When you choose to show tick marks for line-shaped elements in your model, Abaqus/CAE indicates the contour levels as tick marks on lines (axes) drawn normal to the elements and displays the contour curve between the axes. You can specify the length of the tick mark axes, the color of the contour curve, the contour value (tick mark) that will intersect the element, and the normal direction in which the axes will be drawn on beam elements. In addition, for line-type contour plots, style selections you apply to individual contour lines will appear on the tick mark axes. For more information, see “Stylizing line-type contours,” Section 44.5.2.
To customize tick mark contour plots:
Locate the Tick Marks options.
Select Options
Contour from the main menu bar or click 
in the toolbox. Click the Other tab in the dialog box that appears; then click the Tick Marks tab. The Tick Marks options appear.
To choose the normal direction in which the tick mark axes will be drawn on beam elements, toggle the N1 or N2 button in the Orientation field.
Note: This option will be ignored when tick mark contour plots are displayed on line elements other than beams. In this case, the tick mark axes are drawn in the element normal direction.
Choose the length of the tick mark axes:
Click the Axis length button to reveal the length choices: Short, Medium, or Long.
Click the length you want.
The specified length appears on the Axis length button.
Choose the contour value that will intersect the element:
Enter the desired base contour value in the Base Value field.
The value specified will be checked to determine whether it falls within the contour range. If it is above the maximum contour value, the maximum contour value will be used as the base value; if it is below the minimum contour value, the minimum contour value will be used as the base value. By default, zero is used as the base value.
Choose the color of the tick mark curve:
Click the color sample 
.
Abaqus/CAE displays the Select Color dialog box.
Use one of the methods in the Select Color dialog box to select a new color. For more information, see “Customizing colors,” Section 3.2.9.
Click OK to close the Select Color dialog box.
The color sample changes to the selected color. The new color does not appear in the viewport until you click OK or Apply in the Contour Plot Options dialog box.
Click Apply to implement your changes.
The contour lines of the tick mark contour plot in the current viewport change to reflect your specifications.
By default, your changes are saved for the duration of the session and will affect all subsequent contour plots. If you want to retain your changes for subsequent sessions, save them to a file. For more information, see “Saving customizations for use in subsequent sessions,” Section 55.1.1.
