RS: Footprint

The RS: Footprint indicator tool provides a real-time visualization of order flow data directly on your charts through a footprint (order flow) display. It aims to offer an approximation of bid/ask activity and volume distribution at specific price levels during live market sessions.

Usage

The Usage section describes how the script can be used to interpret market activity through volume distribution.

• Delta Mode: This mode displays the net difference between buying and selling volume (Delta) on the left side of the candle at each price level. On the right side, it shows the total volume traded at that level. This is useful for identifying price levels where aggressive buying or selling is occurring.
• Bid vs Ask Mode: This mode provides a classic order flow view with the bid volume on the left and the ask volume on the right. The coloring is dynamically calculated based on the diagonal difference (comparing bid vs. ask across adjacent price steps) to highlight imbalances.
• Visual Optimization: Users should zoom in significantly on their charts to properly see the text labels within the candles. For a cleaner look, it is often recommended to hide the default chart candles.

Details

This script is designed for live trading data. Because TradingView provides data in snapshots rather than tick-by-tick, the indicator calculates an approximation of the tape based on price movements between updates. If the price moves up between snapshots, the volume is attributed to the "Ask" (Up Volume); if it moves down, it is attributed to the "Bid" (Down Volume). This methodology works effectively in standard market conditions but may be less precise during periods of extreme volatility or high-speed tape.

Settings

Main Settings

• Mode: Switches between "Bid vs Ask" and "Delta" visualizations.
• Ticks per step: Defines the price granularity for each footprint row. Increasing this value aggregates volume into larger price brackets.

Colors

• Up 1-5: A gradient of colors used to represent increasing levels of buying intensity or positive delta.
• Down 1-5: A gradient of colors used to represent increasing levels of selling intensity or negative delta.
• Volume 1-5: Colors used to visualize total volume intensity in Delta mode.

FAQ

How can I access RS: Footprint?

You can get access on the LuxAlgo Library for charting platforms like TradingView, MetaTrader (MT4/MT5), and NinjaTrader for free.

Why do the numbers only appear on the current candle?

This script is optimized for real-time execution. It tracks data as it arrives in your browser, meaning historical footprint data for past candles is not available due to platform data limitations.

Why does the indicator look cluttered?

Footprint charts require significant vertical and horizontal space. Ensure you are zoomed in closely on the price action and have set the "Ticks per step" appropriately for the volatility of the asset you are trading.