# Shape Gauge Plume: every field and setting explained

> Every field well and every Format pane setting of Shape Gauge Plume: shape, fill, colors, label, scale, target, layout and player, with their default values.

- Language: English
- Web page: https://plumevisuals.com/en/tutorials/shape-gauge-plume-champs-et-reglages
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Visual: Shape Gauge Plume, technical reference: https://plumevisuals.com/ai/visuals/shape-gauge.md
- If an option name in this tutorial differs from the technical reference, the reference is right (it is generated from the visual's code).

This page describes everything Shape Gauge Plume offers: the field wells, then each card of the Format pane, in the order they appear. The default value of each setting is in **bold**, premium features carry a ★. For a first guided gauge, see [getting started](/en/tutorials/shape-gauge-plume-prise-en-main).

## The fields of the visual

| Field | Required? | How many | What you drop | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category (one shape each) | No | 1 | A column | One shape per value, in a grid | `Sales[Region]` |
| Play axis ★ | No | 1 | A date, year or ordered category column | The shape fills up frame after frame (play button) | `Sales[Year]` |
| Value | Yes, except with Stacked layers | 1 | A measure | The fill level | `Revenue` |
| Target (100 %) | No | 1 | A measure | The value of a full shape; with a Maximum, a target mark | `Target` |
| Minimum | No | 1 | A measure | The value of an empty shape (0 by default) | `Floor` |
| Maximum | No | 1 | A measure | The value of a full shape | `Capacity` |
| Comparison (previous period) ★ | No | 1 | A measure | Ghost level and change in points | `Prior-year revenue` |
| Stacked layers ★ | No | 8 at most | Measures | Layers stacked in the shape, one color each | `Web`, `Store` |
| SVG shape (measure) ★ | No | 1 | A text measure | One shape per category, as SVG | `Product shape` |
| Tooltips | No | Several | Measures | Added to the tooltip | `Margin rate` |

**The percentage.** Percentage = (value − minimum) / (maximum − minimum). The minimum comes from the **Minimum** field, else from **Format › Scale and target › Minimum (empty shape)**, else 0. The maximum comes from the **Maximum** field, else from the **Target (100 %)** field, else from **Maximum (full shape)**, else it is automatic: 1 when values are fractions (% format or all between 0 and 1), else the largest value (one shape per category: the largest is 100%).

**Target (100 %).** Alone, it is the maximum. With a **Maximum** field (or a maximum typed in the pane), it becomes a target mark in the shape, with an arrow on the right.

**Category.** The name is written under each shape; a click selects the category and filters the other visuals. Beyond **Shapes at most** (60 by default), a note under the shapes says how many are shown, in edit and reading mode.

**Play axis ★.** One value per frame (year, month, ordered category); the opening frame and the speed are set in the **Playback ★** card. Without a license, the player works with the watermark as soon as the field holds data. Clicking a shape selects the category only, never the year.

Tooltips and Dynamic format: see [the common basics](/en/tutorials/bien-demarrer-visuels-plume).

## The Format pane settings

### Layout

One shape per category in a grid, or pictograms; the order and number of shapes. This card now comes right after **Style**.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation | One shape per category, or n pictograms | ***One shape per category*** / *Pictograms (n shapes = 100%) ★* |
| Number of pictograms (appears if Presentation = *Pictograms (n shapes = 100%) ★*) | Number of shapes that stand for 100%. | 2 to 50 (**10**) |
| Pictograms per row (0 = auto) (appears if Presentation = *Pictograms (n shapes = 100%) ★*) | Number of pictograms per row; 0: based on the available space. | 0 to 50 (**0**) |
| Columns (0 = auto) | Grid columns | 0 to 30 (**0**) |
| Gap between shapes (px) | Space between two shapes. | 0 to 80 (**16**) |
| Order | Order of the shapes | ***Data order*** / *Percentage descending* / *Percentage ascending* / *Alphabetical* |
| Shapes at most | Display limit | 1 to 200 (**60**) |

### Data colors

Chooses the fill color (third card of the pane).

