WPF Heatmap
For scientific, engineering, and medical applications, visualizing two-dimensional arrays of data requires a highly optimized WPF heatmap. This example shows how to configure a uniform heatmap or spectrogram using a color map to represent varying data intensities.
Rendering dense 2D matrices can be computationally heavy, but SciChart leverages the Visual Xccelerator™ engine to ensure rapid rendering and real-time updates. Developers can use this component to display thermal imaging, radio frequencies, or statistical distributions effortlessly, with support for heatmaps containing over 100 million cells, or even billions.
Engage with the interactive code samples to learn how to map your 2D datasets to the colors and handle real-time streaming data. Click and drag on the chart to see the animated-zoom performance while the heatmap is updating.
The official documentation also details how to enable interactive features like crosshairs and tooltips specifically tailored for heatmap surfaces.
Documentation Links
- Heatmap API Documentation
- RenderableSeries API
- UniformHeatmapDataSeries class
- NonUniformHeatmapDataSeries class
Real-World Applications
The WPF Heatmap Chart powered by SciChart has many use cases, including in medical diagnosis. Our charts can help speed up the diagnosis process with tissue imaging or sleep data, for example. Other use cases include engineering to determine whether the ground is suitable for digging, for example.
About SciChart’s WPF Charts
SciChart WPF ships with hundreds of WPF Chart Examples which you can browse, play with, view the source-code and even export each WPF Chart Example to a stand-alone Visual Studio solution. All of this is possible with the new and improved SciChart WPF Examples Suite, which ships as part of the SciChart WPF SDK.
Even the most complex heatmap matrix is possible with SciChart’s leading WPF chart library.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does SciChart’s WPF heatmap library compare to the competitors?
SciChart WPF is 10s – to 100s of times faster than competitors, able to draw millions or even billions of data points in big data apps. This makes SciChart the world’s fastest WPF Chart component for complex, big-data and real-world applications.
Do you provide technical support?
Yes – we don’t simply hand over the licence and leave your developers to get on with it. We’re here for all your chart challenges and questions. Simply contact our support team and they will be more than happy to help.
The C#/WPF source code for the WPF Realtime Heatmap Chart example is included below (Scroll down!).
Did you know you can also view the source code from one of the following sources as well?
- Clone the SciChart.WPF.Examples from GitHub.
- Or, view source in the SciChart WPF Examples suite.
- Also the SciChart WPF Trial contains the full source for the examples (link below).
HeatMapExampleView.xaml
View source code<UserControl x:Class="SciChart.Examples.Examples.HeatmapChartTypes.RealTimeHeatmap.HeatMapExampleView"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:s="http://schemas.abtsoftware.co.uk/scichart"
Loaded="OnExampleLoaded"
Unloaded="OnExampleUnloaded"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
xmlns:ext="http://schemas.abtsoftware.co.uk/scichart/exampleExternals"
d:DesignHeight="400"
d:DesignWidth="600"
mc:Ignorable="d">
<UserControl.Resources>
<s:GradientStopsToLinearGradientBrushConverter x:Key="ColorsToLinearGradientBrushConverter"/>
<s:HeatmapColorPalette x:Key="ColorPalette" Maximum="200">
<s:HeatmapColorPalette.GradientStops>
<GradientStop Offset="0" Color="DarkBlue" />
