Overview
Colors can make a Mindmup map easier to read, organize, and navigate. You can customize the colors used across the map, change the canvas background, or use different colors for specific levels of the map.
The available color settings depend on your map type. Standard mindmup and Org Chart maps use global colors, while Argument Visualization provides separate colors for supporting reasons and objections.
Open the color settings
To customize the map colors:
- Click the Customize layout & style icon in the top-left area of the editor.
- Open Color.
- Choose the color settings you want to change.
You can also right-click an empty area of the canvas and select Customize layout & style, then open Color.
Change the canvas background
Use Canvas settings to change the background of the entire map.
You can choose a background color from the available colors, use the color swatch, or enter a hex code for a specific color. Colors already used in the map are also available under In this map.
You can also use an image as the canvas background. Under Background color, click the Upload image icon, then choose the image you want to use.
To remove your canvas customization and return to the default background, click the Reset icon under Canvas.
Change global colors
For Standard mindmup and Org Chart maps, Global colors control the default colors used throughout the map.
You can customize:
- Text color for the text inside nodes.
- Fill color for the background of nodes.
- Border color for the outlines around nodes.
For each setting, you can select an available color, use the color swatch, enter a hex code, or choose a color already used in the map.
Global colors are useful when you want to give the entire map a consistent appearance without changing nodes individually.
Customize colors by level
Use Level overrides when you want a particular level of the map to use different colors from the global settings.
The root node can have its own color override, and you can add overrides for additional levels. You can also remove a root override when you no longer need it.
Level overrides can help make the hierarchy easier to recognize. For example, you could give the root node a distinctive color while using different colors for the nodes below it.
Customize colors in an Argument Visualization
Argument Visualization maps provide different color controls because reasons and objections have different roles in the argument.
Under Color, you can customize:
- Canvas for the map background.
- Support colors for the text, fill, and border of supporting reasons.
- Objection colors for the text, fill, and border of objections.
- Level overrides to customize the root node and for additional levels.
Using separate support and objection colors can make the structure of an argument easier to identify at a glance.
Example use cases
Colors can help communicate the structure or purpose of information without adding more text.
For example:
- A student could use level colors to distinguish major concepts from supporting details.
- A project map could use consistent global colors to give the map a clean, uniform appearance.
- An org chart could use a distinctive root color to make the highest level of the hierarchy easier to identify.
- An argument map could use the separate Support colors and Objection colors to make opposing parts of an argument easier to follow.
Tips
- Use color to support the structure of your map rather than adding different colors everywhere.
- Keep Global colors consistent when you want a clean, unified appearance.
- Use Level overrides when color helps readers distinguish different levels of the hierarchy.
- Make sure there is enough contrast between the Text color and Fill color so node labels remain easy to read.
- Use hex codes when you need a specific color, such as one that matches a presentation or organization.
- Check In this map when you want to reuse a color that is already present instead of trying to match it manually.
- For argument maps, keep support and objection colors visually distinct so readers can identify their roles quickly.
Common questions
Can I use an exact color instead of choosing from the available colors?
Yes. The color controls include a color swatch and a field for entering a hex code, so you can use a specific color when needed.
Can I change colors without changing the map layout?
Yes. Color settings are separate from layout settings, so you can adjust colors without changing the map type, direction, or style.
What should I do if my color changes don’t look right?
You can use Reset styling to return the map’s styling to its default settings. This is useful if you have made several changes and want to start over with the map’s appearance.
Related features
- How to Customize Map Layout
- How to Customize Text
- How to Customize Shapes and Lines
- How to Reset Styling
- How to Use Org Charts
- How to Use Argument Visualization
Make your map easier to scan
Use colors to highlight the structure of your map and make different levels or types of information easier to recognize. Keep your color choices consistent so they help readers understand the map instead of distracting from its content.