# 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster Documentation

1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster is the digital alternative to Ordnance Survey's OS Explorer paper map series for Great Britain available in 10km square tiles. The 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster’s backdrop can be overlaid with other Ordnance Survey vector products or a customer’s own geographic/business data or used as a standalone map.

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**This product is updated quarterly in March, June, September and December.**
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<figure><img src="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FpQhLYyuZ2Ngu4TDAOlVX%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=63907468-baee-4c44-abdf-f05ae9730c38" alt="A 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster map showing a small area in Wales"><figcaption><p>An example of a 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster map</p></figcaption></figure>

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**Must-have map for hikers and cyclists**

1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster is the must-have map in any navigation app or device for hikers and cyclists. It depicts the landscape with detail and clarity that’s unsurpassed at this scale.

**Easy software annotation**

When you need map extracts for a consultation document, or a magazine for walkers, 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster TIFF files can be opened and annotated in software like Photoshop and InDesign.

**Clearly see places of interest**

Tourist and heritage attractions of many types are shown on this mapping, so leisure app users can use it to find their way to a place of interest, whether it breaks up a day’s walking or keeps the kids amused on a rainy day.

**Product resolution**

660 dpi or 254 dpi

**Colour options**

Palette of 256 colours
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{% tab title="Use Cases" %}
**Helping ramblers and landowners**

Along with a wide range of rights of way – footpaths, bridleways, National Trails and more – 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster shows 'access land' that’s open to all. Thanks to this level of detail, visitors can enjoy the countryside and keep out of trouble.

**For emergency responders**

This map can help you quickly and safely respond to incidents in remote areas. Field boundaries are included in the product, along with contours, vegetation, scree and shoreline detail.

**Additional uses**

1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster is aimed at professional / business markets and its graphic specification can aid with the following:

* Environmental applications
* Leisure applications, including route planning
* Identifying places of interest
* Geographic context
* Construction
* Engineering
* Planning and licence applications
* Farm / estate / property management
* Real estate
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{% tab title="Summary" %}

* **Access:** Download via the [OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/)
* **Data theme:** Contextual
* **Data structure:** Raster
* **Coverage**: Great Britain
* **Scale:** 1:25 000
* **Format:** GeoTIFF, TIFF-LZW, TIFF-PackBits
* **Tile Count:** 2 873 (2 729 sea tiles)
* **Ordering area**: Customisable Area (10km² tiles)
* **Publication months:** March, June, September, December
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## How to get this product

Access to this product is free for PSGA (Public Sector Geospatial Agreement) Members. You can [check if your organisation is a member of the PSGA on the OS website](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/customers/public-sector/psga-member-finder).

The [1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster product page on the OS website](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/25k-raster#get) has advice on how to get the product for developers, businesses, OS Partners and PSGA Members (i.e. government and the public sector).

Alternatively, you can try out the full product for free for six months by applying for [a Data Exploration licence](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/licensing/data-exploration-licence); this licence is primarily designed for organisations either considering becoming an OS Partner or who want to trial OS Premium data before working with an existing OS Partner.

## Sample data <a href="#sample-data" id="sample-data"></a>

### Download 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster sample data <a href="#download-os-egs-sample-data" id="download-os-egs-sample-data"></a>

You can download sample data for the product for free from the [OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/data/downloads/sample/25kScaleColourRaster). The sample data are available in GeoTIFF format and cover three areas (Exeter, Newport and Inverness).

### Visualise 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster sample data online

This product is available to try out free online using one of our three sets of sample data (Exeter, Newport and Inverness) through the OS MasterMap Product Viewer:

<table data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>OS MasterMap Product Viewer</strong></td><td>Interactive demonstrator of OS MasterMap Generation data</td><td></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS VectorMap Local product data over an urban area."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2Fuld7V42IKrB8ovpC1JXB%2FVectorMap-Local-1.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cb3e8ae9-d669-4bc9-b7a7-5f479d780447">VectorMap-Local-1.png</a></td><td><a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/20981dabcb14402687dccb437a4a78fb/">https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/20981dabcb14402687dccb437a4a78fb/</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## What's next?

To access additional documentation and resources relating to this product, please refer to the following:

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Maps and Imagery Portfolio Products Overview</strong></td><td>This overview contains product information relating to the Maps and Imagery Portfolio products, including available formats, metadata, data compression details, etc.</td><td></td><td><a href="maps-and-imagery-fundamentals/maps-and-imagery-products-overview">maps-and-imagery-products-overview</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FAQVxXRwHVT3iAYot9ySD%2F25k-Raster-(Explorer)-3.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ad94a751-a2b8-4a26-8426-9785ce32e778">25k-Raster-(Explorer)-3.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Overview</strong></td><td>The overview introduces 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster and gives context for all users – highlighting key features, giving potential uses, and listing details such as coverage, currency, etc.</td><td></td><td><a href="1-25-000-scale-colour-raster/1-25-000-scale-colour-raster-overview">1-25-000-scale-colour-raster-overview</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FKnomTtAXl4YgHYxzOpfs%2F25k-Raster-(Explorer)-1.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a5456bff-5d2e-4b74-8772-631d6f752d40">25k-Raster-(Explorer)-1.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Maps and Imagery Portfolio Products Technical Specification</strong></td><td>This technical specification provides detailed technical information relating to the Maps and Imagery Portfolio products, including georeferencing information, a glossary and abbreviations used in certain products.</td><td></td><td><a href="maps-and-imagery-fundamentals/maps-and-imagery-products-technical-specification">maps-and-imagery-products-technical-specification</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FPpqfq0NXQEh1uP4Na041%2F25k-Raster-(Explorer)-2.png?alt=media&#x26;token=16119718-ff83-4196-9f89-f72721fe4708">25k-Raster-(Explorer)-2.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Technical Specification</strong></td><td>The technical specification provides detailed technical information about 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster. It is targeted at technical users and software developers.</td><td></td><td><a href="1-25-000-scale-colour-raster/1-25-000-scale-colour-raster-technical-specification">1-25-000-scale-colour-raster-technical-specification</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FXJtUIYfq1zQSXXD7Wdks%2F25k-Raster-(Explorer)-4.png?alt=media&#x26;token=dcc0ecd8-5bbc-4dfc-a009-71d6e8591802">25k-Raster-(Explorer)-4.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Downloads</strong></td><td>The downloads page provides links and resources to support the application of 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster within your environment.</td><td></td><td><a href="1-25-000-scale-colour-raster/1-25-000-scale-colour-raster-downloads">1-25-000-scale-colour-raster-downloads</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FYGX5thsiIqrJfT9WhCp1%2F25k-Raster-(Explorer)-5.png?alt=media&#x26;token=76faec92-6f5d-417d-988a-9897011ca16d">25k-Raster-(Explorer)-5.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Ordnance Survey Website</strong></td><td>View 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster product information and find out how to get this product on the OS website.</td><td></td><td><a href="https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/25k-raster">https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/25k-raster</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="View of the 1:25 00Example image showing 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FXJtUIYfq1zQSXXD7Wdks%2F25k-Raster-(Explorer)-4.png?alt=media&#x26;token=dcc0ecd8-5bbc-4dfc-a009-71d6e8591802">25k-Raster-(Explorer)-4.png</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

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New users should start with the Overview to gain high-level insight into the product. The family information documents provide generalised information across all three Colour Raster Map products. The Technical Specification contains detailed technical insights.
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