# makecpt¶

Make GMT color palette tables

## Synopsis¶

gmt makecpt [ -Atransparency[+a] ] [ -Ccpt ] [ -D[i|o] ] [ -E[nlevels] ] [ -F[R|r|h|c][+c]] [ -Gzlo/zhi ] [ -H ] [ -I[c][z] ] [ -M ] [ -N ] [ -Q ] [ -Smode ] [ -T[min/max/inc[+n]|file|list] ] [ -V[level] ] [ -W[w] ] [ -Z ] [ -bibinary ] [ -dinodata ] [ -iflags ] [ --PAR=value ]

Note: No space is allowed between the option flag and the associated arguments.

## Description¶

makecpt is a module that will help you make static color palette tables (CPTs). In classic mode we write the CMT to standard output, while under modern mode we simply save the CPT as the current session CPT (but see -H). You define an equidistant set of contour intervals or pass your own z-table or list, and create a new CPT based on an existing master (dynamic) CPT. The resulting CPT can be reversed relative to the master cpt, and can be made continuous or discrete. For color tables beyond the standard GMT offerings, visit cpt-city and Scientific Colour-Maps.

The CPT includes three additional colors beyond the range of z-values. These are the background color (B) assigned to values lower than the lowest z-value, the foreground color (F) assigned to values higher than the highest z-value, and the NaN color (N) painted wherever values are undefined.

If the master CPT includes B, F, and N entries, these will be copied into the new master file. If not, the parameters COLOR_BACKGROUND, COLOR_FOREGROUND, and COLOR_NAN from the gmt.conf file or the command line will be used. This default behavior can be overruled using the options -D, -M or -N.

The color model (RGB, HSV or CMYK) of the palette created by makecpt will be the same as specified in the header of the master CPT. When there is no COLOR_MODEL entry in the master CPT, the COLOR_MODEL specified in the gmt.conf file or on the command line will be used.

None.

## Optional Arguments¶

-Atransparency[+a]
Sets a constant level of transparency (0-100) for all color slices. Append +a to also affect the fore-, back-, and nan-colors [Default is no transparency, i.e., 0 (opaque)].
-Ccpt
Selects the master color table CPT to use in the interpolation. Choose among the built-in tables (type makecpt to see the list) or give the name of an existing CPT [Default gives the turbo CPT]. Yet another option is to specify -Ccolor1,color2[,color3,…] to build a linear continuous cpt from those colors automatically. In this case colorn can be a r/g/b triplet, a color name, or an HTML hexadecimal color (e.g. #aabbcc ).
-D[i|o]
Select the back- and foreground colors to match the colors for lowest and highest z-values in the output CPT [Default uses the colors specified in the master file, or those defined by the parameters COLOR_BACKGROUND, COLOR_FOREGROUND, and COLOR_NAN]. Append i to match the colors for the lowest and highest values in the input (instead of the output) CPT.
-E[nlevels]
Implies reading data table(s) from given command-line files or standard input. We use the last data column to determine the data range; use -i to select another column, and use -bi if your data table is native binary. This z-range information is used instead of providing the -T option. We create a linear color table by dividing the table data z-range into nlevels equidistant slices. If nlevels is not given it defaults to the number of levels in the chosen CPT.
-F[R|r|h|c][+c]]
Force output CPT to be written with r/g/b codes, gray-scale values or color name (R, default) or r/g/b codes only (r), or h-s-v codes (h), or c/m/y/k codes (c). Optionally or alternatively, append +c to write discrete palettes in categorical format.
-Gzlo/zhi
Truncate the incoming CPT so that the lowest and highest z-levels are to zlo and zhi. If one of these equal NaN then we leave that end of the CPT alone. The truncation takes place before any resampling. See also Manipulating CPTs
-H
Modern mode only: Write the CPT to standard output as well [Default saves the CPT as the session current CPT]. Required for scripts used to make animations via movie where we must pass named CPT files.
-I[c][z]
Append c [Default] to reverse the sense of color progression in the master CPT. Also exchanges the foreground and background colors, including those specified by the parameters COLOR_BACKGROUND and COLOR_FOREGROUND. Append z to reverse the sign of z-values in the color table. Note that this change of z-direction happens before -G and -T values are used so the latter much be compatible with the changed z-range. See also Manipulating CPTs
-M
Overrule background, foreground, and NaN colors specified in the master CPT with the values of the parameters COLOR_BACKGROUND, COLOR_FOREGROUND, and COLOR_NAN specified in the gmt.conf file or on the command line. When combined with -D, only COLOR_NAN is considered.
-N
Do not write out the background, foreground, and NaN-color fields [Default will write them].
-Q
For logarithmic interpolation scheme with input given as logarithms. Expects input z-values provided via -T to be log10(z), assigns colors, and writes out z.
-Smode
Determine a suitable range for the -T option from the input table(s) (or stdin). Choose from several types of range determinations: -Sr will use the data range min/max, -Sinc[+d] will use the data min/max but rounded to nearest inc (append +d to resample to a discrete CPT), -Sascl will make a symmetric range around the average (i.e., mean) and ±scl * sigma, -Smscl will make a symmetric range around the median and ±scl * L1_scale, -Spscl will make symmetric range around mode (i.e., LMS; least median of squares) and ±scl * LMS_scale, while -Sqlow/high sets the range from low quartile to high quartile (in percentages). We use the last data column for this calculation; use i if you need to adjust the column orders.
-T[min/max/inc[+b|l|n]|file|list]
Defines the range of the new CPT by giving the lowest and highest z-value (and optionally an interval). If -T is not given, the existing range in the master CPT will be used intact. The values produces defines the color slice boundaries. If +n is used it refers to the number of such boundaries and not the number of slices. For details on array creation, see Generate 1D Array.
-V[level] (more …)
Select verbosity level [c].
-W[w]
Do not interpolate the input color table but pick the output colors starting at the beginning of the color table, until colors for all intervals are assigned. This is particularly useful in combination with a categorical color table, like “categorical”. Cannot be used in combination with -Z. Alternatively, use -Ww to produce a wrapped (cyclic) color table that endlessly repeats its range.
-Z
Creates a continuous CPT [Default is discontinuous, i.e., constant colors for each interval]. This option has no effect when no -T is used, or when using -Tz_min/z_max; in the first case the input CPT remains untouched, in the second case it is only scaled to match the range z_min/z_max.
-bi[ncols][t] (more …)
Select native binary format for primary input. [Default is the required number of columns given the chosen settings].
-dinodata (more …)
Replace input columns that equal nodata with NaN.
-icols[+l][+sscale][+ooffset][,][,t[word]] (more …)
Select input columns and transformations (0 is first column, t is trailing text, append word to read one word only).
-^ or just -
Print a short message about the syntax of the command, then exits (NOTE: on Windows just use -).
-+ or just +
Print an extensive usage (help) message, including the explanation of any module-specific option (but not the GMT common options), then exits.
-? or no arguments
Print a complete usage (help) message, including the explanation of all options, then exits.
--PAR=value
Temporarily override a GMT default setting; repeatable. See gmt.conf for parameters.

