surfer

Contour Maps
3D Surface Maps
Image Maps
Shaded Relief Maps
Post Maps
3D Wireframe Maps
Vector Maps

Base Maps
Map Layers
Stacking Maps
Customize Your Map
Superior Gridding
Variograms
Faults and Breaklines

Grid Functions
Using USGS and SRTM Data
Worksheet
Object Manager
Active X Automation
Additional Features
System Requirements

Surfer contour maps give you full control over all map parameters. You can accept the Surfer intelligent defaults to automatically create a contour map, or double-click a map to easily customize map features.

Display contour maps over any contour range and contour interval, or specify only the contour levels you want to display on the map. And with Surfer you can add color fill between contours to produce dazzling displays of your maps, or produce gray scale fills for dramatic black and white printouts.

Create colorful contour maps with custom levels, colors, and a color scale!

Contour Map Features

Automatic or user-defined contour intervals and ranges
Full control over contour label format, font, frequency, placement, and spacing
Drag contour labels to place them exactly where you want them
Automatic or user-defined color for contour lines
Color fill between contours, either user-specified or as a custom color map of your choice
Save and load custom color map files for the exact desired display
Use one of the built-in presets as the color map
Full control over hachures
Save and load contour map level files that contain all the level information, so you can easily and quickly create contour maps with consistent properties
Regulate smoothing of contour lines
Blank contour lines in areas where you don't want to show any data
Specify color for blanked regions, or make them transparent
Add color scale
Create any number of contour maps on a page
Add base, vector, shaded relief, image, or post map layers to contour map layers
Drape contour map layers over 3D surfaces or 3D wireframes for dramatic displays
Export contours in 3D DXF and 3D SHP formats
Adjust the layer opacity

Individual contour labels can be dragged to a new location,
new labels can be added and individual labels can be deleted.

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3D Surface Maps

The 3D surface map uses shading and color to emphasize your data features. Change the lighting, display angle and tilt with a click of the mouse. Overlay several surface maps to generate informative block diagrams.

Create exciting 3D surface maps from your XYZ data!
Image courtesy of Igor Yashayaev, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans, Canada.

3D Surface Map Features

Specify surface color gradation, shininess, base fill and line color
Control mesh line frequency, color, style, surface offset
Set lighting horizontal and vertical angles, ambient, diffuse, and specular properties
Overlay contour maps, image maps, post maps, shaded relief maps, raster and vector base maps, and other surface maps for spectacular presentations
Choose overlay resample method and resolution, color modulation (blending) of surface and overlays
Save and load custom color map files for the exact desired display
Use one of the built-in presets as the color map
Add color scales to explain the data values corresponding to each color
Disable the display of blanked grid nodes or map the blanked areas to a specific Z level

Combining surface maps is an excellent technique to visually compare data sets.
Image courtesy of Igor Yashayaev, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans, Canada.

Overlay surface maps to visually depict changes with depth!

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Image Maps

Surfer image maps use different colors to represent elevations of a grid file. Surfer automatically blends colors between percentage values so you end up with a smooth color gradation over the entire map. You can add color anchors at any percentage point between 0 and 100. Each anchor point can be assigned a unique color, and the colors are automatically blended between adjacent anchor points. This allows you to create color maps using any combination of colors. Add a color scale to show the values of the different colors! Image maps can be created independently of other maps, or can be combined with other map layers. They can be scaled, resized, limited and moved.

Customize your image map by adding color, including a color scale, and
overlaying it with other map layers to make the map as informative as
possible! The above map is created from an image map of Colorado
elevation overlaid with a base map layer showing the county boundaries.
Image courtesy of Igor Yashayaev,
Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans, Canada.

Image Map Features

Display pixel maps or smoothed images

Save and load custom color map files for the exact desired display

Use one of the built-in presets as the color map

Create an associated color scale

Overlay image maps with contour, post, or base maps

Specify a color for missing data, or choose to make areas of no data transparent

Change the rotation and tilt angles

Adjust the layer opacity

Colorful and smooth image maps can be combined with base maps and
contour maps to create informative displays. Image courtesy of Igor
Yashayaev, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Canada.