<GradientStop Offset="0.2" Color="CornflowerBlue" />
<GradientStop Offset="0.4" Color="DarkGreen" />
<GradientStop Offset="0.6" Color="Chartreuse" />
<GradientStop Offset="0.8" Color="Yellow" />
<GradientStop Offset="1" Color="Red" />
</s:HeatmapColorPalette.GradientStops>
</s:HeatmapColorPalette>
<Style TargetType="TextBox">
<Setter Property="MinWidth" Value="50"/>
<Setter Property="Height" Value="16"/>
<Setter Property="VerticalContentAlignment" Value="Center"/>
</Style>
<Style TargetType="Label">
<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="White"/>
</Style>
</UserControl.Resources>
<Grid>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" />
<ColumnDefinition Width="*" />
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<!-- The SciChartInteractionToolbar adds zoom, pan, zoom extents and rotate functionality -->
<!-- to the chart and is included for example purposes. -->
<!-- If you wish to know how to zoom and pan a chart then do a search for Zoom Pan in the Examples suite! -->
<ext:SciChartInteractionToolbar TargetSurface="{Binding Source={x:Reference Name=sciChart}}">
<ext:FlyoutMenuButton Content="TF" Padding="0" Style="{StaticResource FlyoutMenuButtonStyle}">
<ext:FlyoutMenuButton.PopupContent>
<StackPanel MinWidth="150" Orientation="Vertical">
<TextBlock Text="Texture Filtering"/>
<CheckBox x:Name="textureSwitch"
Margin="4"
Content="UseLinearTextureFiltering"/>
</StackPanel>
</ext:FlyoutMenuButton.PopupContent>
</ext:FlyoutMenuButton>
<ToggleButton x:Name="StartButton" Click="StartButton_Click" IsChecked="True" Style="{StaticResource PlayButtonStyle}" Padding="4"/>
<ToggleButton x:Name="StopButton" Click="StopButton_Click" Style="{StaticResource StopButtonStyle}" Padding="7"/>
</ext:SciChartInteractionToolbar>
<s:SciChartSurface Grid.Column="1"
x:Name="sciChart"
Padding="0"
BorderThickness="0">
<s:SciChartSurface.RenderableSeries>
<s:FastUniformHeatmapRenderableSeries x:Name="heatmapSeries"
Opacity="0.9"
ColorMap="{StaticResource ColorPalette}"
UseLinearTextureFiltering="{Binding IsChecked, Mode=OneWay, Source={x:Reference Name=textureSwitch}}"/>
</s:SciChartSurface.RenderableSeries>
<s:SciChartSurface.XAxis>
<s:NumericAxis DrawMajorBands="True" />
</s:SciChartSurface.XAxis>
<s:SciChartSurface.YAxis>
<s:NumericAxis DrawMajorBands="True" />
</s:SciChartSurface.YAxis>
<s:SciChartSurface.ChartModifier>
<s:ModifierGroup>
<s:RolloverModifier ShowTooltipOn="Always" UseInterpolation="True" ReceiveHandledEvents="True"/>
<s:RubberBandXyZoomModifier ExecuteOn="MouseLeftButton" />
<s:ZoomExtentsModifier ExecuteOn="MouseDoubleClick" />
</s:ModifierGroup>
</s:SciChartSurface.ChartModifier>
</s:SciChartSurface>
<s:HeatmapColorMap Grid.Column="1"
Margin="10,10,60,40"
HorizontalAlignment="Right"
VerticalAlignment="Stretch"
Background="{Binding Source={x:Reference Name=sciChart}, Path=Background}"
Foreground="{Binding Source={x:Reference Name=sciChart}, Path=Foreground}"
ColorMap="{Binding Source={x:Reference Name=heatmapSeries}, Path=ColorMap.GradientStops, Converter={StaticResource ColorsToLinearGradientBrushConverter}}"
Minimum="{Binding Source={x:Reference Name=heatmapSeries}, Path=ColorMap.Minimum, Mode=TwoWay}"
Maximum="{Binding Source={x:Reference Name=heatmapSeries}, Path=ColorMap.Maximum, Mode=TwoWay}"
TextFormatting="0.00"
Opacity="0.8"
BorderBrush="#777"
BorderThickness="1"
Orientation="Vertical" />
</Grid>
</UserControl>HeatMapExampleView.xaml.cs
View source code// *************************************************************************************
// SCICHART® Copyright SciChart Ltd. 2011-2022. All rights reserved.
//
// Web: http://www.scichart.com
// Support: support@scichart.com
// Sales: sales@scichart.com
//
// HeatMapExampleView.xaml.cs is part of the SCICHART® Examples. Permission is hereby granted
// to modify, create derivative works, distribute and publish any part of this source
// code whether for commercial, private or personal use.
//
// The SCICHART® examples are distributed in the hope that they will be useful, but
// without any warranty. It is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, either
// expressed or implied.
// *************************************************************************************
using System;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Threading;
using SciChart.Charting.Model.DataSeries;
using SciChart.Charting.Model.DataSeries.Heatmap2DArrayDataSeries;
using SciChart.Charting.Visuals.RenderableSeries.Animations;
namespace SciChart.Examples.Examples.HeatmapChartTypes.RealTimeHeatmap
{
/// <summary>
/// demonstrates use of FastHeatmapRenderableSeries
/// creates a list of Heatmap2dArrayDataSeries and displays them one by one in loop on timer
/// </summary>
public partial class HeatMapExampleView : UserControl
{
/// <summary>
/// list of data series to be displayed in loop on timer
/// </summary>
private readonly IDataSeries[] _dataSeries = new IDataSeries[seriesPerPeriod];
/// <summary>
/// number of series to be displayed in a loop (period)
/// </summary>
private const int seriesPerPeriod = 30;
private readonly DispatcherTimer _timer;
private int _timerIndex = 0;
public HeatMapExampleView()
{
InitializeComponent();
var colormap = heatmapSeries.ColorMap;
var cpMin = colormap.Minimum;
var cpMax = colormap.Maximum;
// Create data for our heatmaps in parallel
Parallel.For(0, seriesPerPeriod, (i) =>
{
_dataSeries[i] = CreateSeries(i, 300, 200, cpMin, cpMax);
});
heatmapSeries.DataSeries = _dataSeries[0];
_timer = new DispatcherTimer(DispatcherPriority.Render)
{
Interval = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(1),
IsEnabled = SeriesAnimationBase.GlobalEnableAnimations
};
_timer.Tick += TimerOnTick;
}
/// <summary>
/// displays next data series in list
/// </summary>
private void TimerOnTick(object sender, EventArgs eventArgs)
{
_timerIndex++;
heatmapSeries.DataSeries = _dataSeries[_timerIndex % _dataSeries.Length];
}
private IDataSeries CreateSeries(int index, int width, int height, double cpMin, double cpMax)
{
var seed = SeriesAnimationBase.GlobalEnableAnimations ? (Environment.TickCount << index) : 0;
var random = new Random(seed);
double angle = Math.Round(Math.PI * 2 * index, 3) / seriesPerPeriod;
int w = width, h = height;
var data = new double[h, w];
for (int x = 0; x < w; x++)
{
for (int y = 0; y < h; y++)
{
var v = (1 + Math.Round(Math.Sin(x * 0.04 + angle), 3)) * 50 + (1 + Math.Round(Math.Sin(y * 0.1 + angle), 3)) * 50 * (1 + Math.Round(Math.Sin(angle * 2), 3));
var cx = w / 2; var cy = h / 2;
var r = Math.Sqrt((x - cx) * (x - cx) + (y - cy) * (y - cy));
var exp = Math.Max(0, 1 - r * 0.008);
var zValue = (v * exp + random.NextDouble() * 50);
data[y, x] = (zValue > cpMax) ? cpMax : zValue;
}
}
return new UniformHeatmapDataSeries<int, int, double>(data, 0, 1, 0, 1);
}
private void OnExampleLoaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
if (SeriesAnimationBase.GlobalEnableAnimations)
{
_timer.Start();
}
}
private void OnExampleUnloaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
_timer.Stop();
}
private void StartButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
_timer.Start();
StartButton.IsChecked = true;
StopButton.IsChecked = false;
}
private void StopButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
_timer.Stop();
StartButton.IsChecked = false;
StopButton.IsChecked = true;
}
}
}