## Notes on Transparency¶

The PostScript language originally had no accommodation for transparency. However, Adobe added an extension that allows developers to encode some forms of transparency using the PostScript language model but it is only realized when converting the PostScript to PDF (and via PDF to any raster image format). GMT uses this model but there are some limitations: Transparency can only be controlled on a per-object or per-layer basis. This means that a color specifications (such as those in CPTs of given via command-line options) only apply to vector graphic items (i.e., text, lines, polygon fills) or to an entire layer (which could include items such as PostScript images). This limitation rules out any mechanism of controlling transparency in such images on a pixel level.

## Generate 1D Array¶

Make an evenly spaced coordinate array from min to max in steps of inc. Append +b if we should take log2 of min and max and build an equidistant log2-array using inc integer increments in log2. Append +l if we should take log10 of min and max and build an array where inc can be 1 (every magnitude), 2, (1, 2, 5 times magnitude) or 3 (1-9 times magnitude). For less than every magnitude, use a negative integer inc. Append +n if inc is meant to indicate the number of equidistant coordinates instead. Alternatively, give a file with output coordinates in the first column, or provide a comma-separated list of coordinates. If you only want a single value then you must append a comma to distinguish the list from the setting of inc.

If the module allows you to set up an absolute time series, append a valid time unit from the list year, month, week, day, hour, minute, and second to the given increment; add +t to ensure time column (or use -f) Note: The internal time unit is still controlled independently by TIME_UNIT. Some modules allow for +a which will paste the coordinate array to the output table.

Likewise, if the module allows you to set up a spatial distance series (with distance computed from the first two data columns), specify the increment as inc[unit] with a geospatial distance unit from the list degree (arc), minute (arc), second (arc), meter, foot, kilometer, Miles (statute), nautical miles, or survey foot; see -j for calculation mode. For Cartesian distances, you must use the special unit c.

Finally, if you are only providing an increment and obtain min and max from the data, then it is possible (max - min)/inc is not an integer, as required. If so then inc will be adjusted to accordingly. Alternatively, append +e to keep inc exact and adjust max instead.

