1. Open up the Color Table Editor from the Tools→Color Table Editor menu.
2. You should see something like this (well, plus a Brightness field):


The Color Table Editor consists of:
• A set of command menus: File, Color Tables and Help.
• A color bar which shows the currently selected color table.
• A set of breakpoints that allow you to manipulate the color bar. (More about breakpoints)
• A color chooser which allows you to select a color.
• A set of paint mode items.
• History buttons that allow you to undo and redo changes.
3. First, we want to select a color table.
• Select the Color Tables menu:


• Select Basic→Bright38.
4. We don't want to change this particular color table so let's make a copy of it by saving the currently viewed color table under a new name.
• Select the File→Save As... menu item.
• Enter the name for the new color table: "test1".
5. Now we'll play around a little changing the colors through direct manipulation. Notice when you mouse over the color bar the cursor changes to a paint brush. You "paint" with the selected color and paint mode.
• Click the Fill paint mode button. You can select a color to fill with from the Color Chooser at the bottom of the window.
• Click and drag in the color bar.
• Try changing colors in the color chooser. Note - with the "Actively set color" button checked on the color below the selected breakpoint will be changed. Click on a breakpoint to select it and change the color.
• Click the Interpolate paint mode button and paint a bit.
• Click the Brightness paint mode button and change the brightness to 50%.
• Click the Transparency paint mode button, select 50% transparency from Transparency menu.
• Click on the History back and forward arrows to undo/redo any changes you make.
• Click the + and - signs above the color bar to change the number of color slots in the color table.
6. Let's start fresh.
• Select the File→Remove menu item. This deletes the currently viewed color table.
• You should be viewing the initial color table.
• Select the File→Save As... menu item and enter the name for a new color table: "test1".
• Now we'll change the colors through the Breakpoint menu.
• Add a new breakpoint.
• Right click in the middle of the color bar to bring up the Breakpoint menu:


• Select Add Breakpoint→Here.
• You should have a color bar that looks something like:


• Right click on the new breakpoint and we will get a different menu:


• Select Interpolate Right.
• Select Fill Left.
• etc.
7. Let's get back to the beginning.
• Select the File→Remove menu item. This deletes the currently viewed color table.

Unidata IDV Workshop for version 6.3 > Accessing and Displaying Data > Color tables