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Coloring | Color mode | ***Single color*** / *One color per category* / *By thresholds (unfavorable, middle, favorable) ★* / *Gradient along the fill ★* / *Color by percentage (palette) ★* |
| Color | Single color, or gradient start | Color (**empty**) |
| Color | Single color, or gradient start | Color (**empty**) |
| Gradient end (empty = accent) | Color at the 100% level (shown with the gradient) | Color (**empty**) |
| Gradient middle (optional) | Third color (shown with the gradient) | Color (**empty**) |
| Threshold 1 (%) | Limit between the unfavorable and middle colors, as a fill % (*By thresholds* mode). | -1000 to 1000 (**50**) |
| Threshold 2 (%) | Limit between the middle and favorable colors. | -1000 to 1000 (**80**) |
| Below threshold 1 | Color below threshold 1 (unfavorable). | Color (**#C0392B**) |
| Between thresholds | Color between the two thresholds. | Color (**#B26B00**) |
| Above threshold 2 | Color above threshold 2 (favorable). | Color (**#2E7D4F**) |
| Lower is better (swaps the colors) | For an error rate, a delay… | On / **Off** |

### Shape

The silhouette that fills up (glass, battery, drop, icon…).

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Where the shape comes from | ***Plume library (153 shapes)*** / *Pasted SVG ★* |
| Shape (appears if Source = *Plume library (153 shapes)*) | The library shape; containers first | *Containers and gauges · Barrel* / *Containers and gauges · Bottle* / *Containers and gauges · Wine glass* / *Containers and gauges · Glass* / *Containers and gauges · Mug ★* / *Containers and gauges · Jar ★* / *Containers and gauges · Bucket ★* / *Containers and gauges · Battery* / *Containers and gauges · Vertical battery* / *Containers and gauges · Thermometer* / *Containers and gauges · Test tube ★* / *Containers and gauges · Tank ★* / *Containers and gauges · Funnel ★* / *Containers and gauges · Hourglass ★* / *Containers and gauges · Bag ★* / *Containers and gauges · Piggy bank ★* / *Containers and gauges · Flask ★* / *Containers and gauges · Beaker ★* / *Containers and gauges · Can ★* / *Containers and gauges · Coffee cup ★* / *Containers and gauges · Vase ★* / *Containers and gauges · Milk carton ★* / *Basic · Circle* / *Basic · Square* / *Basic · Rounded square* / *Basic · Rectangle* / *Basic · Triangle* / *Basic · Diamond* / *Basic · Hexagon* / *Basic · Star* / *Basic · Heart* / *Basic · Ellipse ★* / *Basic · Pentagon ★* / *Basic · Octagon ★* / *Basic · Right triangle ★* / *Basic · Parallelogram ★* / *Basic · Trapezoid ★* / *Basic · Ring ★* / *Basic · Semicircle ★* / *Basic · Arch ★* / *Basic · Pill ★* / *Basic · Six-pointed star ★* / *Basic · Seal ★* / *Basic · Cross ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Arrow* / *Arrows and symbols · Arrow up ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Arrow down ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Arrow left ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Double arrow ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Chevron ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Check mark ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Close (X) ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Plus ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Minus ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Warning ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Information ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Play button ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Speech bubble* / *Arrows and symbols · Thought bubble ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Flag ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Bookmark ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Tag ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Lightning bolt ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Shield ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Award ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Puzzle piece ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Gear ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Lock ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Key ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Bell ★* / *Arrows and symbols · Eye ★* / *Nature and weather · Cloud* / ***Nature and weather · Drop*** / *Nature and weather · Sun ★* / *Nature and weather · Moon ★* / *Nature and weather · Snowflake ★* / *Nature and weather · Leaf ★* / *Nature and weather · Pine tree ★* / *Nature and weather · Tree ★* / *Nature and weather · Flower ★* / *Nature and weather · Mountain ★* / *Nature and weather · Wave ★* / *Nature and weather · Flame ★* / *Nature and weather · Umbrella ★* / *Nature and weather · Apple ★* / *Nature and weather · Fish ★* / *Nature and weather · Paw print ★* / *Nature and weather · Rain ★* / *Nature and weather · Sprout ★* / *People · Person* / *People · Man ★* / *People · Woman ★* / *People · Child ★* / *People · Group of people ★* / *People · User bust ★* / *Objects and buildings · House* / *Objects and buildings · Office building ★* / *Objects and buildings · Factory ★* / *Objects and buildings · Castle ★* / *Objects and buildings · Shop ★* / *Objects and buildings · Bank ★* / *Objects and buildings · Hospital ★* / *Objects and buildings · Book ★* / *Objects and buildings · Envelope ★* / *Objects and buildings · Phone ★* / *Objects and buildings · Laptop ★* / *Objects and buildings · Monitor ★* / *Objects and buildings · Gift ★* / *Objects and buildings · Clock ★* / *Objects and buildings · Calendar ★* / *Objects and buildings · Pencil ★* / *Objects and buildings · Light bulb ★* / *Objects and buildings · Trophy ★* / *Objects and buildings · Crown ★* / *Objects and buildings · Trash can ★* / *Maps and places · Metropolitan France ★* / *Maps and places · Africa ★* / *Maps and places · Australia ★* / *Maps and places · South America ★* / *Maps and places · Map pin ★* / *Maps and places · Globe ★* / *Maps and places · Folded map ★* / *Maps and places · Compass ★* / *Maps and places · City skyline ★* / *Business · Target ★* / *Business · Bar chart ★* / *Business · Pie chart ★* / *Business · Trend up ★* / *Business · Coin ★* / *Business · Banknote ★* / *Business · Wallet ★* / *Business · Credit card ★* / *Business · Shopping cart ★* / *Business · Briefcase ★* / *Business · Percent ★* / *Business · Podium ★* / *Business · Megaphone ★* / *Business · Gem ★* / *Business · Medal ★* / *Business · Clipboard ★* / *Business · Handshake ★* / *Transport · Car ★* / *Transport · Truck ★* / *Transport · Bus ★* / *Transport · Bicycle ★* / *Transport · Plane ★* / *Transport · Sailboat ★* / *Transport · Train ★* / *Transport · Rocket ★* / *Transport · Helicopter ★* / *Transport · Cargo ship ★* / *Transport · Fuel pump ★* / *Transport · Scooter ★* |
| SVG code (appears if Source = *Pasted SVG ★*) | The pasted SVG | Free text (**empty**) |
| SVG colors | Color of the filled part of an SVG (shown with an SVG) | ***Fill color*** / *Original colors (logo) ★* |
| Filled area | For a container (shown with a container) | ***Inside of the container*** / *Whole shape* |
| Fit | Shape proportions | ***Keep proportions*** / *Stretched* |
| Empty part (empty = tint of the fill) | Color of what is not filled | Color (**empty**) |
| Empty part opacity (%) | Transparency of the empty part | 0 to 100 (**100**) |
| Empty part pattern | Pattern over the empty part | ***None*** / *Hatching ★* / *Dots ★* / *Grid ★* |
| Container (empty = style gray) | Color of the glass, hoops, frame | Color (**empty**) |
| Outline | Line around the shape (outside only) | **On** / Off |
| Outline color (empty = fill) (appears if Outline is on) | Outline color. Empty: the fill color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Outline width (appears if Outline is on) | Outline thickness. | 0.5 to 8 (**1.5**) |

### Fill

How the color rises in the shape.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Fill direction | How the color rises | ***From the shape (bottom → top; battery: left → right)*** / *Vertical, bottom → top* / *Vertical, top → bottom* / *Horizontal, left → right* / *Horizontal, right → left* / *Circular (start angle) ★* / *Radial (from the center) ★* |
| Start angle (°, 0 = 12 o'clock) (appears if Fill direction = *Circular (start angle) ★*) | Starting point of the circular fill; 0 = 12 o'clock. | -360 to 360 (**0**) |
| Clockwise (appears if Fill direction = *Circular (start angle) ★*) | Fills clockwise; when off, counterclockwise. | **On** / Off |
| The percentage sets | Height or area | ***The level height*** / *The filled area (exact) ★* |
| Above 100% | Value larger than the maximum | ***Visible overflow*** / *Capped at 100%* |
| Wavy surface | Wavy top edge | **On** / Off |
| Wave height (appears if Wavy surface is on) | Amplitude of the wave. | 1 to 12 (**3**) |
| Moving wave ★ (appears if Wavy surface is on) | The wave scrolls (never when animations are reduced) | On / **Off** |
| Wave period (s) (appears if Wavy surface is on) | Duration of one full wave movement. | 1 to 20 (**4**) |
| Bubbles ★ | Bubbles rising in the liquid (bottom-to-top fill) | On / **Off** |
| Animated fill on opening | The level rises when data changes | **On** / Off |
| Fill duration (ms) (appears if Animated fill on opening is on) | Duration of the fill animation. | 100 to 5000 (**900**) |