## Color Hinges¶

Some of the GMT master dynamic CPTs are actually two separate CPTs meeting at a hinge. Usually, colors may change dramatically across the hinge, which is used to separate two different domains (e.g., land and ocean across the shoreline, for instance). CPTs with a hinge will have their two parts stretched to the required range separately, i.e., the bottom part up to the hinge will be stretched independently of the part from the hinge to the top, according to the prescribed new range. If the selected range does not include the hinge then no such partitioning takes place.

## Color Aliasing¶

For best result when -T -Z is used we recommend you do no append a specific z_inc. This way the original CPT is used exactly as is but the z boundaries are adjusted to match the stated limits. Otherwise you may, depending on the nature of the input CPT, miss aspects of the color changes by aliasing the signal.

## Examples¶

Note: Below are some examples of valid syntax for this module. The examples that use remote files (file names starting with @) can be cut and pasted into your terminal for testing. Other commands requiring input files are just dummy examples of the types of uses that are common but cannot be run verbatim as written.

To make a CPT with z-values from -200 to 200, with discrete color changes every 25, and using a polar blue-white-red colortable:

gmt makecpt -Cpolar -T-200/200/25 > colors.cpt


To make an equidistant CPT from z = -2 to 6 using the continuous default turbo rainbow of colors:

gmt makecpt -T-2/6 -Z > colors.cpt


To use the GEBCO look-alike CPT with its default range for bathymetry, run

gmt makecpt -Cgebco > my_gebco.cpt


or simply use -Cgebco directly in the application that needs the color table. To create a 24-level color table suitable for plotting the depths in the remote ata table v3206_06.txt (with lon, lat, depths), run

gmt makecpt -Cgebco @v3206_06.txt -i2 -Z -E24 > my_depths.cpt


To use the gebco color table but reverse the z-values so it can be used for positive depth values, try

gmt makecpt -Cgebco -Iz > my_positive_gebco.cpt


To make a custom discrete color table for depth of seismicity, using red color for hypocenters between 0 and 100 km, green for 100-300 km, and blue for deep (300-1000 km) earthquakes, use

gmt makecpt -Cred,green,blue -T0,80,300,1000 -N > seis.cpt


To make a continuous CPT from white to blue as z goes from 3 to 10, try

gmt makecpt -Cwhite,blue -T3,10 -Z > cold.cpt


To make a wrapped (cyclic) CPT from the jet table over the interval 0 to 500, i.e., the color will be wrapped every 500 z-units so that we always get a color regardless of the z value, try

gmt makecpt -Cjet -T0/500 -Ww > wrapped.cpt


## Note on CPTs in Modern Mode¶

In modern mode, CPTs are rarely needed to be named explicitly. Instead, when a module that may create a CPT, such as grd2cpt and makecpt (or even grdimage when no color table is available), the behavior under modern mode is to write that CPT to a hidden file in the session directory. When a module requires a CPT (e.g., grdimage not given -C or plot given -C with no name) then we read this hidden CPT (if it exists). This file is called the current CPT. In fact, there are several levels of current CPTs that may all be different, and some may not be present. If you create a CPT within an inset operation then that CPT is only accessible during the inset plotting; it thus only has the inset as its scope. If you create a CPT while positioned into a specific subplot, then that CPT is likewise only accessible to that subplot. If, on the other hand, you make a CPT after subplot begin but before any plotting then that CPT is available to all the subplots (but can be locally overridden by a subplot-specific CPT mention above). Finally, each call to figure means you may have a figure-specific CPT, should you create them. If none exists then the session CPT is used. The rule gmt follows is to always get the CPT with the most restricted scope that is visible from where you are in the plotting hierarchy. If not found we go up the hierarchy to CPTs with broader scope, and if none is ultimately found (and the module, unlike grdimage, cannot create a CPT by itself), then you have likely made a scripting error. There are cases in modern mode when you must explicitly create a named CPT using the -H option. One such case is when making movies with movie since you will want to create the CPT once and have movie access it again and again. Since each movie frame is a separate session there is no cross-session sharing of current CPTs.

## Bugs¶

Since makecpt will also interpolate from any existing CPT you may have in your directory, you should not use one of the listed cpt names as an output filename; hence the my_gebco.cpt in the example. If you do create a CPT of such a name, e.g., rainbow.cpt, then makecpt will read that file first and not look for the master CPT in the shared GMT directory.

## References¶

Crameri, F., (2018). Scientific colour-maps. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1243862

Crameri, F. (2018), Geodynamic diagnostics, scientific visualisation and StagLab 3.0, Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 2541-2562, doi:10.5194/gmd-11-2541-2018.