# HTF Volume Spike & Imbalance Projection Splits a higher timeframe candle open beside live price: bubbles mark lower timeframe volume spikes by size and direction, a histogram maps volume across the candle's range, and three or more same-direction spikes at one price are boxed as stacked imbalances. Ghost and current bars sit side by side so intraday traders keep HTF context in view. - Indicator in the LuxAlgo Library, by LuxAlgo, published Mar 26, 2026. - Access: free. - Concepts: [Volume Spike](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/concept/volume-spike/) (primary), [Fair Value Gap](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/concept/fair-value-gap/) - Open on Vela: https://vela.luxalgo.com/chart?pineScriptCodeId=cmpwn28bb0031vhsgj75pz4c8 - Page: https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/htf-volume-spike-imbalance-projection/ **HTF Volume Spike & Imbalance Projection** opens a higher timeframe candle up and shows what happened inside it. Two blocks are projected beside live price: the prior (ghost) candle and the forming one, each combining the candle itself, a scatter of bubbles marking lower timeframe [volume spikes](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/concept/volume-spike/), and a histogram of how volume distributed across the candle's range. When three or more same-direction spikes stack at one price, that level is boxed as a stacked imbalance. ## How to Trade the HTF Volume Spike & Imbalance Projection? - **Bubble size and color**: larger bubbles mean stronger volume events; green leans buying pressure, red selling. - **Stacked imbalance boxes**: repeated one-sided participation at a price. Watch for support (bullish) or resistance (bearish) on the retest. - **Volume profile**: high-volume areas mark accepted value that price often revisits for targets or reversion trades. - **Sparse bubbles**: a move with little spike activity carries weak participation and gives ground back more easily. Ghost-bar zones are the natural starting point: an imbalance left in the completed candle, retested during the current one, confirmed on the chart timeframe before entry. The same bubbles can print on your live candles too, a useful bridge to the rest of the [volume and order flow tools](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/family/volume-orderflow/). ## HTF Volume Spike & Imbalance Projection Settings - **HTF Anchor Timeframe**: the projected higher timeframe; Auto picks a logical one for the current chart. - **Spike Granularity**: the lower timeframe scanned for spikes inside each anchor candle. - **Volume Spike Multiplier**: how far above average volume must rise to qualify as a spike. Higher is more selective. - **Volume MA Length**: the lookback for that volume average. - Display toggles cover **Show Ghost (Previous) Bar**, **Highlight Stacked Imbalances**, **Show Anchor Connection Lines**, and **Show Bubbles on Chart Candles**. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What exactly counts as a volume spike here? A lower timeframe bar whose volume exceeds its moving average by the configured multiplier, so "unusual" always means unusual for this market. Raise the multiplier to keep only exceptional events; lower it for a denser map. ### How does it compare to a footprint-style tool? [Volume Footprint](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/volume-footprint/) details activity inside individual chart candles; this projection condenses an entire higher timeframe candle into one annotated view. One is a microscope, the other a summary of the larger session's story. ### Is it included with a subscription only? No. The LuxAlgo Library lists it free of charge. Push the projection into Quant, our coding agent, from this page and watch it update live. You can also copy the source code from this page and run it anywhere Pine Script® runs. ## Related indicators - [Volumetric Toolkit](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/volumetric-toolkit/) (Volume Spike): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/volumetric-toolkit.md - [Volume Surprise](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/volume-surprise/) (Volume Spike): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/volume-surprise.md - [Volume Bubbles & Liquidity Heatmap](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/volume-bubbles-liquidity-heatmap/) (Volume Spike): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/volume-bubbles-liquidity-heatmap.md - [Fair Value Gap Absorption Indicator](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/fair-value-gap-absorption-indicator/) (Fair Value Gap): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/fair-value-gap-absorption-indicator.md - [Fair Value Gaps Mitigation Oscillator](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/fair-value-gaps-mitigation-oscillator/) (Fair Value Gap): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/fair-value-gaps-mitigation-oscillator.md - [Support and Resistance Levels with Breaks](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/support-and-resistance-levels-with-breaks/) (Volume at Breakout): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/support-and-resistance-levels-with-breaks.md - [Session Volume Moving Average](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/session-volume-moving-average/) (Relative Volume): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/session-volume-moving-average.md - [Volume Dry-up](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/volume-dry-up/) (Volume & Order Flow): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/volume-dry-up.md --- Source: https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/htf-volume-spike-imbalance-projection/ (LuxAlgo Library). Free to use with attribution: https://www.luxalgo.com/library/license/