( Introduction ...)Obtaining a contour map from multifiles or 3D data in DataMax

Introduction
DataMax is the software used to display data from all SPEX instruments. DataMax can present the measurements in many ways, including a contour map. A contour map displays multifiles or 3-D data, and looks much like a geographical map of heights above sea-level, or a meteorological plot of barometric pressures. X values are plotted on the horizontal axis, and z values are on the vertical axis. Y values use colors for contour depth, with darker colors for smaller y values. DataMax provides extra features, such as Contours, to change the number of contours; Interpolation, to add interpolated data along the z-axis; and Map Contour Scale, to show the level of contours.

Experimental
A matrix scan (Figure 1, below) was run for the 3-D spectrum of a cocktail comprised of anthracene, perylene, and fluorescein. Following is a step-by-step procedure to present 3-D data as a contour map in DataMax.

1. In the main screen, to see the data file as a 3-D image, left-click on View, and a drop-down menu opens. Left-click on 3-D View, as in Figure 1. To see the graph, left-click on the button.

2. With the mouse, right-click on the graph itself. This opens a menu. With the mouse, highlight, then left-click on Edit Settings.

3. When the Trace Object Parameters dialog box (below) appears, click on the down arrow next to Display Mode. Then find, highlight, and left-click on Contour Map.

4. Click on the down arrow next to Line Style. Then find, highlight, and left-click on the option for Special Colors.

5. Click OK, then click . The contour map becomes the screen view, as shown below.

6. For an interpolated image of the contour map, choose the View menu, and
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