Style point cloud layers

With point cloud scene layers, you can visualize vast amounts of 3D data, displaying a variety of features, such as buildings, streets, water bodies, and even power lines and towers. You can style point cloud scene layer data to create thematic scenes based on the attributes contained in the layer. You have a choice to display the point cloud data by source color, elevation, class codes, or intensity. When pop-ups are enabled in your layer, you can click point cloud points to get further information, such as the elevation or class.

Note:

Scene Viewer will show only the point cloud styles that are appropriate for the nature of the data. In many cases, Scene Viewer will select one of the drawing styles by default based on the nature of the data in the layer, and the style will automatically be applied in the scene.

Source Color

Use the Source Color style when you want to display your point cloud scene layer based on the actual RGB colors of the points. You can see the source color of buildings, trees, and streets for example.

1. Follow the steps in the Style layers workflow.
2. For Point size, you can choose either the Automatic or Manual option to control the size and density of points.
   1. The Automatic option automatically determines the point size based on the density and level of detail.

      Adapt the size of the points in your scene by moving the Scale factor slider from small to large.

   2. The Manual option allows you to manually set the point size and density.

      • For Size, manually enter a point size value in screen pixels.
      • For Density, change the density of the points in your scene by moving the slider from low to high. The slider reflects the number of points per inch on the screen from values of 1 to 50.

3. Under Elevation Mode, enter a positive or negative value in meters to offset the layer higher or lower, respectively, for Offset. Absolute height is automatically set for Elevation Mode.

Class

The Class style is helpful when you want to assign a specific color to unique class code values in your point cloud layer, such as ground, building, vegetation, or water.

1. Follow the steps in the Style layers workflow.
2. Modify the Class categories.

   When you open the Class style, you will see categories listed based on the point cloud class codes.

   • You can customize the order in Legend by dragging categories up or down the list.
   • Rename a category by selecting it and clicking the name.
3. For Color, click the color picker.

   Do any of the following:

   1. Click  Fill color to see the fill color options:
      • Choose a color in the color picker.
      • Create a custom color by the Hex, RGB, or HSV values.
      • Under Saved, you can apply saved colors. Click or to add or remove a color.
      • Click Done to apply the settings and return to the previous pane.

      The most recent fill colors are shown.

   2. Click Cancel to return to the previous pane without applying the color settings.
   3. Click Done to apply the settings and return to the previous pane.
4. To apply a color ramp to all the attribute values, click Select all at the top of the Attribute Values list.

   The solid color picker becomes a color ramp.

   1. Click  Fill color to see the fill color options:
      • Under Category, select the types of color ramps from which you want to choose.
      • Click Flip ramp colors to flip the colors.
      • Click Done to return to the previous pane.
   2. Click Solid color to change the ramp to a solid color and display the fill options.
5. Click the Modulate using intensity toggle key to improve the depth, texturing, and detail of your point cloud layer.
6. For Point size, you can choose either the Automatic or Manual option to control the size and density of points.
   1. The Automatic option automatically determines the point size based on the density and level of detail.

      Adapt the size of the points in your scene by moving the Scale factor slider from small to large.

   2. The Manual option allows you to manually set the point size and density.

      • For Size, manually enter a point size value in screen pixels.
      • For Density, change the density of the points in your scene by moving the slider from low to high. The slider reflects the number of points per inch on the screen from values of 1 to 50.

7. Under Elevation Mode, enter a positive or negative value in meters to offset the layer higher or lower, respectively, for Offset. Absolute height is automatically set for Elevation Mode.

Elevation

The Elevation style allows you to emphasize elevation differences in the point cloud layer. Using the Elevation style, you can quickly see the lower and higher areas in elevation based on color.

1. Follow the steps in the Style layers workflow.
2. Move the upper and lower slider handles to adjust the coloring based on the chosen attribute.

   See Counts and Amounts slider considerations for more information.

3. For Color, click the color picker.

   Do any of the following:

   1. Click  Fill color to see the fill color options:
      • Under Category, select the types of color ramps from which you want to choose.
      • Click Flip ramp colors to flip the colors.
      • Click Done to return to the previous pane.
   2. Click Cancel to return to the previous pane without applying the color settings.
   3. Click Done to apply the settings and return to the previous pane.
4. Click the Modulate using intensity toggle key to improve the depth, texturing, and detail of your point cloud layer.
5. For Point size, you can choose either the Automatic or Manual option to control the size and density of points.
   1. The Automatic option automatically determines the point size based on the density and level of detail.

      Adapt the size of the points in your scene by moving the Scale factor slider from small to large.

   2. The Manual option allows you to manually set the point size and density.

      • For Size, manually enter a point size value in screen pixels.
      • For Density, change the density of the points in your scene by moving the slider from low to high. The slider reflects the number of points per inch on the screen from values of 1 to 50.

6. Under Elevation Mode, enter a positive or negative value in meters to offset the layer higher or lower, respectively, for Offset. Absolute height is automatically set for Elevation Mode.

Intensity

Use the Intensity style when you want to visualize the point cloud layer colors based on the intensity value of each point.

1. Follow the steps in the Style layers workflow.
2. Move the upper and lower slider handles to adjust the coloring based on the chosen attribute.

   See Counts and Amounts slider considerations for more information.

3. For Color, click the color picker.

   Do any of the following:

   1. Click  Fill color to see the fill color options:
      • Under Category, select the types of color ramps from which you want to choose.
      • Click Flip ramp colors to flip the colors.
      • Click Done to return to the previous pane.
   2. Click Cancel to return to the previous pane without applying the color settings.
   3. Click Done to apply the settings and return to the previous pane.
4. For Point size, you can choose either the Automatic or Manual option to control the size and density of points.
   1. The Automatic option automatically determines the point size based on the density and level of detail.

      Adapt the size of the points in your scene by moving the Scale factor slider from small to large.

   2. The Manual option allows you to manually set the point size and density.

      • For Size, manually enter a point size value in screen pixels.
      • For Density, change the density of the points in your scene by moving the slider from low to high. The slider reflects the number of points per inch on the screen from values of 1 to 50.

5. Under Elevation Mode, enter a positive or negative value in meters to offset the layer higher or lower, respectively, for Offset. Absolute height is automatically set for Elevation Mode.