Bookmap Volume Bubbles Basics
Volume bubbles in Bookmap show you where actual trades happen. Unlike the heatmap, which shows resting liquidity, bubbles represent executed market orders. If you want to see who is taking action right now—buyers or sellers—the bubbles tell you. This is one of the most useful parts of Bookmap.
What Volume Bubbles Represent
Every bubble is a cluster of executed trades. Bookmap groups trades so you don’t get spammed by single prints.
Each bubble represents:
- Market orders (aggressive traders hitting bids or lifting offers)
- Total executed volume
- Direction of aggression
These are real trades. Not resting orders. Not intentions. Actual transactions.
Bubble Size = Volume
Big bubble = lots of executed contracts.
Small bubble = light activity.
This helps you instantly see where real force entered the market.
Bubble Color = Buyer or Seller Aggression
Color shows which side initiated the trades:
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Blue | Aggressive buyers lifting the ask |
| Red | Aggressive sellers hitting the bid |
The deeper the color, the stronger the aggression.
Combined With Heatmap, Bubbles Tell the Story
The heatmap shows resting liquidity. The bubbles show who attacked that liquidity.
This combination reveals:
- Absorption – tons of trades but price doesn’t move
- Breakthroughs – liquidity gets wiped out by aggressive orders
- Traps – one side gets aggressive but fails to push price
- Liquidity magnets – bubbles forming toward a bright zone
This gives way more context than candles.
Bubble Clustering Patterns to Watch
1. Large Red Bubbles Into Support
Big sellers slam support but price holds = possible reversal.
2. Large Blue Bubbles Into Resistance
Big buyers lift resistance but no breakout = trap for longs.
3. Sweeps
A long streak of same-colored bubbles wiping through multiple levels at once.
This usually means:
- Breakout
- Stop run
- Forced liquidation
4. Bubble Dry-Up
Volume disappears before a key level. Often means hesitation or upcoming reversal.
Bubble Display Settings
- Minimum bubble size – hides tiny trades
- Opacity – control visibility
- Volume speed – shows how fast orders hit
- Cumulative volume – stacks bubble volume
Most traders increase opacity slightly so bubbles stand out.
Final Thoughts
Volume bubbles are your view into executed trades. They tell you where aggressive buyers and sellers step in and whether they succeed or fail. Combined with the heatmap, bubbles give you a complete picture of the order flow battle happening under every candlestick chart you’ve ever seen.