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Shaded Relief Maps

Shaded relief maps are raster images based on grid files. Shaded relief maps assign colors based on slope orientation relative to a light source. Surfer determines the orientation of each grid cell and calculates reflectance of a point light source on the grid surface. The light source can be thought of as the sun shining on a topographic surface. Surfer automatically blends colors between percentage values so you end up with a smooth color gradation over the map. You can add color anchors so each anchor point can be assigned a unique color, and the colors are automatically blended between adjacent anchor points. This allows you to create color maps using any combination of colors. Shaded relief maps can be created independently of other maps, or can be combined with other layers. Shaded relief maps can be scaled, resized, limited, and moved in the same way as other types of maps.

Create detailed shaded relief maps! This map shows a turbidite fan
and was created with multi-beam echo-sounder data obtained
in the Caribbean Sea

Shaded Relief Map Features

Create photo-quality relief maps from grid files

Control light source position, relative slope gradient, and shading

Overlay with contour, vector, post, or base maps for highly effective displays

Shading calculations based on several shading methods, including Simple, Peucker's Approximation, Lambertian Reflection, and Lommel-Seeliger Law

Set relief parameters using Central Difference or Midpoint difference gradient methods

Save and load custom color map files for the exact desired display

Use one of the built-in presets as the color map

Specify a color for missing data, or choose to make areas of no data transparent

Change the rotation and tilt angles

Adjust the layer opacity

Combine a shaded relief map with contour and base map features.

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Post Maps

Post maps show XY locations with fixed size symbols or proportionally scaled symbols of any color. Create post maps independent of other maps on the page, or combined with other map layers. For each posted point, specify the symbol and label type, size, and angle. Also create classed post maps that identify different ranges of data by automatically assigning a different symbol or color to each data range. Post your sample locations, well locations, or original data point locations on a contour map to show the distribution of data points on the map, and to demonstrate the accuracy of the gridding methods you use.


Use post maps to display the location of your XY data.		Different symbols are used to display different ranges of data in classed post maps. Here, a classed post map is overlaid on a wireframe map and 3D label lines have been added to lift the symbols up off the map surface.

Post Map Features

Create any number of post maps on a single page

Post data from any number of files

Use proportional or fixed size symbols

Full control of symbol style, color, and frequency

Post every point or every nth point

Specify custom symbols from the worksheet

Add labels from a data file and adjust the angle of the label and the plane in which the label appears

Drag post map labels to place them exactly where you want them

Make a classed post map to post different symbols for specified ranges of data values

Create a classed post legend to display the symbols and data ranges

Save and load classes for a classed post map

Adjust the layer opacity

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3D Wireframe Maps

Surfer wireframe maps provide an impressive three dimensional display of your data. Wireframes are created by connecting Z values along lines of constant X and Y. Use color zones, independent XYZ scaling, orthographic or perspective projections at any tilt or rotation angle, and different combinations of X, Y and Z lines to produce exactly the surface you want. Drape a color-filled contour map over a wireframe map to create the most striking color or black-and-white representations of your data. The possibilities are endless.

A wireframe map can be used to display any combination of X,Y, and Z lines.
A USGS SDTS DEM file was used to create this map and color zones were defined for the X and Y lines.

3D Wireframe Map Features

Display any combination of X,Y, and Z lines

Use automatic or user-defined color zones to highlight different Z levels

Stack any number of 3D surfaces on a single page

Optional hidden line removal

Overlay any combination of contour, filled contour, base, post, and classed post maps on a surface

Views of the top or bottom of the surface, or both

Proportional or independent scaling in the X,Y, and Z dimensions

Full control over axis tick marks and tick labels

Add a base with optional vertical base lines

Display the surface at any rotation or tilt angle

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Vector Maps

Instantly create vector maps in Surfer to show direction and magnitude of data at points on a map. You can create vector maps from information in one grid or two separate grids. The two components of the vector map, direction and magnitude, are automatically generated from a single grid by computing the gradient of the represented surface. At any given grid node, the direction of the arrow points in the direction of the steepest descent. The magnitude of the arrow changes depending on the steepness of the descent. Two-grid vector maps use two separate grid files to determine the vector direction and magnitude. The grids can contain Cartesian or polar data. With Cartesian data, one grid consists of X component data and the other grid consists of Y component data. With polar data, one grid consists of angle information and the other grid contains length information. Overlay vector maps on contour or wireframe maps to enhance the presentation!

A vector map of Mt. St. Helens overlaid on a contour map (left) and wireframe map (right). Use a color scale bar or legend to indicate the magnitude of the arrows.

