Bookmap Heatmap Basics
The Bookmap heatmap is the core of the entire platform. If you understand the heatmap, you understand Bookmap. It shows real-time liquidity—where resting limit orders sit in the order book—and how those orders change as the market reacts. This guide breaks down the heatmap so you can read it without guessing.
What the Heatmap Actually Shows
The heatmap represents resting limit orders at each price level. These orders are not trades—they’re intentions.
Colors represent liquidity density:
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bright yellow / white | Heavy liquidity (large limit orders) |
| Orange / red | Medium liquidity |
| Dark red / brown | Light liquidity |
| Black | No visible liquidity |
More liquidity = brighter color. Less liquidity = darker color.
Why Liquidity Matters
Liquidity acts like gravity. Price is attracted to large resting orders because that’s where big players transact.
High-liquidity zones often become:
- Support or resistance levels
- Reversal zones
- Absorption points
- Targets for sweeps
These levels matter more than anything on a normal candlestick chart.
Static vs Dynamic Liquidity
The most important thing you can track in Bookmap is whether liquidity:
- Stays (real and committed)
- Moves (pulled or repositioned)
- Appears (new interest)
- Disappears (fake/spoofed)
Real liquidity behaves consistently. Spoofed liquidity disappears when price gets close.
Heatmap Behavior to Watch
1. Liquidity Pulling
This is when large orders disappear right as price approaches. It usually signals:
- Fake liquidity
- A trap
- A pending breakout
2. Liquidity Adding
This is when new orders appear suddenly. Often seen before:
- Rejections
- Absorption
- Stop-hunts
3. Liquidity Shifting
Large orders move up or down as price approaches. This often means:
- Larger players adjusting their expectations
- Market makers moving their quotes
- Potential continuation
Heatmap + Volume Bubbles = Context
The heatmap alone shows intentions. Volume bubbles show the actual trades.
When a large resting order meets large aggressive orders, you often get:
- Absorption → reversal
- Breakthrough → continuation
This combination is the heart of Bookmap analysis.
Heatmap Settings You Should Know
- Contrast – controls visibility of liquidity levels
- Heatmap smoothing – reduces noise
- Opacity – adjusts brightness
- Cutoff levels – limit max/min liquidity displayed
Small changes in contrast often make the heatmap 10× easier to read.
Final Thoughts
The heatmap is Bookmap’s foundation. It shows you where liquidity sits, how traders position themselves, and where major players want to do business. Once you understand how to read liquidity behavior—pulling, adding, and shifting—you have insight into the market that standard charts can’t provide.