# Finding strong levels

## Heatmap in Depth Profile & finding strong levels

The Depth Profile canvas is split into **three visual zones** (left → right):

1. **Price scale** — tick prices for each horizontal row.
2. **Heatmap strip (multi-column)** — one **vertical column per connected exchange**, colored by **how much size** rests at each price.
3. **Merged depth profile** — **combined** bid/ask shape for all merged liquidity (AGG ALL or SEL → AGG).

This page explains **how to read the heatmap** and how traders often use it together with the **profile** to spot **strong support/resistance** ideas. This is **educational**, not trading advice.

***

### What the OB-agg heatmap is (and is not)

**It is:**

* A **snapshot** of **resting** liquidity: bids on the **left** half of each column, asks on the **right** half (same color idea as the main chart heatmap — green bid / red ask).
* **One column per exchange** when data is flowing — so you can see whether **Binance**, **Bybit**, etc., each show **size** at the **same** price.
* **Intensity** = **relative** size at that price in that column (brighter / more saturated = more size in that bucket).

**It is not:**

* The **time × price** orderbook heatmap **behind** candles on the main chart (different screen — see Orderbook heatmap).
* A guarantee that size will **stay** — orders can be **pulled** or **filled** at any time.

***

### Heatmap intensity (HMAP slider)

Open the **same dropdown** as the view mode (**AGG ALL** / **PER-EX** / **SEL → AGG**). Inside it you will find **HMAP** with a **percentage** (about **10%–100%**).

| If you…                            | Try…                                                   |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Heatmap looks **too faint**        | **Raise** HMAP until walls and gaps are easier to see. |
| Colors look **too strong** / noisy | **Lower** HMAP to calm the fill.                       |

The slider only changes **how strongly** cells are drawn; it does **not** change the underlying data.

**Tip:** After changing **tick size**, you may want to **retune** HMAP — coarser ticks can make a band look heavier or lighter visually.

***

### How to read the columns

* **Scan horizontally** at a given price: do **several** columns show a **bright** patch on the **bid** side (support idea) or **ask** side (resistance idea)?
* **One** bright column and **flat** others can mean that the level is **mostly** on **one** venue (routing, regional flow, or a local wall).
* **Many** columns lit at the **same** price band often interest readers as a **cross-venue confluence** — many books agree there is **size**.

Always confirm on the **merged profile** (right section): a **wide hump** there means the **aggregate** book also cares about that price zone.

***

### Tips: spotting “strong” support/resistance (workflow)

There is no single definition of “strong.” Common **practical** checks:

#### 1. Stack chart + Depth Profile

* Draw or note **obvious** levels on the **chart** (prior highs/lows, session VWAP, round numbers).
* **Scroll** the Depth Profile so those prices sit in view.
* Ask: does the **merged profile** show a **thick** bid stack **below** a support idea, or a **thick** ask stack **above** a resistance idea?

#### 2. Multi-exchange agreement (heatmap)

For a **support** hypothesis (price may bounce):

* Look for **green** intensity **aligned** across **multiple** columns **near** that price **from below** (bids defending).\
  For **resistance**:
* Look for **red** intensity **aligned** across columns **near** the level **from above** (offers capping).

**Stronger** (in this framework) often means **both** the **heatmap** and the **right-hand merged profile** agree, not only one exchange.

#### 3. Tick size = zoom level for S/R “zones”

* **Finer** tick → you see **micro** ladders; good for **scalping** context.
* **Coarser** tick → nearby prices **merge**; a **broad** bright band can read as a **zone** rather than a single tick — useful for **swing** levels.

#### 4. Persistence over time

Watch a few **updates**: if a band **stays** bright while price **tests** the area, some traders give it more weight than a **one-frame** flash.

#### 5. PER-EX mode for “who defends?”

Switch to **PER-EX** when you need to know **which** venue holds the wall. If only **one** exchange shows size at a chart level, some traders **discount** it versus **many** venues showing the same level in **AGG** view.

***

### Quick comparison: heatmap strip vs merged profile

| Area                       | What it emphasizes                            |
| -------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| **Heatmap columns**        | **Per-exchange** participation at each price. |
| **Merged profile (right)** | **Total** resting depth shape after merge.    |

Use **both**: columns for **agreement**, profile for **overall** friction.

***

### Related pages

* Using the Depth Profile — modes, tick, resize
* Tips & reading the market — broader ideas
* Chart Terminal — widgets

***


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