### Data labels

The percentage or value written on each shape (formerly the **Value label** card), then the category names. A fixed size acts as a maximum: the text always fits.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Label of the shape | **On** / Off |
| Content | What is written | ***Percentage*** / *Value* / *Percentage and value* / *Value and percentage* / *Value / target* |
| Position | Where it is written | ***Center of the shape*** / *At the fill level* / *Below the shape* / *Above the shape* |
| Automatic size | Size from the shape | **On** / Off |
| Text size (appears if Automatic size is off) | Fixed label size; it acts as a maximum, the text always fits in the shape. | 6 to 120 (**24**) |
| Color (empty = automatic) | A chosen color replaces the two tones with a haloed text | Color (**empty**) |
| Bold | Makes the label bold. | **On** / Off |
| Percentage decimals | Digits after the decimal point of the percentage. | 0 to 4 (**0**) |
| Change vs comparison (▲▼ points) | With the Comparison field | **On** / Off |
| Display units | Abbreviates the numbers of the label (thousands, millions…). *Auto* picks based on magnitude. | ***Auto*** / *None* / *Thousands* / *Millions* / *Billions* |
| Decimals (-1 = auto) | Digits after the decimal point of the label; -1 lets the visual choose. | -1 to 6 (**-1**) |
| Prefix | Text placed before the number. | Free text (**empty**) |
| Suffix (e.g. €) | Text placed after the number; type a space before "€". | Free text (**empty**) |
| Show | Label of the shape | **On** / Off |
| Position (appears if Show is on) | Where it is written | ***Below the shape*** / *Above the shape* |
| Text size (appears if Show is on) | Size of the category names. | 6 to 40 (**12**) |
| Color (empty = secondary) (appears if Show is on) | Color of the name. Empty: the style's secondary text. | Color (**empty**) |

### Scale and target

The values of the empty and full shape, the tick marks, the target mark and the comparison's ghost level.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum (empty shape) | Value of an empty shape (the Minimum field wins) | Free text (**empty**) |
| Maximum (full shape) | Value of a full shape (the Maximum then Target fields win) | Free text (**empty**) |
| Tick marks ★ | 0% to 100% marks next to the shape (vertical and horizontal directions) | On / **Off** |
| Tick step (%) (appears if Tick marks ★ is on) | Gap between two tick marks, as a % of the scale. | 5 to 50 (**25**) |
| Minimum and maximum labels | Writes the values of the empty and full shape at the ends of the scale, like the native gauge's data labels. No effect with tick marks. | On / **Off** |
| Target mark | Target line and arrow | **On** / Off |
| Fixed target (value) (appears if Target mark is on) | Target without a field | Free text (**empty**) |
| Label (appears if Target mark is on) | Name of the target in the tooltip | Free text (**empty**) |
| Color (empty = text) (appears if Target mark is on) | Color of the target mark. Empty: the text color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Line style (appears if Target mark is on) | Pattern of the target mark. | *Solid* / ***Dashed*** / *Dotted* |
| Ghost level of the comparison ★ | With the Comparison field | **On** / Off |
| Color (empty = secondary) (appears if Ghost level of the comparison ★ is on) | Color of the ghost level | Color (**empty**) |

### Legend

The series legend (shown when the visual has several series, layers for example).

