uniDEM supports multiple shaded relief capabilities that can be modified to view a DEM in different ways. These settings are unique to each data view (window).

Mode

The shaded relief of any DEM set can be colorized using the following methods:

• None - The shaded relief is not colorized and is presented only in gray levels
• Elevation - colorized based on the elevation of the pixel
• Slope (°) - colorized based on the slope in degrees of the pixel relative to its neighbours
• Gradient (%) - colorized based on the percentage slope of the pixel relative to its neighbours

Colormaps are applied based on the Color Scheme and Scope settings.

Default shortcut: none

Color Scheme

The shaded relief Color Scheme defines the colorization that is applied to the selected Mode and supports the following color schemes:

• Jet - The shaded relief is colorized from blue (lowest value) through green (middle value) to red (highest value)
• Hue - The colors begin with red, pass through yellow, green, cyan, blue, magenta, and return to red. The map is particularly useful for displaying periodic functions
• Heat - The colors begin with dark red progressing to light red, yellow and then white
• Gray - The shaded relief is colorized from black (lowest value) through gray (middle value) to white (highest value)
• Topo - The colors cycle from light to dark green, then yellow, red and white
• Classic - The colors cycle from light brown to green, yellow, red and white
• Terrain - The colors cycle from light brown, light to dark green, and then white
• Alien - The colors loop through many colors mimicking an "alien" planet
• Random - Sets the colormap randomly. This mode can aid in identifying continuous elevation features note visible with a "linear" color mapping.

Colormaps are applied based on the Color Scheme and Scope settings.

Default shortcut: none

No Color Scheme

Jet

Hue

Heat

Gray

Topo

Classic

Terrain

Alien

Random

Scope

The shaded relief's Color Scheme range is defined by the selected mode:

• Global - the color range is spread from the minimum to maximum of all values in the DEM (excluding void)
• Local - the color range is spread from the minimum to maximum of all values in region of the DEM being viewed (excluding void)
• Custom - the color range is spread from the minimum to maximum of all values defined by the Min. and Max. shader parameters

Default shortcut: none

Scale

Defines the amount of contrast to apply to the results of shaded relief calculation. A higher value provides more contrast.

Default shortcut: none

Lightness

Defines the brightness of the shaded relief presentation.

Default shortcut: none

Saturation

Defines how strongly the selected Color Scheme is applied to the shaded relief.

Saturation is inactive when the Shader Mode is None.

Default shortcut: none

Sun Dir.

The shaded relief Sun Direction defines the simulated direction of the sun. It can be defined in 8 directions and None which indicated no sun and therefore will present only the Shader - Color Scheme if the Shader - Mode is not None.

Default shortcut: none

Slope Dir.

The shaded relief Slope Direction defines the simulated direction in which to calculate the slope when the Shader - Mode is Slope or Gradient. It can be defined in 8 directions and None which indicated no sun and therefore will present only the Shader - Color Scheme if the Shader - Mode is not None.

Default shortcut: none

Sensitivity

The shaded relief Sensitivity is used to exaggerate the changes in the shaded relief, slope or gradient results.

Default shortcut: none

Min.

The shaded relief Minimum is used when the Shader - Scope is sent to Custom. The Color Scheme will use the Minimum value when assigning the color.

Default shortcut: none

Max.

The shaded relief Maximum is used when the Shader - Scope is sent to Custom. The Color Scheme will use the Maximum value when assigning the color.

Default shortcut: none

Calibrate

The shaded relief Calibrate function is used to automatically select the Minimum and Maximum elevation values from all selected pixels.
When Calibrate is selected the Shader - Scope will change by default to Custom.

Default shortcut: B

±N

The shaded relief's Color Scheme range can be quickly set to a range about 0 by pressing ±N. This feature is helpful when comparing the difference between two DEMs. When the range is entered on an active view with a colored shaded relief the range will be contrained from -N to N.

Default shortcut: F12

Up

The shaded relief's Color Scheme range can be quickly modified using the Up button. This feature can be used to focus on regions of a particular elevation band. For example reviewing regions of elevation in 10m increments. To use:

1. Set the Min and Max of a colorized shaded relief to 0 and 10.
2. Press Up and the range will change from 10-20m. The range will increase by the current difference between Max and Min.

Default shortcut: Page Up

Down

The shaded relief's Color Scheme range can be quickly modified using the Down button. This feature can be used to focus on regions of a particular elevation band. For example reviewing regions of elevation in 10m increments. To use:

1. Set the Min and Max of a colorized shaded relief to 0 and 10.
2. Press Down and the range will change from -10 to 0m. The range will decrease by the current difference between Max and Min.

Default shortcut: Page Down