Vector Map Features

Create vector maps based on one grid or two grids.

Define arrow style, color, and frequency

Symbol color may be fixed, based on vector magnitude or based on a grid file

Save and load custom color map files for the exact desired display

Use one of the built-in presets as the color map

Display color scale bars and vector scale legends

Scale the arrow shaft length, head length, and width

Control vector symbol origin

Choose from linear, logarithmic, or square root scaling methods

Adjust the layer opacity

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Base Maps

Surfer can import maps in many different formats to display geographic information. You can combine base maps with other maps in map overlays, or can create stand-alone base maps independent of other maps on the page. You can load any number of base maps on a page. It is easy to overlay a base map on a contour or surface wireframe map, allowing you to display geographic information in combination with the three dimensional data.

Display your base maps in Surfer alone or overlay them on other maps.

Base Map Features

Edit the line, fill, text and symbol properties for individual objects in a base map

Globally edit the line, fill, text and symbol properties for al objects in a base map

Import georeferenced images files in real world coordinates

Manually georeferenced images files in real world coordinates

Calculate the area and perimeter length of polygons in a base map

Calculate the length of polylines in a base map

Copy, paste, reshape, move and delete individual objects in a base map

Add new objects to a base map

Adjust the layer opacity

Import base maps in several formats: AN?, BLN, BMP, BNA, BW, DCM, DIC, DDF, DLG, DXF, E00, ECW, EMF, GIF, GSB, GSI, JPEG, JPG, LGO, LGS, MIF, PCX, PLT, PLY, PNG, PNM/PPM/PGM/PBM, RAS, RGB, RGBA, SHP, SID, SUN, TGA, TIF, TIFF, VTK, WMF, X, and XIMG.

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Map Layers

Adding multiple map layers to your map gives you a way to combine different types of data in one map. For example, you can drape a georeferenced image over a 3D surface map, overlay multiple base maps with a contour map, or plot a post map with contours over a wireframe map. And because you can add any number of map layers to a map, you can show any amount of data on a single map. You are limited only by your imagination!


This map was created by adding two contour map layers, a base map layer and a wireframe map layer to display contaminate spread.		Overlay several surface maps to generate informative block diagrams. This image illustrates the geology of the Great Lake Ladoga on the margin of the Baltic (Fennoscandian) Shield.


Effortlessly produce vivid and stunning maps that display an array of data! Image courtesy of Igor Yashayaev, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Canada.		Overlay multiple map layers and adjust the transparency of the upper layers to see the lower layers beneath! This example shows a partially transparent contour map overlaid with a georeferenced image file imported as a base map.

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Stacking Maps

You can align individual maps horizontally on the page by stacking them. Map stacking was designed to align maps using commensurate coordinate systems. This command is useful for keeping two or more maps separated vertically on the page while keeping relative horizontal positions.

Stack multiple 2D maps to see multiple layers!

Stack and rotate maps for the best presentation possible!

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Customize Your Map!

Make your map look its best by customizing it to fit your needs! Surfer offers numerous map features to enhance the look of your map. Use Surfer’s defaults, or customize your map by including scale bars, editing colors, lines and fill styles, showing only portions of a map, adjusting the scale and setting axis properties!

Map Features

Change the tilt, rotation and field of view angle for the map
Specify the view projection as perspective or orthographic
Set XYZ scales in map units or page length
Choose proportional or independent XY scaling
Display the map using the data XY limits or choose to display the map using a subset of the data
Control background fill and line color and styles
Full control over the axis limits and scaling, axis title, axis line style, tick labels, tick spacing, tick display, and grid lines

Other Customizations

Create any number of maps on a single page
Create independent maps or create a combined map with multiple types of map layers
Add scale bars
Add additional axes
Add text, polylines, polygons and symbols
Edit text, line, fill and symbol properties
Set the transparency for images, fill patterns and most map layers
Define custom line styles and colors
Add any number of text blocks at any position on the map, using TrueType fonts
Include superscripts, subscripts and Greek or other characters in text
Add arrowheads to lines

Customize your map using the abundant options available to you!

Create the most informative maps possible by adding text, scale bars, location maps, and other details!

