> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/~/changes/AJZwzCsyrD9hiTbOxIbO/contextual-or-derived-mapping/1-250-000-scale-colour-raster.md).

# 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster

{% embed url="<https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/250k-raster>" %}

1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster is a small-scale, digital, raster mapping product giving a regional view, similar in content and appearance to a typical road atlas. It clearly shows the landscape features relevant to its scale, including cities, towns, many villages, motorways, A and B roads, railways, rivers, and some woodlands across Great Britain. You can use 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster to overlay your own geographic or business data, or use it as a standalone map.

{% hint style="info" %}
**This product is updated annually in June.**
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FjHJT1Aedl2XGUbihSKlz%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=c0caa514-2089-4b8e-b85d-7197848564fd" alt="A representation of 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster map data showing the areas surrounding Bristol and Bath"><figcaption><p>A representation of 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster map data</p></figcaption></figure>

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Features" %}

#### **Easy to manage**

This is a raster (flat image) product, so it's quick to load and simple to use.

#### **A regional backdrop map**

Motorways and main roads stand out, but you can also see country lanes clearly.

#### **Clearly see places of interest**

Places of interest, including camping and caravan sites are clearly shown.

#### **Save money and benefit from simple licensing terms**

1:250,000 Scale Colour Raster is free to view, download and use for commercial, educational and personal purposes.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Use Cases" %}

#### Encourage tourism in your area

With lots of tourist attractions featured, it’s a great map for your website to help visitors plan days out.

#### Enhance a leaflet or sales brochure with a map of your local area

You can open the files in image editing software and cut out the area you need.

#### Additional uses

1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster product can also aid with:

* Route planning
* Geographic context
* Enhancing data presentation
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Summary" %}

* **Access:** Download&#x20;
* **Data theme:** Contextual
* **Data structure:** Raster
* **Coverage:** Great Britain&#x20;
* **Scale:** 1:250 000&#x20;
* **Format:** TIFF palette 8-bit (256 colours) with LZW compression&#x20;
* **Ordering area:** All of Great Britain&#x20;
* **Publication month:** June&#x20;
* **OS Data Hub plan:** OS OpenData Plan (FREE), Public Sector Plan, Premium Plan, Energy & Infrastructure Plan
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Additional Information" %}

#### **Colour raster in monochrome**

Colour Raster is not available in monochrome. Some GIS applications let you load the colour image and choose a greyscale option from an on-screen menu. This will change the colours on an image to shades of grey (greyscale). On a true monochrome map, features would be either black or white. This wouldn’t be the best way to display 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster.

#### **Colour options**

Palette of 256 colours
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## How to get this product

Access to this OS OpenData product is free [through the OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/downloads/open/250kScaleColourRaster?_gl=1*2oedlr*_gcl_au*MTE0OTE5OTg3LjE3MjAxODMzMDA.*_ga*NzQ2NDU0Nzc2LjE3MjAxNzE2ODk.*_ga_59ZBN7DVBG*MTcyMDE4MzI5MC4zLjEuMTcyMDE4NDUxOS4zOC4wLjA.).

## Visualise 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster data online

This product is available to try out 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="files"></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 <mark style="color:purple;">OS MasterMap Generation</mark> data</td><td></td><td><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&amp;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>


---

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