Built-in Mathematica Symbol

ColorData

ColorData["scheme"]
gives a function that generates colors in the named color scheme when applied to parameter values.

ColorData["scheme", "property"]
gives the specified property of a color scheme.

ColorData["collection"]
gives a list of color schemes in a named collection.

ColorData[]
gives a list of named collections of color schemes.

MORE INFORMATION

ColorData["scheme"][par] or ColorData["scheme", par] gives the RGBColor object corresponding to parameter value par in the specified scheme.

Typical collections of schemes include:

	"Gradients"	continuous normalized color gradients
	"Indexed"	colors indexed by successive integers
	"Named"	collections of named colors
	"Physical"	colors determined by physical parameters

Color gradients have a single parameter that ranges from 0 to 1.

ColorData[n, ...] uses the n indexed color palette.

Possible properties in ColorData["scheme", "property"] include:

	"ColorFunction"	a color function to be applied to parameters
	"ColorList"	list of colors for finite indexed color schemes
	"ColorRules"	color rules for discrete color schemes
	"Image"	a graphics image showing colors in the scheme
	"Name"	English name for the color scheme
	"Panel"	a clickable panel showing colors in the scheme
	"ParameterCount"	the number of parameters used in the scheme
	"Range"	range of possible values for the first parameter
	{"Range",i}	range of possible values for the parameter

Ranges are specified as they would be for a slider:

	{x_min,x_max}	continuous values from x_min to x_max
	{x_min,x_max,dx}	discrete values in steps dx
	{{x₁,x₂,...}}	specific discrete values

ColorData["scheme"] gives a ColorDataFunction object.

EXAMPLES

CLOSE ALL

Basic Examples (4)

Return a function that generates colors:

Plot a surface with gradient colors:

Use an indexed color scheme for plot styles:

Use an indexed color scheme for contour shading:

Return a function that generates colors:

In[1]:=

Out[1]=

Plot a surface with gradient colors:

In[1]:=

Out[1]=

Use an indexed color scheme for plot styles:

In[1]:=

Out[1]=

Use an indexed color scheme for contour shading:

In[1]:=

Out[1]=

Scope (23)

Obtain the list of collections:

Find the schemes that belong to each collection:

Gradients are continuous color functions that are suitable for ColorFunction:

Indexed schemes consist of lists of colors associated with discrete values:

Named schemes are sets of well-known named colors:

Physical schemes return colors based on physical values:

Find all the properties of color schemes:

"ColorFunction" returns the ColorDataFunction object:

Get the list of colors in a discrete color scheme:

Gradients and physical schemes cannot return color lists:

Get the color replacement rules from a discrete color scheme:

Get a representative image of a scheme:

Get a color scheme name:

Get a clickable panel of a scheme:

Get a number of parameters required in a scheme:

Get a range of possible values for the first parameter:

The range value can be directly used in controls, such as Slider:

Property values can be any valid Mathematica expression:

Each scheme returns a ColorDataFunction object:

ColorDataFunction returns RGB colors when applied to values within a specific range:

Gradients and physical schemes are defined on continuous intervals:

Indexed schemes are defined on discrete values:

An indexed range can turn into a list by applying Range:

Named schemes are defined on specific sets of values:

A property that is not applicable returns Missing["NotApplicable"]:

Generalizations & Extensions (2)

Some schemes have specialized images and panels:

Some indexed schemes are defined on whole numbers:

In these cases, only parts of lists and rules are returned:

Applications (9)

Use gradients to define color function:

Use gradients to represent population:

Combine various surface properties with ColorData using Directive:

Use color lists of indexed schemes in ContourShading:

Use partition of a color list in MeshShading:

Replace HTML color names with RGB values using color rules:

Use color names combined with color rules in ArrayPlot:

Represent atoms with appropriate colors:

Use physical schemes to represent various spectra:

The integrated spectrum color for different temperatures:

Properties & Relations (5)

Gradients can be referred to by their names only in ColorFunction:

Gradients and physical schemes clip values outside of the ranges:

Indexed schemes repeat the colors periodically:

Indexed schemes take floors of non-integer numbers:

ChemicalData uses ColorData["Atoms"] for element colors:

Possible Issues (3)

Named schemes return a list of names as the "Range":

First can be used to take the list of names:

In a plot with multiple ColorFunction slots, the first slot is chosen, if not specified:

Specify a pure function so that the plot is colored by height values:

Certain gradients may produce artifacts due to undersampling:

Increasing PlotPoints may reduce the problem:

Neat Examples (4)

Generate grainy texture from random noise:

Random bumpy pattern using rainbow colors:

Thumbnails of all the gradients:

Thumbnails of all the indexed schemes: