Change the contour map fill color via Surfer automation

There are numerous methods available for applying a colormap to contour maps in Surfer, from loading a CLR file or preset colormap to defining individual colors.  Five of the most common methods for applying colors to contour maps via automation are described below.

Method 1: Select a Preset colormap

You can select one of the existing presets to set the contour color to.

Set MapFrame = Plot.Shapes.AddContourMap(SurferApp.Path+"\samples\demogrid.grd")
Dim ContourLayer As Object
Set ContourLayer = MapFrame.Overlays(1)
ContourLayer.FillContours = True
ContourLayer.FillForegroundColorMap.LoadPreset("Rainbow5")
ContourLayer.ApplyFillToLevels(FirstIndex:=1, NumberToSet:=1, NumberToSkip:=0)

See also the attached script ContourMap.bas, which can also be found in the \Samples\Scripts\ folder in the Surfer installation directory. 

Method 2: Load a CLR file

You can create and load a color CLR file:

Set MapFrame = Plot.Shapes.AddContourMap(SurferApp.Path+"\samples\demogrid.grd")
Dim ContourLayer As Object
Set ContourLayer = MapFrame.Overlays(1)
ContourLayer.FillContours = True
ContourLayer.FillForegroundColorMap.LoadFile(SurferApp.Path+"\Samples\Rainbow.clr")
ContourLayer.FillPattern = "Periglacial-1"
ContourLayer.FillTransparent = False
ContourLayer.FillBackgroundColorMap.LoadFile(SurferApp.Path+"\Samples\Taffy.clr")
ContourLayer.ApplyFillToLevels(1, 1, 0)

*Note* in line 5, Surfer 15 and previous would look as follows:

ContourLayer.FillForegroundColorMap.LoadFile(SurferApp.Path+"Rainbow.clr")

See also the attached script ContourMap.bas, which can also be found in the \Samples\Scripts\ folder in the Surfer installation directory. 

Method 3: Set Min and Max Color

You can specify a color gradient by choosing a minimum and maximum color.

Set MapFrame = Plot.Shapes.AddContourMap(SurferApp.Path+"\samples\demogrid.grd")
Dim ContourLayer As Object
Set ContourLayer = MapFrame.Overlays(1)
ContourLayer.FillContours = True
Set Levels = ContourLayer.Levels
n = Levels.Count
ColorInc = 255.0 / (n-1)
For i=1 To n
    ColorInc = 255.0 * (i-1) / (n-1)
    Levels(i).Fill.ForeColor = RGB(0,255-ColorInc,ColorInc)
Next i

Method 4: Set Individual Level Colors

You can specify the colors for each individual color level. This example changes the colors for levels 2, 5, 8, and 10:

Set MapFrame = Plot.Shapes.AddContourMap(SurferApp.Path+"\samples\demogrid.grd")
Dim ContourLayer, Levels As Object
Set ContourLayer = MapFrame.Overlays(1)
ContourLayer.FillContours = True
Set Levels = ContourLayer.Levels
Levels(8).Line.ForeColor = srfColorYellow
Levels(8).Line.Width = 0.05
Levels(8).Fill.ForeColor = srfColorBlue
Levels(2).Line.ForeColor = srfColorBlue
Levels(2).Line.Width = 0.03
Levels(5).Line.ForeColor = srfColorRed
Levels(5).Line.Width = 0.02
Levels(10).Line.ForeColor = srfColorGreen
Levels(10).Line.Width = 0.04

Method 5: Load an LVL File

You can create and load a level LVL file (attached):

Set MapFrame = Plot.Shapes.AddContourMap(SurferApp.Path+"\samples\demogrid.grd")
Dim ContourLayer As Object
Set ContourLayer = MapFrame.Overlays(1)
ContourLayer.FillContours = True
Set Levels = ContourLayer.Levels
Levels.LoadFile(SurferApp.Path+"\samples\demogrid.lvl")
ContourLayer.FillContours = True

Additional information about creating a LVL file can be found in the articles below:

• Save and load an LVL file in Surfer
• Create a custom colormap via Surfer automation

For more contour map and colormap scripting examples, see the sample scripts

• ColorMap CLR files.bas
• ColorMap_LoadPreset.bas
• ContourMap.bas
• ContourMap_Advanced.bas
• ContourMap_Logarithmic.bas
• ContourMap_Simple.bas

located in the \Samples\Scripts\ folder in the Surfer installation directory.

Note: Only methods 3 and 4 are available in Surfer 9 and earlier versions

Updated October 2021