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Superior Gridding

The gridding methods in Surfer allow you to produce accurate contour, surface, wireframe, vector, image, and shaded relief maps from your XYZ data. The data can be randomly dispersed over the map area, and Surfer's gridding will interpolate your data onto a grid. Use Surfer’s default settings or choose from twelve different gridding methods. Each gridding method provides complete control over the gridding parameters, so you can produce exactly the map you want. If your data are already collected in a regularly spaced rectangular array, you can create a map directly from your data. Computer generated contour maps have never been more accurate.

Gridding Features

Interpolate from up to 1 billion XYZ data points (limited by available memory)

Produce grids with up to 100 million nodes

Specify faults and breaklines when gridding

Choose from one of the powerful gridding methods: Inverse Distance, Kriging, Minimum Curvature, Polynomial Regression, Triangulation, Nearest Neighbor, Shepard's Method, Radial Basis Functions, Natural Neighbor, Moving Average, and Local Polynomial

Specify isotropic or anisotropic weighting

You have full control over the grid line geometry including grid limits, grid spacing, and number of grid lines

Customize search options based on user-defined data sector parameters

Specify search ellipses at any orientation and scaling

Use spline smoothing and grid filtering to alter the grid file

Use grid math to perform mathematic operations between grid files

Use Nearest Neighbor to create grid files without interpolation

Use Triangulation to achieve accuracy with large data sets faster

Detrend a surface using Polynomial Regression, generate regression coefficients in a report, and calculate residuals

Use data exclusion filters to eliminate unwanted data

Use duplicate data resolution techniques

Generate a grid of Kriging standard deviations

Specify point or block Kriging

Generate a report of the gridding statistics and parameters including ANOVA regression statistics

Specify scales and range for each variogram model

Generate grids from a user-specified function of two variables

Calculate grids with Data Metrics including: number of points within search ellipse, distance to nearest and farthest neighbor, median, average and offset distance to points within the search ellipse

Use cross-validation to judge the suitability of the gridding method for the particular data set

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Variograms

Use the variogram modeling subsystem to quantitatively assess the spatial continuity of data. Variograms may be used to select an appropriate variogram model when gridding with the Kriging algorithm. Surfer uses a variogram grid as a fundamental internal data representation and once this grid is built, any experimental variogram can be computed instantaneously.

Instantly create variograms in Surfer to quantitatively
assess the spatial continuity of your data.

Variogram Features

Virtually unlimited data set sizes

Display both the experimental variogram and the variogram model

Specify the estimator type: variogram, standardized variogram, auto covariance, or auto correlation

Specify the variogram model components: exponential, Gaussian, linear, logarithmic, nugget effect, power, quadratic, rational quadratic, spherical, wave, pentaspherical, and cubic models

Customize the variogram to display symbols, variance, and number of pairs for each lag

Export the experimental variogram data

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Faults and Breaklines

Define faults and breaklines when gridding your data. Faults act as barriers to the information flow, and data on one side of the fault will not be directly used to calculate grid node values on the other side of the fault. Breaklines include Z values. When Surfer sees a breakline, it uses the Z value of the breakline in combination with nearby data points to calculate the grid node value. Unlike faults, breaklines are not barriers to information flow and the gridding algorithm can cross the breakline to use a point on the other side to calculate a grid node value. Use breaklines to define streamlines, ridges, and other breaks in slopes.

The gridding methods that support faults are: Inverse Distance to a Power, Minimum Curvature, Nearest Neighbor, and Data Metrics.

The gridding methods that support breaklines are: Inverse Distance to a Power, Kriging, Minimum Curvature, Nearest Neighbor, Radial Basis Function, Moving Average, Data Metrics, and Local Polynomial.

Original contour map without faults or breaklines.


The same data set gridded with two faults and displayed as a contour map.	The same data set gridded with two breaklines and displayed as a contour map.

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Grid Functions

In addition to creating maps, you can perform a variety of functions using grid files. Just a few of the possibilities include:

