Clouds
Clouds is the most powerful and configurable indicator in Cluster Terminal. It functions as a multi-layer search engine that scans every cell in the cluster (footprint) data for specific conditions you define — volume thresholds, delta, trade counts, bid/ask imbalance, position within the candle, and more. Matching cells are highlighted with configurable markers, and optional horizontal lines extend from significant levels.
Think of Clouds as a programmable filter for the footprint: you describe what you are looking for, and the indicator highlights every occurrence on the chart.
How It Works
Clouds supports up to 5 independent layers, each with its own search criteria and visual settings. Every layer scans the cluster data independently and produces its own set of markers and lines.
For each candle, and for each price level within that candle, each layer evaluates its filter conditions. If all conditions in a layer are met, a marker is placed at that cell. If cloud lines are enabled, a horizontal line extends from the marker until price touches it a configurable number of times.
Indicator Type
Overlay + Side Panel — markers are drawn directly on the price chart at specific cells; cloud lines extend as horizontal overlays. The layer configuration panel appears as a side panel.
Layer Configuration
Each layer is an independent pattern scanner. You can enable or disable layers individually, and each has its own data filters and visual settings.
Data Type
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|
dataType | select | volume | The metric to search. See table below. |
| Data Type | Description |
|---|
volume | Total volume at the price level |
maxVol | Only the level with maximum volume in the candle |
trades | Number of individual trades at the level |
bid | Volume executed at the bid price |
ask | Volume executed at the ask price |
delta | Bid − Ask at the level |
deltaPlus | Only positive delta values |
deltaMinus | Only negative delta values (absolute value) |
Value Range Filter
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|
minimum | number | — | Minimum value for the data type (leave empty for no lower bound) |
maximum | number | — | Maximum value for the data type (leave empty for no upper bound) |
minimum: 500, maximum: 5000.
Price Range Grouping
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|
priceRange | number | 1 | Number of price levels to group together |
priceRangeDir | select | all | Direction for range grouping: all, downward, upward |
priceRange is greater than 1, adjacent price levels are combined before evaluation. This is useful for finding zones of concentrated activity rather than single-tick events.
Advanced Filters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|
minDelta | number | — | Minimum delta at the price level |
bidAskImbalance | number | — | Required bid/ask ratio (e.g., 3.0 = bid must be 3x ask) |
rangeFromHigh | number | — | Maximum distance from candle high (in ticks) |
rangeFromLow | number | — | Maximum distance from candle low (in ticks) |
maxAvgTrade | number | — | Maximum average trade size (volume / trades) |
minAvgTrade | number | — | Minimum average trade size |
barDirection | select | any | Candle direction: any, up, down |
priceLocation | select | any | Position within candle (see below) |
Price Location Options
| Location | Description |
|---|
any | No position filter |
high | At or near the candle high |
low | At or near the candle low |
body | Within the candle body (between open and close) |
wick | In the upper or lower wick |
upperWick | In the upper wick only |
lowerWick | In the lower wick only |
- High volume at the candle
low in an up bar = absorption (buyers absorbed selling at the bottom).
- High delta at the
high of a down bar = trapped buyers at the top.
Time Filter
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|
useTimeFilter | boolean | false | Enable time-of-day filter |
startTime | time | 00:00 | Start of time window (UTC) |
endTime | time | 00:00 | End of time window (UTC) |
Lookback
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|
lookbackDays | number | 0 | History range to scan (0 = all loaded data) |
Visual Settings per Layer
Marker Shape and Style
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|
objectType | select | rectangle | Marker shape: rectangle, triangle, diamond, circle, square, star, hexagon, pentagon, cross, plus |
objectStyle | select | flat | Rendering style: flat or 3d |
objectMinSize | number | 5 | Minimum marker size in pixels |
objectMaxSize | number | 20 | Maximum marker size in pixels |
objectGlowIntensity | number | 0 | Glow effect intensity around markers (0 = off) |
showValues | boolean | false | Display the numeric value as a label on each marker |
objectMinSize and objectMaxSize. Higher-value matches produce larger markers, creating an intuitive visual hierarchy.
Cloud Lines
When a significant cluster of markers forms at a price level, an optional horizontal line can extend from that level into the future.
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|
showCloudLine | boolean | false | Enable horizontal cloud lines from marker clusters |
cloudLineVisual | select | flat | Line style: flat, neon, gradient, chrome |
cloudLineMaxTouches | number | 3 | Number of times price can touch the line before it is removed |
neon, gradient, chrome) apply the same rendering as described in the Indicators Overview.
Start with a single layer searching for high volume. Once you are comfortable with the results, gradually add layers for delta, trades, or position within the candle. Each additional layer adds a dimension of analysis.
Multi-Layer Strategies
Layer 1: High Volume Levels
- dataType:
volume
- minimum: set to a high threshold for the symbol
- objectType:
diamond, objectStyle: 3d
- showCloudLine:
true
This base layer identifies where the most volume traded. Cloud lines from these levels act as support/resistance.
Layer 2: Aggressive Delta
- dataType:
deltaPlus (or deltaMinus)
- minimum: high threshold
- barDirection:
up (for deltaPlus)
- objectType:
triangle
- color: green for buy, red for sell
This layer highlights where aggressive directional participation occurred.
Layer 3: Absorption Pattern
- dataType:
volume
- minimum: high threshold
- priceLocation:
low
- barDirection:
up
- objectType:
star
This finds cells where high volume occurred at the low of an up bar — classic absorption where buyers absorbed selling pressure at the bottom.
Layer 4: Low Average Trade Size (Retail)
- dataType:
volume
- minimum: moderate threshold
- maxAvgTrade: low value (e.g., 0.5)
- objectType:
circle, small size
This identifies levels where many small trades contributed to volume — likely retail participation.
Layer 5: Large Orders (Institutional)
- dataType:
volume
- minimum: high threshold
- minAvgTrade: large value (e.g., 10.0)
- objectType:
hexagon, objectStyle: 3d
This identifies levels where few large trades contributed to volume — likely institutional activity.
Premium Styles
Clouds fully supports premium visual rendering:
- 3D markers: the
3d object style renders markers with depth, shadows, and lighting effects.
- Cloud line styles:
neon (glowing lines), gradient (color gradient along the line), chrome (metallic reflective finish).
These styles are purely cosmetic and do not affect the detection logic.
Alerts
Clouds supports two alert events:
| Event | Description |
|---|
cloud_formed | Fires when a new cloud (cluster of markers) is detected at a price level |
cloud_touched | Fires when price touches an active cloud line |
- Reduce
lookbackDays: scanning the entire loaded dataset on 1m timeframe can process millions of cells. Limit to 7–14 days for responsive interaction.
- Limit active layers: each additional layer multiplies the work. Use 2–3 layers for real-time analysis; enable all 5 only for post-session review.
- Increase
priceRange: grouping price levels reduces the number of evaluations and can improve performance on high-resolution data.
Summary
Clouds transforms raw cluster data into a visual pattern detection system. By defining up to 5 independent layers with fine-grained filter conditions, you can simultaneously search for high volume, aggressive delta, absorption patterns, institutional footprints, and retail noise — all rendered with configurable markers and optional cloud lines that act as dynamic support and resistance.