Techniques for improved visualization and interpretation of seismic attributes using scientific colormaps

Traditional seismic attribute visualizations, particularly the typical default rainbow colormap, can introduce perceptual artifacts and obscure important features in seismic data. We evaluate how perceptually uniform colormaps improve the visualization and interpretation of seismic attributes while addressing color vision deficiency accessibility. Using examples from the Great South Basin of New Zealand, we illustrate the advantages of scientific colormaps for three fundamental attribute classes: sequential, diverging, and cyclic. For sequential attributes such as coherence, these colormaps reveal subtle discontinuities that might be missed with traditional schemes. For diverging attributes such as curvature, they provide clear distinctions between positive and negative values while maintaining perceptual uniformity. For cyclic attributes such as phase and aberrancy, they prevent artificial discontinuities at wrap-around points. By presenting colormaps across different attribute types, we find how scientifically designed colormaps can enhance feature detection, improve interpretation accuracy, and ensure accessibility for interpreters with varying color vision capabilities. We also develop considerations for effective corendering of multiple attributes, combining the benefits of scientific colormaps with transparency and masking techniques. These considerations aid in selecting colormaps that not only improve individual attribute visualization but also enable a more comprehensive and confident interpretation of complex geologic structures.