3.2.11. Subset Plot

The Subset plot (example in Figure 3.48) is used to display subsets. The typical scientific database can be decomposed into many different subsets. Frequently a database is decomposed into non-material subsets such as domains or groups. In AMR meshes, subsets can consist of levels or patches. The Subset plot draws the database with its various subsets color coded so they can be distinguished. For more information about subsets, see the Subsetting chapter.

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Fig. 3.48 Example of Subset plot of an AMR Mesh

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Fig. 3.49 Subset plot attributes window

3.2.11.1. Changing colors

The main portion of the Subset plot attributes window , also known as the Subset colors area, is devoted to setting subset colors. The Subset colors area contains a list of subset names with an associated subset color. Subset plot colors can be assigned three different ways, the first of which uses a color table. A color table is a named palette of colors that you can customize to suite your needs. When the Subset plot uses a color table to color subsets, it selects colors that are evenly spaced through the color table based on the number of subsets. For example, if you have three subsets and you are coloring them using the “xray” color table, the Subset plot picks three colors out of the color table so your levels are colored black, gray, and white. To color a Subset plot with a color table, click on the Color table radio button and choose a color table from the Color table menu to right of the Color table radio button.

If you want all subsets to be the same color, click the Single radio button at the top of the Subset plot attributes window and select a new color from the Popup color menu that is activated by clicking on the Single color button. The opacity slider next to the Single color button sets the opacity for the single color.

Clicking the Multiple radio button causes each subset to be a different, user-specified color. By default, multiple colors are set using the colors of the discrete color table that is active when the Subset plot is created. To change the color for any of the subsets, select one or more subsets from the list of subsets and click on the Color button to the right of the Multiple radio button and select a new color from the Popup color menu. To change the opacity for a subset, move Multiple opacity slider to the left to make the subset more transparent or move the slider to the right to make the subset more opaque.

The Subset plot attributes window contains a list of subset names with an associated subset color. To change a subset’s color, select one or more subsets from the list, click the color button and select a new color from the popup color menu.

3.2.11.2. Opacity

The Subset plot’s opacity can be changed globally as well as on a per subset basis. To change subset opacity, first select one or more subsets in the subset list and move the opacity slider next to the color button. Moving the opacity slider to the left makes the selected subsets more transparent and moving the slider to the right makes the selected subsets more opaque. To change the entire plot’s opacity globally, use the Opacity slider near the bottom of the window.

3.2.11.3. Setting point properties

Albeit rare, the Subset plot can be used to plot points that belong to different subsets so the Subset plot attributes window provides controls that allow you to set the representation and size of the points. You can change the points’ representation using the Point Type combo box. The available options are: Box, Axis, Icosahedron, Point, and Sphere. To change the size of the points, you can enter a new floating point value into the Point size text field. Finally, you can opt to scale the points’ glyphs using a scalar expression by turning on the Scale point size by variable check box and by selecting a scalar variable from the Variable button to the right of that check box.

3.2.11.4. Wireframe mode

The Subset plot can be modified so that it only displays outer edges of subsets. This option usually leaves lines that give only the rough shape of subsets and where they join other subsets. To make the Subset plot display in wireframe mode, check the Wireframe check box near the bottom of the Subset plot attributes window.

3.2.11.5. Drawing internal surfaces

When you make one or more subsets transparent, you might want to make the Subset plot draw internal surfaces. Internal surfaces are normally removed from Subset plots to make them draw faster. To make the Subset plot draw internal surfaces, check the Draw internal surfaces check box near the bottom of the Subset plot attributes window.

3.2.11.6. Geometry smoothing

Sometimes visualization operations such as material interface reconstruction can alter mesh surfaces so they are pointy or distorted. The Subset plot provides an optional Geometry smoothing option to smooth out the mesh surfaces so they look better when the plot is visualized. Geometry smoothing is not done by default, you must click the Fast or High radio buttons to enable it. The Fast geometry smoothing setting smooths out the geometry a little while the High setting works produces smoother surfaces.