How To use RGB Color-

Blending in OpendTect

Eric Bouanga
Friso Brouwer

September 23rd , 2009

 Outline

Definition & Application

Workflow
Spectral Decomposition
• Finding the R-G-B frequencies
• Defining the target window
• RGB and RGBA
Results
Improving the results: Scaling
 Definition

RGB blending, also called colour

stacking, allows multiple attributes
to be combined into one display
for simultaneous analysis. The
combined data can be assessed
through brightness and colour
balance. In many cases RGB
displays show features with
greater clarity and increased detail
compared to standard displays.
 Application

Any set of 3 attributes can be colour

blended

A traditional application of RGB-blending

is to blend iso-frequency responses, i.e.
Spectral Decomposition outputs.

Results are best displayed on time /

horizon slices.
 Outline

Definition & Application

Workflow
Spectral Decomposition
• Finding the R-G-B frequencies
• Defining the target window
• RGB and RGBA
Results
Improving the results: Scaling
 Workflow

In OpendTect v4, RGB-

blending is supported
directly:
• In the tree > click on
inline / crossline/ timeslice /
horizon >
Select
Add/Load colour blended
 Outline

Definition & Application

Workflow
Spectral Decomposition
• Finding the R-G-B frequencies
• Defining the window
• RGB and RGBA
Results
Improving the results: Scaling
 Spectral Decomposition workflow

Depending upon a geological condition or the

objective, FFT short window or CWT (continuous
wavelet transform) can be chosen.

The FFT short window is the algorithm to use

mainly for stratigraphic/geo-morphological
interpretation. For optimal results, extract the
spectral decomposition on the target interval
only.

If the CWT (Continuous Wavelet Transform)

algorithm is used instead, the wavelet being
symmetrical, the user will need to shift down the
horizon.
 Outline

Definition
Application
RGB Workflow
Spectral Decomposition
• Finding the R-G-B frequencies
• Defining the window
• RGB and RGBA
Results
Improving the results: Scaling
 Finding the RGB frequencies

Amplitude Spectrum of the full data

The RGB frequencies are Objective interval 400ms

selected within the seismic

bandwidth; minimum (red),
middle (green) and maximum
(blue) of the amplitude
spectrum*.

Horizon

*Right-click on the seismic layer (in this case: 4 Dip stee..) of an element (inline/crossline) in
tree and select show amplitude spectrum…
 Finding the RGB frequencies

Amplitude Spectrum of the objective

interval
400ms

When you calculate an

amplitude spectrum, you can
set the Z-range to obtain a
better approximation of the
bandwidth of the seismic data
at target level.
Horizon
 Outline

Definition & Application

RGB Workflow
Spectral Decomposition
• Finding the R-G-B frequencies
• Defining the target window
• RGB and RGBA
Results
Improving the results: Scaling
 Target window

If the extraction of spectral

decomposition is done on horizon /
time slices, choosing the right target
interval can be critical.

Since most horizons represent

formation tops the time gate should
be defined mainly below the horizon
 Influence of time gate on
highlighted Geology

In this example a timegate below Channels are distinguishable

the horizon was used, highlighting
a clear channel pattern

Geology

Sand Waves
Timegate

horizon
Channels
 Influence of time gate on
highlighted Geology

When a timegate is defined around Channels are interfered with NW-SE trending
the horizon, the channels below
sand waves
interfere with the sandwaves above
the horizon. This interference
prevents a clear discrimination of
the individual geological features

Geology

Sand Waves
Timegate

horizon
Channels

N
 Outline

Definition & Application

RGB Workflow
Spectral Decomposition
• Finding the R-G-B frequencies
• Defining the target window
• RGB and RGBA
Results
Improving the results: Scaling
 RGB

With 3 channels representing Red, Green and Blue we

create an RGB display.

RGB - Red, Green, Blue Channels

 RGBA

A fourth attribute (called the Alpha channel) can be

optionally added. This is an RGBA display.

Here the Alpha

channel is a
coherency attribute
in white highlighting
structural faults /
fractures features.

RGBA- Red, Green, Blue and Alpha Opacity Channel

 Outline

Definition & Application

RGB Workflow
Spectral Decomposition
• Finding the R-G-B frequencies
• Defining the window
• RGB and RGBA
Results
Improving the results: Scaling
 Horizon map

A horizon map on which

the color-blended spectral
decomposition will be
applied.

s
 Red Channel, FFT

20 Hz is fed to the Red

channel
 Green Channel,30hz

30 Hz is fed to the Green

channel
 Blue Channel, 50hz

50 Hz is fed to the Blue

channel
 RGB Composite

20Hz

30Hz

50Hz
 RGB Composite
Amplitudes increase when a
layer thickness comes in the

Steep sand waves

tuning range (at ¼ of the
dominant frequency of the
wavelet); the increased
amplitude shows up at the
corresponding frequency in the Linear channels
amplitude spectrum. Therefore,
in a simplistic earth model in Meandering
which amplitude variations are
caused by thickness variations
channels
only, spectral decomposition
components indicate thickness
variations at sub-seismic
resolution.

Red: 20Hz (thick bed) Gentle sand waves

Green: 30Hz
Blue: 50Hz (thin bed)

Splays

Brightness equates reflection strength while colour

represents spectral balance of reflection.
 Outline

Definition
Application
RGB Workflow
Spectral Decomposition
• Finding the R-G-B frequencies
• Defining the window
• RGB and RGBA
Results
Improving the results: Scaling
 It’s about imaging and
interpretation
Manipulate color scales: dim channels in the green channel will be emphasized by
flipping* the green color scale.

* Left click on the color bar and select “flip”

 RGB Composite with green
flipped

20Hz

30Hz

Flipped

50Hz
 RGB vs. RGB Green flipped
Original Green channel flipped

Result: channels jump out, but the splays are harder to recognize.
THANK YOU !