and maps.

Open the palette editor

1. Find the layer under Data Library on the Launch Pad and click Style, or find it on the Data tab in Maps & Data and click Style Layer. The layer styling panel opens.
2. Choose a Theme Mode that uses colors: - Unique Values (Categorical): one color per category. - Color Bins (Choropleth): a color ramp across number ranges. - Density Heatmap (Heatmap): the heatmap colors (point layers).
3. Under the Palette, Color Ramp or Heatmap Palette list, click Edit palette….

The editor opens with the colors the layer uses now. Every change shows on the map right away.

Edit the colors

• Change a color: click a swatch and pick a new color.
• Add a color: click + Add colour. A palette can have up to 20 colors.
• Remove a color: click the x next to a swatch. A palette needs at least 2 colors.
• Reorder colors: drag a swatch by its handle. On a keyboard, focus the handle and press Alt with an arrow key.
• Name the palette: type a name in the box at the top.

How the colors are used depends on the mode:

• Categorical: the colors are used in order, one per category. If there are more categories than colors, the palette repeats.
• Choropleth and Heatmap: the colors form a ramp. ScribbleMaps blends evenly between them to fit the number of bins.

Create a palette with AI

1. Type a short description in the box next to Generate with AI, for example "ocean blues", "autumn" or "pastel brand colors".
2. Click Generate with AI.

The new colors replace the ones in the editor, and the map updates. You must be signed in to use AI.

Save and reuse palettes (My palettes)

• Save: click Save to My palettes. The palette is saved to your account.
• Use a saved palette: open the editor on any Data Library layer and click the palette under My palettes.
• Update a saved palette: load it, change it, and click Save to My palettes again.
• Delete: load it and click Delete from My palettes.

You can save up to 50 palettes. You must be signed in to save palettes.

Finish or undo

• Click Done to keep your palette. The list then shows Custom: and your palette name.
• Click Cancel to go back to the colors the layer had before you opened the editor.

Your custom palette is saved with the layer when you save your map.