Calculating the volume and areas of grid files! You can calculate the planar and surface area, and calculate the volume between two grid files, or a grid file and any horizontal plane.
Applying a mathematical equation to grid files. Examples include subtracting one grid file from another to create an isopach map, converting outliers to a minimum or maximum value, or multiplying one grid file by a conversion factor to convert the Z units from meters to feet.
Applying grid filters to emphasize details or remove background variation in the grid file.
Blanking specified regions in a grid file to prevent contours or map data from being drawn through those areas (ie. buildings, roads, or outside of field areas).
Creating cross sections and topographical profiles.
Combining multiple grid files into a single, easy to use grid file.
Extracting subsets of grids or DEMs based on rows and columns.
Transforming, offset, rescale, rotate, and mirror grids.
Smoothing grid files to create smoother maps.
Calculating first and second directional derivatives at user-specified orientations.
Calculating differential and integral operators utilizing gradient, Laplacian, biharmonic, and integrated volume operators.
Analyzing your data with Fourier and Spectral Analysis with Correlograms and Periodogram.
Calculating residuals to find the difference between the original data point values the interpolated Z values at those points, or to find the Z values at any specific XY locations.
Interactively editing individual grid node values.

Supported grid file formats are: ADF, AM, AN?, ASI, BIL, BIN, BIP, BMP, BSQ, BW, COL, CPS-3, DAT, DCM, DDF, DEM, DIC, DOS, DT?, ECW, ERS, FLD, FLT, GIF, GRD, GXF, HDF, HDR, IMG, INFO, JPEG, JPG, LAT, PCX, PNG, PNM/PPM/PGM/PBM, RAS, RAW, RGB, RGBA, RST, SID, STK, SUN, TGA, TIF, TIFF, VTK, X, XIMG, ZMAP, and ?10g.

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Using USGS and SRTM Data

Use USGS DEM, National Elevation Dataset (NED) and NASA Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) data with any Surfer command that uses grid files.
Directly use the files in native format without modification or conversion.
Display information about the files, such as X, Y and Z extents or grid statistics.
Create contour, vector, shaded relief, image, 3D surface, and 3D wireframe maps from the files.

The above contour map was generated from a grid file in BIL format,
downloaded from the USGS The National Map Seamless Server

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Worksheet

Surfer lets you massage your data in many ways to achieve the exact output you want. Surfer includes a full-featured worksheet for creating, opening, editing, and saving data files. Data files can be up to one billion rows and columns, subject to available memory. You can cut, copy, and paste data within the Surfer worksheet or between applications.

Worksheet Features

Open files in BLN, BNA, CSV, DAT, DBF, MDB, SLK, TXT, WKx, WRx, XLS, and XLSX formats

Import a database directly into the Surfer worksheet

Calculate data statistics

Perform data transformations using advanced mathematical functions

Sort data based on primary and secondary columns

Spatially filter data

Assign a projection or coordinate system to your data, and convert the data to a new projection or coordinate system

Select a predefined coordinate system from Geographic (lat/lon) or one of the supported projected systems (Polar/Arctic/Antarctic, Regional/National, State Plane, UTM, and World)
Define a custom coordinate system by selecting a supported projection, specifying the projection settings, and either choosing one of over 400 predefined datums or creating a custom datum
Add a frequently used coordinate system to the Favorites list to be easily accessible

Assign which columns in the worksheet contain the X, Y and Z data

Use the Find/Replace function in the worksheet to easily find or replace your data

Print the worksheet

Save your data in BLN, BNA, CSV, DAT, SLK, TXT, and XLS formats.

Open, enter, edit and save data in the Surfer worksheet.

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Object Manager

The object manager makes the editing of any object simple. It displays all the objects in the plot document in an easy-to-use hierarchical tree arrangement. Double click on objects in the object manager to easily edit them, check or uncheck the check boxes next to their name to show or hide them, drag and drop objects to rearrange the order in which they are drawn, and overlay maps by dragging and dropping map layers from one map frame into another! Select any object or map layer in the Object Manager for easy deletion.

Use the object manager to easily
access and edit all objects
in your plot window.

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Automation

Create your own scripts to automate repetitive tasks! Don’t spend time doing the same process over and over again – write a simple script to simplify your life! Operations performed interactively can be controlled using an automation-compatible programming language such as Visual Basic, C++, or Perl. Surfer includes Scripter, a built-in Visual Basic compatible programming environment that lets you write, edit, debug, and run scripts. Why do more work than you need when you have Surfer working for you!

The Surfer 9 samples folder includes over 35 sample scripts to help you get started. Some of our most popular scripts are also available for download.

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Additional Features

Export formats include: BLN, BMP, BNA, BW, CGM, 3D DXF, DXF, EMF, EPS, GIF, GSB, JPEG, JPG, MIF, PCX, PDF Raster, PDF Vector, PNG, PNM/PPM/PGM/PBM, RAS, RGB, RGBA, 3D SHP, SHP, SUN, TGA, TIF, TIFF, WMF, X, and XIMG.

