Information+about+colors+in+a+heatmap

Information about colors in a heatmap

quote: "Rule #6 When using color to encode a sequential range of quantitative values, stick with a single hue (or a small set of closely related hues) and vary intensity from pale colors for low values to increasingly darker and brighter colors for high values. We can intuitively perceive colors of increasing intensities as numbers of increasing values. We don’t, however, perceive differences of hue in this manner. To see for yourself, try putting the following hues in order from low to high."

http://www.perceptualedge.com/articles/visual_business_intelligence/rules_for_using_color.pdf

This page looks like it has some nice compatible color schmes: http://colorbrewer2.org/

Grid charts in which size and colors are used look interesting as well http://qlikboard.com/2010/11/30/color-mixology-101-heat-maps/

Here's an earth color palette svg file "L:\storage\DR\2012\5-7-12\earth color palette.svg"