What Are Contour Plots/Surface Charts In Excel?
Contour plots, or surface charts, represent three-dimensional 3D data that feature curved contour lines or surfaces, indicating values of the measured underlying variable. In Excel, a contour plot can be created using the Surface chart type, which uses different colors to represent variations in data values on a 2D plane.
For example, to create a contour plot using Excel,
- Begin by selecting the relevant data in worksheet
- Select Insert tab and click on Charts. From there, choose Stock, Surface, or Radar Chart.
- A preview will appear once we select our preferred chart type. Choose the first chart option under the surface chart category.
- Our chart will now be generated and displayed.
- To further enhance the visual appeal of our chart, consider adding labels, titles, and other relevant information.
- One of the most important formatting options available is the ability to change the chart’s color. To do so, navigate to the Design tab and select Change Colors.
- Click on the Change Colors drop-down list to view all available color options for our chart.
- Finally, we can customize the style of our chart by selecting a preferred option under the Chart Styles section of the Design tab.
- The Contour Plot is formed by selecting Contour Chart.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The Contour Chart in Excel is a powerful tool that enables the visualization of a 3D surface area in a 2D top view, utilizing various colors to represent different elevations.
- This chart is particularly useful when both categories and series are numeric, allowing for a clear and concise representation of complex data sets.
- The ability to provide a comprehensive overview of data in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format, the Contour Chart is an essential tool for professionals across various industries.
How To Create A Contour Plot/Surface Charts In Excel?
Creating an Excel contour plot or surface chart can be valuable for visualizing two- and three-dimensional data. Begin by organizing your data into three columns: X, Y, and Z. Next, select the range of cells containing this data and choose INSERT from the menu bar, followed by Surface Chart or Contour Plot. A preview of our graph will appear but it may not look exactly we would like. Excel has several formatting options available through the FORMAT tab to help customize our charts, such as changing the colors or labels.
Additionally, using the Insert Data Labels command can provide more context to our data, making it easier for others to understand. Finally, contextualize our visualization further by including relevant titles for each axis and an overall title for the chart itself.
Examples
Example #1
We must first gather the necessary data to create a visually appealing and informative chart. For this Contour plot example, we have provided a sample dataset below.
To create a contour plot using Excel, follow the simple steps outlined below:
- Step 1: First, begin by selecting the relevant data in our Excel worksheet.
- Step 2: Navigate to the Insert tab and select Charts. From there, choose Stock, Surface, or Radar Chart.
- Step 3: A preview will appear once we have selected our preferred chart type. Choose the first chart option under the surface chart category.
- Step 4: Our chart will now be generated and displayed.
- Step 5: To further enhance the visual appeal of our chart, consider adding labels, titles, and other relevant information.
- Step 6: One of the most important formatting options available is the ability to change the chart’s color. To do so, navigate to the Design tab and select Change Colors.
- Step 7: Next, click on the Change Colors drop-down list to view all available color options for our chart.
- Step 8: Finally, we can customize the style of our chart by selecting a preferred option under the Chart Styles section of the Design tab.
- Step 9: The Contour Plot is formed by selecting Contour Chart.
Example #2
To create a visually appealing and informative chart, it is essential to gather the necessary data. For instance, we have provided a sample dataset in this contour plot example below.
To create a contour plot using Excel, follow these simple steps:
- Step 1: First, begin by selecting the relevant data in our Excel worksheet.
- Step 2: Navigate to the Insert tab and select Charts. From there, choose Stock, Surface, or Radar Chart.
- Step 3: A preview will appear once we have selected our preferred chart type. Choose the first chart option under the surface chart category.
- Step 4: Our chart will now be generated and displayed.
- Step 5: To further enhance the visual appeal of our chart, consider adding labels, titles, and other relevant information.
- Step 6: One of the most important formatting options available is the ability to change the chart’s color. To do so, navigate to the Design tab and select Change Colors.
- Step 7: Next, click on the Change Colors drop-down list to view all available color options for our chart.
- Step 8: Finally, we can customize the style of our chart by selecting a preferred option under the Chart Styles section of the Design tab.
- Step 9: The Contour Plot is formed by selecting Contour Chart.
Following these simple steps, we can create a visually appealing and informative chart that effectively communicates our data. Consider adding labels, titles, and other relevant information to enhance the chart’s visual appeal. Customizing the chart’s color and style can improve its overall impact.
Example #3
To create a visually appealing and informative chart, it is essential to gather the necessary data. For instance, we have provided a sample dataset in this contour plot example below.
To create a contour plot using Excel, follow these simple steps:
- Step 1: To begin with, select the relevant data in our Excel worksheet.
- Step 2: Navigate to the Insert tab and select Charts. From there, choose Stock, Surface, or Radar Chart.
- Step 3: A preview will appear once we have selected our preferred chart type. Choose the first chart option under the surface chart category.
- Step 4: Our chart will now be generated and displayed.
- Step 5: To further enhance the visual appeal of our chart, consider adding labels, titles, and other relevant information.
- Step 6: One of the most important formatting options available is the ability to change the chart’s color. To do so, navigate to the Design tab and select Change Colors.
- Step 7: Click on the Change Colors drop-down list to view all available color options for our chart.
- Step 8: Finally, we can customize the style of our chart by selecting a preferred option under the Chart Styles section of the Design tab.
- Step 9: The Contour Plot is formed by selecting Contour Chart.
Following these simple steps, we can create a visually appealing and informative contour plot using Excel. Remember to add relevant information and customize the chart’s style to make it more engaging and professional.
Important Things To Note
- These plots are useful for visualizing changes in data over time or space and help identify trends, patterns, and anomalies.
- Contour plots can also display multivariate data sets or analyze complex relationships between variables.
- Creating Contour Plots in Excel and choosing a suitable color scheme and labeling system is important to communicate the information effectively and clearly to the intended audience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Contour plots are a useful tool for representing three-dimensional data in two dimensions. To create a successful contour plot, the data must be continuous and exhibit some degree of smoothness. Typically, contour plots work well with data collected on a regular grid, such as weather or geospatial data. Additionally, datasets with a range of values across their domain lend themselves well to contour plots because they can better illustrate high and low-intensity areas. For example, contour plots could effectively represent elevation data from satellite measurements because they enable analysts to quickly identify regions with different elevations without visually analyzing intricate details or patterns in the raw dataset. It’s important to note that selecting appropriate colormaps for contour plots is crucial for enhancing viewer comprehension of plotted data.
While Excel’s contour plots are a useful tool for visualizing data and identifying patterns, there are some limitations and drawbacks to using this method. First, contour plots can be more difficult to read and interpret than other graphs, especially if multiple variables are involved. Additionally, the accuracy of the plot depends on the density of data points used to create it, which may not reflect the true distribution of values in the dataset. Finally, Excel’s contour plots do not allow for customization or advanced features that may be necessary for more complex analyses. Despite these limitations, contour plots can still be useful for preliminary data exploration and identifying trends in large datasets.
One practical application of contour plots is visualizing the relationships between multiple variables in a dataset. Contour plots allow the analyst to graphically represent the connection between two or more variables by displaying isolines, or lines of constant value, on a two-dimensional plane. This provides insights into how changes in one variable affect another, allowing for better prediction of outcomes and identification of patterns. Additionally, contour plots can be used to identify regions with high or low values within a dataset and help pinpoint areas that require further investigation. In scientific fields such as geology and meteorology, contour plots are commonly utilized to visualize changes in temperature and altitude across an area. Overall, using contour plots in data analysis helps simplify complex data sets and enhance understanding of relationships between variables.
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