McIDAS-X Learning Guide
Version 2020

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GUI - Modifying Image and Graphics Colors

Modifying Image Colors

1. Display a GOES-East image and map on the current frame, using data from band 13 of the RTGOESR/FDC13 dataset.

   In the Display/Image GUI, select: the RTGOESR/FDC13 dataset, and to display a map on the image.
   Select one image from the image list, load the image, and dismiss the Image Select window.

2. Obviously, these colors are not the colors of a normal infrared image. Even though the frames were erased, the radar enhancement is still assigned to that frame. So, you'll need to restore the correct colors by modifying the Image Colors.

   Select:  Colors/Change Image Colors
   Click:   the Reset tab

   The default option in the Reset tab is to reset the current frame only.

   Click:   Reset

3. Activate the GUI where you'll create your own enhancement.

   Click:   Make

   The Make tab of the Image Colors GUI contains four options in which you can change or create image colors: 'Using Color Names,' 'Using Color Intensities,' 'Using ENH,' and 'Using EB.'
   • The 'Using Color Names' button consists of two scroll bars labeled 'Begin' and 'End.' The scroll bars allow you to select a beginning and ending color from one of the 35 predefined McIDAS colors.
   • The 'Using Color Intensities' button also has the two scroll bars, but allows you to choose the exact amount of red, green, and blue intensities to create your own colors.
   • The 'Using ENH' button is a graphical way to change the intensities of red, green, and blue.
   • The 'Using EB' button starts the EB command which invokes the interactive mouse-controlled contrast stretching. Press the right mouse button to end the process, leaving the current enhancement.

   Start out by using the predefined McIDAS colors.

   Click: Using Color Names

4. Use the predefined color 'Blue' to begin at a grayscale of 145, and 'Goldenrod' to end at a grayscale of 210.

   Slide:   the Begin scrollbar to 145
   Slide:   the End scrollbar to 210
   Select:  Beginning Color/Blue
   Select:  Ending Color/Goldenrod
   Click:   Apply Enhancement

   Look at the Image window. You should see that all brightness values from 145 to 210 are colored from Blue to Goldenrod, depending on the specific value. All other brightness values will remain in their original grayscale form.

5. Repeat Step 4 several times, changing the colors and input values each time.

6. Once you have finished altering the image colors, dismiss the color selection GUI and save the enhancement as LEARNING.ET.

   Click:   Dismiss
   Click:   Save
   Type:    LEARNING
   Click:   Save

7. Reset the original image enhancement and restore LEARNING.ET to the image once again.

   Click:   Restore
   Select:  Select Enhancement File/LEARNING.ET
   Click:   Restore

8. Restore the original image enhancement.

   Click:   Reset
   Select:  Frame Selection/Set for Current Loop
   Click:   Reset
   Click:   Dismiss

Modifying Graphics Colors

1. Change the color of the map in the current frame.

   Select:  Colors/Change Graphics Colors
   Click:   Create a New Color
   Slide:   the Red, Green, and Blue Intensity bars until you've created a color you like
   Click:   Apply Enhancement
   Click:   Dismiss

   Look at the image window, and you will notice the changes to graphic color 1 took effect immediately.

2. Save the new graphics table as LEARNING.GRX.

   Click:   Save
   Type:    LEARNING in the File Name Field
   Click:   Save

3. Restore the default graphics colors.

   Click:   Reset
   Select:  Frame Selection/Current Frame Only
   Click:   Reset

4. Close the Graphics Colors window.

   Click:   Dismiss

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