Contour Options

The Contour Options dialog contains a wide variety of options for customizing the display of contours on the model. To access Contour Options:

select Contour Options from the toolbar or the View menu, OR
right click ON the Legend and select Contour Options from the popup menu

The Contour Options are described below.

Contour Range

By default, Examine2D automatically calculates a default contour range for each data type (e.g. Sigma1), based on the actual minimum and maximum values of the computed data at the stress grid points. The computed Auto Range is indicated in the Contour Options dialog.

You can customize the Contour Range of any data type, by selecting the Custom Range option in the Contour Options dialog, and entering either:

Minimum value, Maximum Value and Number of Intervals, OR
Minimum Value, Interval Value (select the Interval checkbox), and Number of Intervals

Auto Format

Several pre-defined Auto Format options are available:

DOS-style – uses the same 7 colours and number of intervals as the original Rocscience DOS-based programs (e.g. Examine2D v. 6.0)
16-colour display – uses 14 colours and intervals (black and white are not used, which is why only 14 instead of 16 are actually used)
Hot to Cold – uses a blue to red range of contouring, simulating a "hot to cold" effect.
Hot Spots – uses a white to red range of contouring, simulating a "hot spot" effect.
Photo-E – uses alternating white and black intervals, simulating a "photoelastic" effect.
Black to white – uses black to white contouring, and 7 intervals.
Black lines – uses black lines, mode is automatically changed to Lines
Examine3D - uses the same 7 colours and number of intervals as Examine3D (3D boundary element stress analysis program)

You may find the "Black to white" or "Black lines" options useful for black and white screen captures.

Creating a Customized Auto Format

For maximum flexibility you can define a customized Auto Format contour option, as follows:

Select the New button in the Contour Options dialog.
In the Define Auto Format dialog, create a new Auto Format style using the options provided.
When you are finished, select the Save button in the Define Auto Format dialog.
The name of your newly defined Auto Format will appear in the Auto Format list in the Contour Options dialog, and can be selected and applied like any of the default Auto Format options.
If necessary you can Edit or Delete a user defined Auto Format by selecting the format name and selecting the Edit or Delete buttons in Contour Options.

Mode

Contours can be displayed as:

Filled regions (the default)
Lines
Filled + Lines
or they can be turned Off

TIP: the Filled + Lines mode highlights the contour intervals very well.