Opening the Colormap Editor

The Colormap Editor is opened slightly differently for each map type.

Contour Maps

Contour maps have two different ways of setting the contour fill color, depending on if you are using the simple, logarithmic, or advanced Level Method.

To set the contour map fill color:

  1. Click on the contour map to select it.
  2. In the Properties window, click on the Levels tab.
  3. Check the Fill contours option. This fills the contours with the default color scheme.
  4. If the Level method is set to Simple or Logarithmic:
    1. Click the color bar next to Fill colors and select a new color scale.
    2. To open the Colormap Editor, click the button to the right of the color.
  5. If the Level method is set to Advanced:
    1. Click the Edit Levels button next to Contour levels.
    2. Click the Fill button.
    3. In the Fill dialog, click the Foreground Color button. The Colormap Editor opens.

Contour map lines also use the Colormap Editor if the gradational line color option is selected. To set the gradational line option and set the line color:

  1. Click on the contour map to select it.
  2. In the Properties window, click the Levels tab.
  3. Set the Level method to Advanced.
  4. Click the Edit Levels button next to Contour levels.
  5. In the dialog, click the Line button.
  6. In the Line dialog, select Gradational.
  7. Click the Color button. The Colormap Editor opens.

Color Relief Maps

To open the Colormap Editor for a color relief map,

  1. Click on the color relief map to select it.
  2. In the Properties window, click on the General tab.
  3. Open the General section and click the Colors button to select a new colormap from the list.
  4. To open the Colormap Editor, click the button to the right of the colormap.

Vector Maps

In a vector map, the symbols can use a colormap to gradationally color the vector symbols. To set the gradational symbol option:

  1. Click on the vector map to select it.
  2. In the Properties window, click the Symbol page.
  3. Open the Color Scaling section.
  4. Change the Scaling method to either By magnitude or By grid file.
  5. Click the color bar next to Vector colors and select a new color scale.
  6. To open the Colormap Editor, click the button to the right of the colormap.

3D Surface Maps

To open the Colormap Editor for a surface map:

  1. Click on the surface map to select it.
  2. In the Properties window, click on the General tab.
  3. Open the Material Color section.
  4. Click the color bar next to Upper to select a new color scale.
  5. To open the Colormap Editor, click the button to the right of the colormap.

See Also

Colormap Editor

Introduction to Color Spectrums

Map Types