Reload map data and grid files with a single command

Substitute a new grid or data file into an existing map without changing the map properties

Display the XYZ coordinates of the cursor location in the status bar

Windows Clipboard support for copying maps to other applications

Use the mouse to resize objects on the screen

Define Surfer’s default preferences

Easily find XY coordinates by digitizing point locations

Automatically save digitized coordinates as BLN or ASCII data files

Print to any Windows supported printer or plotter

Display and print subsets of completed maps, complete with subset axes

Adjust the number of Undo levels

Use the reshape tool to edit areas and curves

Click on a map and pinpoint the same XY location in a different map

Click on a map and highlight the nearest data point to that location in the worksheet

Create your own keyboard shortcuts for common functions

Customize the toolbars by adding or removing buttons

Floatable toolbars

Download free updates automatically

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System Requirements

PC running Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and higher

100MB of free hard disk space

512MB RAM minimum, 1GB RAM or higher recommended

1024x768x16-bit color minimum monitor resolution

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What's New in Surfer 9?

We have compiled a list of some of the top new features in Surfer 9. This list is only a small sampling of the new features added to Surfer 9.

Transparency!

See all your data! Make colors, map layers, fill patterns, images, and missing data for image maps and shaded relief maps transparent! You have full control over the opacity percentage.

Set the opacity of map layers, images and
fill patterns to make them transparent!

Import and Export Georeferenced Images!

No more guesswork! Save time and frustration by importing georeferenced image files in their real world coordinates, ready to combine with other map types. Also export your maps in georeferenced images files! You can save the spatial reference information in Golden Software Reference format, internal referencing format (ie. GeoTIFF), with an ESRI world file, or Blue Marble RSF format!

Load georeferenced image files as base maps in real
world coordinates!

Add, Remove and Edit Individual Objects in Base Maps!

Surfer 9 adds the ability to expand your base maps to show you all the individual components of the base map! You can add, copy, paste and delete objects from a base map, or double click on a particular object to edit its individual properties. You can even reshape polylines and polygons in a base map! You can still collapse the base map, double click on Base and globally change the properties for all items in the map.

Double click on an individual object
in a base map to edit its properties.

Convert the Projection of Data in the Worksheet!

Project your data from more than 1,500 predefined coordinate systems or define your own custom projection or datum! Add frequently used coordinate systems to your Favorites list to be easily accessible in the future.

Specify the source XY columns and projection and set the target XY columns and projection.
Click OK and the data in the new projection is calculated!

Have all your maps in the same coordinate system! Convert a grid file to a data file, reproject
the data in the worksheet, and regrid the data to create maps in the new projection!

Length and Area Calculations!

Area and length calculations are here! Surfer reports the area and perimeter length of polygons and the length of polylines in a base map. Simply double click on the polygon or polylines and the information is reported. The polygons and polylines don’t even have to be a part of the original base map file. Import the base map, enter the base map group and simply draw the polygon or polylines right on the base map! It’s that easy to get area and length values!

Calculate the area and perimeter length of polygons and the length of polylines in a base map in map coordinates.

Move Individual Labels on Post Map with Mouse.

Eliminate overlapping and unreadable post map labels by effortlessly moving individual post labels to new locations by dragging and dropping them with your mouse! Labels that have been moved can optionally be linked to the corresponding post map symbol with a connection line.

Drag individual labels on a post map to new locations with your mouse to prevent overlapping or hard to read text!

Save Classes for Classed Post Map!

Create your classes for a classed post map exactly how you want them, and save the settings to a file! Make your classed post maps consistent every time without having to manually enter the same class specifications and class settings over and over again.

Save classes and class settings to a file and load them into
other classed post maps!

Display XYZ Coordinates in Status Bar

Know Exactly Where You Are! Surfer 9 displays the exact XYZ coordinates of the cursor location when traversing a map! The coordinates update automatically as the cursor is moved.

The XYZ coordinates of the cursor location over map are displayed in the status bar.

Tracking Cursor

Enable or disable the cursor tracking between multiple maps! Click the mouse on one map to see the location of the cursor click on all other maps in the plot window that use the same coordinate system! You can also link post maps to the worksheet data. Select a point in the plot window and the closest point in the worksheet will be highlighted, or select a point in the worksheet and that point will be identified in the plot window!

