Which display tool is used to map temperature differences to colors in infrared imagery?

• A. Thermal Tuning
• B. Color Palettes
• C. Color Alarm (Isotherm)
• D. Palettes

Answer: (B)

Color palettes are the tool that translates temperature differences into colors on an infrared image. By applying a color palette, each temperature value is assigned to a color along a chosen ramp, turning numeric thermal data into a visual map where hot and cold areas, as well as gradual changes, become immediately apparent. This lets you quickly interpret patterns, identify hotspots, and assess thermal distributions.

Other options describe different ideas. Thermal tuning isn’t about converting temperatures to colors; it refers to adjusting sensor or display settings. A color alarm (isotherm) highlights specific threshold temperatures with special markers or colors, which is useful for spotting alarms but doesn’t provide the full, continuous color mapping across the entire range. Simply saying “Palettes” is vague; the standard and most informative term used in infrared imaging is “color palettes,” which specifies the color-mapping tool used to represent temperature differences.