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Shows or hides … (card toggle). | **On** / Off |
| Position | Where the legend goes around the shapes. | ***Top*** / *Bottom* / *Right* / *Left* |
| Alignment (appears if Position = *Top* or *Bottom*) | Alignment of the legend at the top or bottom. | ***Start*** / *Center* / *End* |
| Legend title | Writes a title before the legend. | On / **Off** |
| Title text (appears if Legend title is on) | Text of that title. Empty: the field name. | Free text (**empty**) |
| Size | Text size of the legend. | 6 to 24 (**9**) |
| Color (empty = secondary text) | Text color of the legend. | Color (**empty**) |
| Click = select the series | Clicking a series in the legend selects it and filters the other visuals. | **On** / Off |

### Playback ★

Appears when the **Play axis ★** field is filled: the shapes move from one value to the next. Player shared by Plume visuals (see [the shared basics](/en/tutorials/bien-demarrer-visuels-plume)).

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Frame shown on opening | The frame shown before playing: the last value of the play axis, or the first one. | ***The last one (most recent)*** / *The first one* |
| Duration of a frame (ms) | Time spent on each frame at ×1 speed; the bar's speed button multiplies it (×0.5 to ×4) for the session. | 100 to 10000 (**1000**) |
| Loop | Starts again from the beginning after the last frame. | On / **Off** |
| Play automatically on opening | Starts playing once on opening, from the first frame. Never when animations are reduced (**Style › Animations** or system setting) or on a dashboard tile. | On / **Off** |
| Animated transitions | Values, positions and colors glide from one frame to the next. | **On** / Off |
| Play bar | Shows the play bar (play button, slider). | **On** / Off |
| Bar position (appears if Play bar is on) | Puts the bar at the bottom or top of the visual. | ***Bottom*** / *Top* |
| Tick marks (appears if Play bar is on) | Frame marks on the slider. | ***Automatic*** / *Every frame* / *None* |
| Tick labels (appears if Play bar is on) | Writes the frame names below the marks. | **On** / Off |
| Start and end buttons (appears if Play bar is on) | Adds buttons to jump to the first or last frame. | **On** / Off |
| Speed button (appears if Play bar is on) | Adds a button that changes the speed for the session. | **On** / Off |
| Current value in large type | Writes the current play-axis value (the year, for example) in large type inside the visual. | **On** / Off |
| Large value size (appears if Current value in large type is on) | Size of that large value. | 12 to 160 (**36**) |
| Large value position (appears if Current value in large type is on) | Corner of the visual where it is shown. | *Bottom right* / ***Top right*** / *Top left* / *Bottom left* / *Center* |

### Interactions

How the shapes react to hover and selection.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Highlight on hover | Highlights the hovered shape and dims the others. | **On** / Off |
| Dimmed items opacity (%) | Opacity of the gauges or shapes that aren't selected when another one is selected or hovered. | 5 to 80 (**25**) |

Shared cards (Plume Studio License, Style, Title, Source note, Frame, Language and numbers): see [the shared basics](/en/tutorials/bien-demarrer-visuels-plume).

## Premium features ★ of this visual

| Feature | Where to set it |
|---|---|
| 131 library shapes, including 15 containers (tank, beaker, hourglass…) | Format › Shape › Shape |
| Pasted SVG, original SVG colors | Format › Shape › Source, SVG colors |
| SVG shape from a measure | SVG shape (measure) field |
| Play axis (player) | Play axis field, Playback card |
| Circular and radial fill | Format › Fill › Fill direction |
| Exact area | Format › Fill › The percentage sets |
| Threshold colors, gradient, color by percentage | Format › Data colors › Coloring |
| Tick marks | Format › Scale and target › Tick marks |
| Empty part pattern | Format › Shape › Empty part pattern |
| Moving wave, bubbles | Format › Fill |
| Stacked layers | Stacked layers field |
| Comparison (ghost level, change) | Comparison field, Format › Scale and target |
| Pictograms | Format › Layout › Presentation |

## Learn more

- [Getting started with Shape Gauge Plume](/en/tutorials/shape-gauge-plume-prise-en-main): the data to prepare and a first gauge step by step.
- [Shape Gauge Plume use cases](/en/tutorials/shape-gauge-plume-cas-pratiques): recipes for common needs.
- [Getting started with Plume visuals](/en/tutorials/bien-demarrer-visuels-plume): installation, license, styles and common settings.
- The visual's page: [Shape Gauge Plume](/en/visuals/shape-gauge). A question: [support](/en/support).