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ColorDataFunction[range,…]

is a function that represents a color scheme.

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ColorDataFunction

ColorDataFunction[range,…]

is a function that represents a color scheme.

Details

Examples

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Basic Examples  (3)

ColorData returns a ColorDataFunction object:

Wolfram Language code: ColorData["LightTemperatureMap"]

Return a color when the specific parameters are applied:

Wolfram Language code: f = ColorData["HTML"]
Wolfram Language code: f["Azure"]

Define a color function for the plot:

Wolfram Language code: f = ColorData["DarkRainbow"]
Wolfram Language code: ContourPlot[y + Sin[x ^ 2 + 3y], {x, -3, 3}, {y, -3, 3}, ColorFunction -> f]

Scope  (5)

ColorData returns a ColorDataFunction object:

Wolfram Language code: ColorData["GrayYellowTones"]
Wolfram Language code: ColorData[12]
Wolfram Language code: ColorData["HTML"]
Wolfram Language code: ColorData["VisibleSpectrum"]

ColorDataFunction returns RGB colors when applied to values within a specific range:

Wolfram Language code: ColorData["GrayYellowTones"][.5]
Wolfram Language code: ColorData[5][7]
Wolfram Language code: ColorData["HTML"]["WhiteSmoke"]
Wolfram Language code: ColorData["VisibleSpectrum"][550]

Gradients and physical schemes are defined on continuous intervals:

Wolfram Language code: ColorData["GrayYellowTones", "Range"]
Wolfram Language code: f = ColorData["GrayYellowTones"]
Wolfram Language code: f[.5]
Wolfram Language code: ColorData["VisibleSpectrum", "Range"]
Wolfram Language code: g = ColorData["VisibleSpectrum"]
Wolfram Language code: g[600]

Indexed schemes are defined at discrete values:

Wolfram Language code: ColorData[3, "Range"]
Wolfram Language code: Range@@%
Wolfram Language code: f = ColorData[3]
Wolfram Language code: f[5]

Named schemes are defined at specific sets of values:

Wolfram Language code: Short[ColorData["HTML", "Range"]]
Wolfram Language code: f = ColorData["HTML"]
Wolfram Language code: f["Maroon"]

Properties & Relations  (2)

ColorDataFunction from gradients and physical schemes clips values outside of the ranges:

Wolfram Language code: f = ColorData["WatermelonColors"]
Wolfram Language code: DensityPlot[x, {x, -1, 2}, {y, 0, 1}, ColorFunction -> (f[#]&), ColorFunctionScaling -> False]

ColorDataFunction from indexed schemes repeats the colors periodically:

Wolfram Language code: f = ColorData[32]
Wolfram Language code: ArrayPlot[{Range[40]}, ColorFunction -> f, ColorFunctionScaling -> False, AspectRatio -> .3]

Possible Issues  (1)

In a plot with multiple ColorFunction slots, the first slot is chosen, if not specified:

Wolfram Language code: f = ColorData["Rainbow"]
Wolfram Language code: Plot3D[ Exp[1 - x^2 - y^2], {x, -2, 2}, {y, -2, 2}, ColorFunction -> f, PlotRange -> All, Mesh -> None]

Specify a pure function so that the plot is colored by height values:

Wolfram Language code: Plot3D[ Exp[1 - x^2 - y^2], {x, -2, 2}, {y, -2, 2}, ColorFunction -> Function[{x, y, z}, f[z]], PlotRange -> All, Mesh -> None]

Neat Examples  (1)

A raster image of the web-safe colors:

Wolfram Language code: f = ColorData["WebSafe"]
Wolfram Language code: Graphics[Raster[Partition[First@ColorData["WebSafe", "Range"], 18], ColorFunction -> f]]
Wolfram Research (2007), ColorDataFunction, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ColorDataFunction.html.

Text

Wolfram Research (2007), ColorDataFunction, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ColorDataFunction.html.

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2007. "ColorDataFunction." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ColorDataFunction.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2007). ColorDataFunction. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ColorDataFunction.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_colordatafunction, author="Wolfram Research", title="{ColorDataFunction}", year="2007", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ColorDataFunction.html}", note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_colordatafunction, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={ColorDataFunction}, year={2007}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ColorDataFunction.html}, note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}