Click on a specific location in one map and the same location
will be identified on other maps in the plot window!

You can also click a location on a map, and the closest point to that location will be highlighted in the worksheet. Alternatively, you can select a point in the worksheet and that point will be identified in the
plot window!

Analyze Spatial Distribution Trends in Your Data!

Spatially filter your X, Y and optional Z coordinates in the worksheet. Filter your data prior to creating post maps, variograms, or grid files and saving the data for use in other programs. The spatial filter can be used to remove duplicates and exclude data based on an expression using the built-in, powerful expression language.

Spatially filter your data for gridding, creating post maps or variograms or for use in other programs.

Antialiased Text and Lines!

Your maps are smoother than ever! Surfer 9 supports antialiased text and line display to help your maps look their best! Antialiasing is easily turned off at any point.

Choose to enable antialiasing for text and lines for a smoother look.

Choose to turn off antialiasing for text and lines.

Tabbed Windows!

The plot window, worksheet window, and grid node editor windows are displayed as easily accessible tabbed documents! When more than one window is open, tabs appear at the top of the screen, allowing you to simply click on a tab to switch to that window.

Plot, worksheet and Grid Node Editor windows are displayed as tabs!
Simply click on any of the tabs to access that window.

Customize your Colors!

Easily create just the color you want! Choose from a standard palette of colors, select to match any color on the screen, or easily create custom colors!

Select the exact color and shade you want!

Easy Color Spectrum!

Use the new colormap system to assign just the right colors to your color spectrum! Quickly and easily choose one of the predefined colormaps from the Presets drop down menu, or create your own! Use the scroll control to zoom in to a particular area in the colormap to set the color nodes at precise data values.

The new colormap system makes it easier than ever to select a color
spectrum or create your own custom color gradient.

Add and Remove Map Layers in the Object Manager!

Surfer 9 makes it easy to overlay and remove map layers from maps! Simply drag map layers into and out of map frames, and delete individual maps layers from maps without having to break them apart first.

Simply drag and drop map layers into new map frames!
Drag the “Post” layer into the map frame
containing the Base, Contours and
Shaded Relief Map layer to overlay them!

Keep Your Custom Limits and Scale!

Customize your map limits and scale, then reload the data or add new data. If the new data exceeds the current limits, you can choose to either keep the existing custom limits and scale, or have Surfer automatically update them to include the new data.

Reload Map Data

Save time! With just a click of the mouse, reload data and grid files simultaneously for all of your maps!

Find/Replace in Worksheet

Find the data you need or replace all values at once with the Find and Replace commands in the worksheet!

Precise Object Alignment!

Design your project with precision! Perfectly align your objects, either horizontally or vertically, with the advanced alignment tools.

More Supported Grid Formats!

Surfer is more compatible than ever with different data sources. Surfer supports many more grid formats, including:

Arc/Info Binary Grid ADF
Banded Grid BIL (commonly used when downloading SRTM and NED data from the USGS Seamless Server)
ER Mapper Grid ERS
ESRI Float Grid FLT
ZMAP

More Fill Patterns!

Create your project exactly the way you want! Fill areas with one of the new stock, image or USGS fill patterns.

New Import Formats!

Surfer 9 offers more ways to work with your data. Import data from your MDB and XLSX files, or import data directly from any database! Directly import MrSID and ECW files as base maps in real world coordinates! Importing multiple images and creating large mosaics and coverages is a snap.

Export Contours to 3D SHP!

Export contours as 3D SHP files for more compatibility! Save the Z value for the entire polyline, or store the Z value for each point along the polyline.

More Export Formats!

Export your projects in the formats you need! Surfer 9 boasts vector PDF, raster PDF, and EPS export capabilities. The AutoCAD DXF export has been improved to export version AutoCAD 2004 version DXF files!

Customize your Toolbars and Keyboard Shortcuts!

Effortlessly customize your Surfer toolbars! Add buttons for the functions you use the most, remove buttons for the functions you don’t. Create your own personalized keyboard shortcuts for common functions.

Easy Page Navigation!

Zoom in and out or pan your project quickly and efficiently with a scroll mouse. Navigating your Surfer project has never been easier!

Increased Maximum Grid File Size

Use all of your data! Surfer 9 supports grids up to 32767 rows and columns!

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