Since my graph, g, of type graph_t is: typedef boost::property <boost::edge_weight_t, float > edge_properties; //typedef boost::property<boost::vertex_first_name_t, std::string> vertex_properties; typedef boost::property<boost::vertex_index1_t, size_t, boost::property<boost::vertex_component_t, int> > vertex_properties; typedef boost::property<boost::vertex_color_t, boost::default_color_type> color_properties; //typedef boost::property<boost::vertex_index1_t, size_t, // boost::property<boost::vertex_component_t, int, // boost::property<boost::vertex_color_t, boost::default_color_type>> > vertex_properties; #define USE_BOOST_GRAPH_VECS typedef boost::adjacency_list< #ifdef USE_BOOST_GRAPH_VECS // !NOTE: see:https://stackoverflow.com/ questions/15649166/bgl-depth-first-search-error-with-color-map#15654246 // This is the important part of the "sea of errors". // Only adjacency_list that have vecS as the VertexList // template parameter have a default internal vertex_index // property and this property is used by the default color // map(you are using listS). boost::vecS, boost::vecS, //boost::vecS, boost::listS, //boost::setS, boost::listS, #else // !Note: See http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_62_0/libs/graph/doc/ adjacency_list.html // Iterator and Descriptor Stability/Invalidation regarding iterator stability when using // the vector and list containers. boost::listS, boost::listS, #endif boost::undirectedS, //boost::bidirectionalS, //boost::no_property, vertex_properties, edge_properties, //color_properties, boost::vecS > graph_t; graph_t g; and is/was created without color properties (color_properties or vertex_color_t). When trying to create a colormap with: property_map<graph_t, boost::vertex_color_t>::type colors = get(vertex_color_t(), g); the error is generated by VS: boost-1_60\boost/graph/detail/adjacency_list.hpp(2584): error C2182: 'reference' : illegal use of type 'void' which is ofcourse not real clear what is generating the error but after finding the actual offending line 5 lines later in the error console as is the power of template meta programing. The "illegal use of type 'void'" error is a result of the graph not having an internal property that can be accessed by get: template <class PropertyTag> property_map<filtered_graph, PropertyTag>::type get(PropertyTag, filtered_graph& g) Adding the property internal to the graph by commenting out: typedef boost::property<boost::vertex_index1_t, size_t, boost::property<boost::vertex_component_t, int> > vertex_properties; And uncommenting (putting it it place of above): typedef boost::property<boost::vertex_index1_t, size_t, boost::property<boost::vertex_component_t, int, boost::property<boost::vertex_color_t, boost::default_color_type>> > vertex_properties The property is now internal and so a vertex colormap can be generated using: property_map<graph_t, boost::vertex_color_t>::type colors = get(vertex_color_t(), g); However an external colormap could be used: typedef std::vector<int> ColorMap_t; ColorMap_t colors(num_vertices(g)); vertex_color_filter_eq<ColorMap_t> filter(colors); // boost::filtered_graph<graph_t, boost::keep_all, VertexPredicate> boost::filtered_graph<graph_t, boost::keep_all, vertex_color_filter_eq<ColorMap_t>> fg(g, boost::keep_all(), filter); Note now the successful attempt to use boost::keep_all and boost::keep_all()