Contours Tab (Surface Style Dialog Box)

Use this tab to specify settings for the contour components of the surface object.

Contour Ranges

Specifies the default values for the contour analysis type. The contour analysis is created using the Analysis tab of the Surface Properties dialog box.

Major Color Scheme

Specifies the major color scheme for the contour range. Available only if you set Use Color Scheme to True.

Minor Color Scheme

Specifies the minor color scheme for the contour range. Available only if you set Use Color Scheme to True.

Group Values By

Specifies the creation options for the contour ranges:

Equal Interval: Divides the data into the specified number of ranges from the minimum value to the maximum. Also known as equal step, this method often over-generalizes the data, with large sets of values in one group while others have a sparse set of values.
Quantile: Divides the data so that the specified number of ranges contains an equal number of values. Also known as equal count, this method is most appropriate where the data values are linear (equally distributed).
Standard Deviation: Calculates and divides the data based on how far data values differ from the arithmetic mean. This method is most effective when the data approximates a normal distribution (bell-shaped curve), and because of this curve preference, it is best used with an even number of ranges. Standard deviations are often used to highlight how far above or below a specific value is in relation to the mean value.

Number Of Ranges

Specifies the number of ranges to be used. For information about setting the display properties for contours within each range, see the Major Display and Minor Display columns in the display table on this tab.

Range Precision

Specifies the formatting and rounding of range values. The rounding only affects the range value calculations and resulting range intervals. It does not affect the actual data values.

Use Color Scheme

Specifies whether or not major and minor color schemes are active.

3D Geometry

Contour Display Mode

Specifies the display properties of the contours:

Use Surface Elevation: Displays the contours at their actual elevation values.
Flatten Elevations: Flattens or projects the contours to the elevation value specified by the Flatten Contours To Elevation property.
Exaggerate Elevation: Scales the contours by the factor specified in the Exaggerate Contours By Scale Factor property.

Flatten Contours To Elevation

Specifies the elevation used to flatten the contours; available only when the Contour Display Mode is set to Flatten Elevations.

Exaggerate Contours By Scale Factor

Specifies the scale factor used to exaggerate the contours; available only when the Contour Display Mode is set to Exaggerate Elevation.

Legend

Contour Legend Style: Specifies the default contour table (legend) style. Click to open the Contour Legend Style dialog box where you can select a style.

Contour Intervals

Base Elevation: Specifies the relative base elevation for the contour intervals. The contour at the base elevation is a major contour.
Minor Interval: Specifies the distance between minor contours. This value is displayed in the drawings linear units. The interval is relative to the Base Elevation value.
Major Interval: Specifies the distance between major contours. This value is displayed in the drawings linear units. The value entered here is divisible by the minor interval. The interval is relative to the base elevation value.

Contour Depressions

Display Depression Contours: Specifies whether or not depression contours are displayed.
Tick Mark Interval: Specifies the spacing of the tick marks along the depression contour.
Tick Mark Length: Specifies the length of the tick mark along the depression contour. The tick mark is drawn on the downhill side of the depression contour.

Contour Smoothing

Note: Do not enable contour smoothing if you plan to use surface smoothing. For more information, see About Smoothing Surfaces.

Smooth Contours

Specifies whether or not to use contour smoothing. Click True to smooth contours in accordance with the Smoothing Type parameter and the value set in the Contour Smoothing slider.

Note: Use the Contour Smoothing slider (at the bottom of the dialog box) to increase or decrease the smoothing.

Smoothing Type

Specifies the type of smoothing used to display contour curves:

Add Vertices: Adds vertices along the contours. This option supplements points on the contours when smoothing them, giving them a more noticeably curved appearance, while maintaining the highest level of integrity relative to the surface.
Spline Curve: Passes a spline curve through the contour points. This option creates the smoothest contour representation.

Display table

Use the following settings for each contour range specified using the Contour Ranges property group in the Properties list:

Number: Displays the number for the contour range. The numbers match the value set in the Number of Ranges property.
Major Display: Specifies a display properties for major contours. Click to select a linetype. Click to select a lineweight. Click to select a color.
Minor Display: Specifies a display properties for minor contours. Click to select a linetype. Click to select a lineweight. Click to select a color.

Note: After you specify the Contour Ranges properties and set the display properties, run the contour analysis to see the changes in the surface. For information, see About Analyzing Surfaces.

Contour Smoothing slidebar

Use the Contour Smoothing slidebar to give the contours a smoother appearance. The slidebar is enabled if the Smooth Contours property (under the Contour Smoothing property group) is set to True.