Legends are essential components of maps, providing critical context for interpreting visualized data. A clear legend deciphers symbols, lines, colors, and patterns. In Surfer, map legends support point post layers, classed post maps, vector layers, base layers with symbology, drillhole data, and contour lines. This guide explains how to effectively use map legends and color scales to create accurate, informative representations of your spatial data.
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Understanding legends in Surfer
Surfer uses legends and color scales to provide context for all map layers. How your legend is displayed and whether you'll want to use a legend or a color scale will depend on the type of map layer you're working with.
Map Legends
A map legend contains entries for post, classed post, vector, drillhole, contour, and base layers with symbology within a single map. You can choose to create a separate legend for each layer type or use a single unified legend for all supported layers.
Example of a Legend in the lower left in red box.
To add a legend to your map:
- Click on the Map or any layer in the map to select it.
- Click Map Tools | Add to Map | Legend.
- A default legend displaying all supported layers is added to the map.
Legend entries
Each layer type in a Surfer map displays legend entries differently, including:
Post & Classed Post Layers: Displays single symbol entries or entries for each class defined in the map.
Contour Layers: Displays major or minor contour lines and elevation labels directly in the legend.
Drillhole Layers: Displays drillhole location symbols—even when no specific color or size symbology is applied.
Base Layers with Symbology: Displays symbols or fill properties assigned to base layer features.
Feature Highlight: Map legends automatically generate descriptive labels for individual samples using the layer name, eliminating the need to manually adjust text templates. Additionally, pie slice legend entries include outlines around fill samples for clearer identification.
See Customizing legends in Surfer to for more information about legend entries and their properties.
Color scales
A color scale defines the numeric value associated with the color fill on the map. Color scales can be added to contour, color relief, vector, point cloud, 3D surface, and wireframe map layers.
Example of Color scale on right of image in red box.
The process used to add a color scale to your map is dependent on the layer type you're working with.
To add a color scale to a contour map:
- Click the Contours layer in the Contents window to select it.
- In the Properties window, click the Levels tab.
- In the General section, check the box next to Color scale.
- In the Filled Contours section, check the box next to Fill contours and select the desired color map in the Fill colors field.
To add a color scale to a color relief, point cloud, or 3D surface map:
- Click the Color Relief layer in the Contents window to select it.
- In the Properties window, click the General tab.
- Check the box next to Show color scale.
To add a color scale to a vector map:
- Click the Vectors layer in the Contents window to select it.
- In the Properties window, click the Symbol tab.
- In the Color Scaling section, ensure that Scaling Method is NOT Disabled.
- Check the box next to Show color scale.
Comments
Hi,
I have several post maps on one map. I'm working with surfer 13.2.438 . I can't seem to locate any button that says "map tools". How do I add a legend for all my post maps in this surfer version.
Thank you,
Loic
Hi Loic,
Top level legends for multiple map layers are a new feature in Surfer 14. Surfer 13 does not support legends for post map layers. It is possible to add a legend for classed post maps in Surfer 13 but each layer would have a separate legend. Alternatively, a legend can be created using the drawing tools, but it would not be linked to the map data.
If you'd like to test this new feature in Surfer 14, the two week free trial is fully functional and can be installed side by side with Surfer 13.
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Katie
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