Configuring a Color Scale

Use the Color Configuration Menu to configure the numerical data values that are associated with each color band.

tip

To see an example color scale, select File > Open Example.

This loads an example color scale for the selected data parameter (for example, velocity or dBZ). The numerical values of the color seams for the examples correspond to the suggested default values.

Color Scale Data Parameters
Parameter Signed (+_) or Positive Description, Units, and Method
dBZ Positive (Z) dB of radar reflectivity factor in mm6 m-3
R Positive Rainfall rate in mm/hr or inches/hr
V Signed Velocity in m/s
W Positive Spectrum width in m/s
VIL Positive Vertically integrated liquid in mm
Height Positive Echo top height in km
Rain Positive Rain accumulation in mm
Shear Signed Wind shear in (m/s)/km
VILDen Positive Density of VIL
ZDR Signed Differential reflectivity (optional)in dB
KDP Positive Specific differential phase in degrees/km
User
PHI Positive Differential phase in degrees
RHO Positive Cross-correlation scalar (0..1)
SQI Signal Quality Index scalar (0..1)
LDR Positive Linear Depolarization Ratio in dB
Time Positive Time
Turb Positive Turbulence
Temp Signed Temperature
Albedo Positive Albedo
HClass Enumerated Echo Classification method dependent indexing (0..8)
  1. Select the data parameter for which you would like to make a color scale.

    The Units field shows the quantities and range of values. The table shows if these quantities are treated as signed or positive only numbers, or as enumerated class identifiers.

    dBZ can be negative if Z is less than 1 since it is a dB value.
  2. Select Levels to define the number of levels in the color scale (2 ... 16).

    When you change the number of levels to be less than the maximum of 16, the unused levels are desensitized. Also, the top end point indicator shifts.

  3. Select Color Scale to select existing color scales or to edit or to create new ones.
    1. Select an existing Color Scale name to examine or edit it.
    2. New creates a new name.

      Up to 8 color scales are allowed for each data parameter, one must be named Default.

      Set theDefault scale to be something that you use frequently.

      note You can rename a Color Scale by editing an existing name. The old name is replaced by the new name.
      note

      When you first enter the Color Configuration Menu, the Default color scale is always loaded.

      You can change the values of the Default scale but you cannot delete it.

      note If you already have 8 Color Scale names, you must to delete one before creating a new one.
    3. Select Delete to delete a color scale.

      Restrictions are:

      • The current color scale name cannot be deleted.
      • The Default color scale name cannot be deleted.
  4. Select Color Set > Signed and the Color Set name.

    The Color Set determines the order of colors from top-to-bottom. There are 4 available Color Sets, one of which must be named Default.

    See Configuring a Color Set.

  5. At the end points of the scale (top and bottom) toggle thresholding/saturation choice by selecting the arrow sign:

    • Saturate

      Displays all values outside the last seam as the boundary color. The left example above shows both the bottom and the top using saturation. This is indicated by the > and < signs.

    • Threshold

      Uses a fixed value as the outside limit. Values beyond the fixed value (either too high or too low) are not displayed. The right example above shows the case for thresholding at the top and the bottom.

    If you select thresholding, type in the appropriate boundary value. The top and the bottom behavior can be specified separately.

    note For positive-going scales (dBZ, TOPS, VIL, R, and so on) use thresholding at the bottom and saturation at the top. Eliminates weak echoes from the display, while allowing you to see the very strong echoes.
    note You can configure the uniform step color scales in the Product Configuration Menu and the Quick Look Menu using the end-point behavior that you specify for the Default Color Scale.
  6. Enter the color scale values:
    • Entering the lower left value first (if you are using thresholding).
    • Entering the remaining seam values starting at the bottom right and working upwards in the right column Note that the values in the left column are filled automatically.

    If a data value exactly matches a color scale seam, it is displayed as if it was above the seam. Everything >= the lower seam and < the higher seam is included in a color interval.

    The values that are entered are formatted in the same manner as they are for the actual legends in the color display. The formatting is automatic to make numeric displays readable:

    • Trailing zeroes are suppressed when possible. If there is a value with 10ths such as 1.1, then the trailing zeroes are used (for example, 5.0 rather than 5).
    • In most cases 2 significant figures are shown in the legend, provided that the data type supports it and that it does not cause incidental trailing zeroes.
  7. Select Save All.

    The modifications to the current color scale are saved. You must restart the applications for which you changed the color scale for changes to take effect.

  8. To start over, select Restore All.

    This restores the last saved values.

  9. Select Exit to exit the utility.