See Also
Custom Color Maps can be defined from the Custom Color Map tab found on the Contour Options dialog. Custom color maps allow you to define completely new color maps for create new color maps from existing default color maps.
Color Map
Choose from various predefined color maps using the color map combo-box. A color map, along with the values specified, defines how values are mapped to a color on the contour image.
If a color map showing both high and low values is desired (such as for bus voltages), use of "Blue = Low, Red = High" is recommended. If a color map showing only high values is desired (such as for line flows), use of "Weather Radar, Nominal to High" is recommended.
This check-box reverse the mapping of the color map, converting the colors corresponding to the high values into the colors for the low values, and vice-versa.
Brightness
Modify the brightness track bar to change the brightness of the color map.
Make Discrete Color Map
Check this check-box to make a discrete color map, that is without having smooth transitions between colors.
Contour Type Values to Use
These check-boxes signify which values from the Contour Type Values Tab are used by the Color Map. There must be at least two contour type values checked.
Color Grid
The color grid on the right side of this page allows you to change the colors for each percentage breakpoint. In addition, you can add or delete breakpoints as well.
To change the color for a specific breakpoint, simply left-click on the color for the breakpoint you want to change. The Color dialog will open, and you can choose a new color for that breakpoint. Setting the Transparent field to YES will make the contour transparent for data values that meet the specified percentage breakpoint. Setting the Transparent field to NO will show the data values with the specified color. To change a value in the Transparent field, left-click on the value and it will toggle between YES and NO.
To add a breakpoint, right-click on a breakpoint position above or below where you would like the new breakpoint inserted. A popup menu will open, and you can select Add Above or Add Below, depending on where you wish the new breakpoint to be. Simulator will insert the breakpoint, and will automatically set the color and percentage at the midpoint between the two breakpoints above and below the inserted breakpoint. You can then click on the color to change it, or click on the percentage to type in a new value. The new percentage value should be between the values of the adjacent breakpoints.
To delete a breakpoint, right-click on the breakpoint you wish to delete, and choose Delete from the popup menu.
Color By…
This option allows the user to interpret the breakpoints values as percentage values or as direct values.
For all color maps that come with PowerWorld by default, the conversion of a value to a color is done in two steps. The value is first interpolated to a percentage by using up to 5 user-specified values (maximum, break high, nominal, break low and minimum) that correspond to specific percentages (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0%). This percentage is then interpolated through the color map and a color is determined.
Color maps which directly translate values into colors without the intermediate calculation of a percent may also be created. This is done by setting Color By to Value.
Save As…
To save the present color map as a new color map, click this button. Then specify a name for the new color map.
Save
To save changes that have been made to the present color map, click this button.
Rename
To rename the present color map, click this button.
Delete
To delete the present color map, click this button.
Store Color Maps in File
To store all custom color maps in a file for loading into another case, click this button. If you have saved any custom color maps with the current case, you will be prompted to choose a file name and location for saving the custom color maps. Color Maps are saved in the Auxiliary File Format.
Load Color Maps from File
If you have created custom color maps in a different case and saved them to a file, you can click this button to load those color maps into your current case. Color Maps are loaded in the Auxiliary File Format.