# How to show gmx spatial output as a colourmap (heat map)?

**URL:** <https://gromacs.bioexcel.eu/t/how-to-show-gmx-spatial-output-as-a-colourmap-heat-map/12816>\
**Category:** User discussions\
**Created:** [October 20, 2025, 9:52am UTC](https://gromacs.bioexcel.eu/t/how-to-show-gmx-spatial-output-as-a-colourmap-heat-map/12816 "2025-10-20T09:52:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mj.rezayani](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/gromacs.bioexcel.eu/mj.rezayani/32/3918_2.png) [@mj.rezayani](https://gromacs.bioexcel.eu/u/mj.rezayani)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 9:52am UTC](https://gromacs.bioexcel.eu/t/how-to-show-gmx-spatial-output-as-a-colourmap-heat-map/12816/1 "2025-10-20T09:52:21Z")

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Dear GMX users:

I have used `gmx densmap` to have a 2D density map in GROMACS. Now, I want to study a 3D density map of water in a Water/Zeolite system. I used `gmx spatial` to see it in VMD. First, I want to know if this is a true way or not? Second, the isosurface option shows dots in just one color in VMD. But I want to see it as a color map ( e.g., blue to red). What should I do about that? I have attached two screenshots for 2D colorful density map and from VMD for 3D density map here in this discussion.  
Thanks in advance

 ![2](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/uploads/bioexcel1/original/2X/5/5845926de2f0c055710da97db7c99081077dac4c.png)

 ![Screenshot from 2025-10-20 11-53-43](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/uploads/bioexcel1/original/2X/7/7d1a396731505dddfa1844087395fc951c4b1fc6.png)