Vertical Exaggeration Calculator

Find the vertical exaggeration of a terrain profile.

Vertical exaggeration (x) 10

Formula: VE = horizontal scale / vertical scale

Step-by-step with your numbers:

1. Values used:

2. Horizontal scale (1 : x) = 24,000

3. Vertical scale (1 : y) = 2,400

5. Vertical exaggeration = Horizontal scale (1 : x) / Vertical scale (1 : y) = 24,000 / 2,400 = 10x

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Vertical exaggeration stretches the height of a terrain profile to make relief visible.

The math behind it

VE = horizontal scale denominator / vertical scale denominator. A VE of 1 means no exaggeration.

Horizontal 1:24000 and vertical 1:2400 gives 10x exaggeration.

Why exaggerate?

Real elevation changes are tiny compared with horizontal distances, so they need stretching to see.