Color Scale - Surface Maps, Vector Plots, Color Mapped Symbols

A color scale is a legend that shows the colors used in a surface map, vector plot, or color mapped symbols in a scatter plot.

Adding a Color Scale

All available legends including color scale for the selected plot are created and automatically arranged outside the graph area using the Graph Tools | Add to Graph | Plot Legend command.

To add a color scale to your contour map:

Select the target plot in the plot window or Object Manager.
Click the Graph Tools | Add to Graph | Plot Legend command.

See the Plot Legend page for more details on naming conventions, positioning, and additional properties.

Removing a Color Scale

To remove a color scale, delete the color scale in the Property Managerwindow.

Adding and Editing a Title

Click the Title tab to add a title and edit the title properties.

Editing a Color Scale

To modify the color scale, click the color scale name in the Object Manager to display its properties in the Property Manager. Click the Labels tab to access the color scale's label properties. There are three tabs: Labels, Title, and Line. The Labels tab options are described below.

The Labels tab controls the display options of the color scale bar for a surface map or vector plot.

Display Labels

Check the box next to Display labels to turn the scale labels on or off.

Label Range

Set the first label value in the Minimum box. Set the last label value in the Maximum box.

Label Interval

Define the spacing between labels in the Interval box. One draws every label, two draws every other label, etc. Choose the angle at which the labels are drawn in the Angle box. Positive values rotate the labels counterclockwise. To return to the default Interval value, click the Custom option and select Auto.

Label Font

Click the next to Font to set the label font properties. The font Face, Size (points), Color, Opacity, Bold, Italic, Underline, and Strikethrough properties can be set for most labels.

Label Format

Click the next to Format to set the label format properties. The label Type, display of numbers, Prefix, and Suffix can be set for labels.

Label Background

Click the next to Background to set the label background properties. The Background is the area behind the label. Click the next to Line to set the line properties for the line that goes around the text. Click the next to Fill to set the fill properties for the area around the text.

Label Angle

You can enter a number into the Angle box to rotate the labels. Positive values rotate the label in a counter-clockwise direction. The Angle is specified in degrees.