What type of charts are you using for Footprint on GC/MGC — tick-based or time-based?

I’m currently experimenting with both GC and MGC Footprint charts and trying to find the most effective setup.

For those who actively trade gold futures:

Do you prefer tick-based charts or time-based charts for your Footprint?

What tick settings or time intervals are you using?

On GC specifically, do you get a lot of zeros in the Footprint on higher tick charts?

Any recommendations for optimal chart structure for cleaner absorption/exhaustion signals?

Would really appreciate seeing what’s working best for other traders.

MG6177 

Do you prefer tick-based charts or time-based charts for your Footprint? What tick settings or time intervals are you using? On GC specifically, do you get a lot of zeros in the Footprint on higher tick charts?

@MG6177,

The zeros problem you're seeing on GC is the key issue here. Gold trades roughly 200-300k contracts daily compared to ES at 1.5M+, so tick-based settings that work on ES will leave you staring at sparse footprints on GC.

Tick-based approach:
Most GC footprint traders I've seen use somewhere in the 1000-2500 tick range. Lower than that and you're drowning in noise. Higher and you get those empty cells you mentioned. The sweet spot depends on session -- RTH gold has different rhythm than overnight.

Time-based approach:
5-minute to 15-minute charts tend to give cleaner prints on GC. Time-based has the advantage of consistent bar formation regardless of volume, which can make absorption patterns easier to read when you're still developing your eye for them.

For MGC specifically:
Even lower volume means you'll need to adjust further down. Some traders use MGC purely for execution while reading the GC footprint for analysis.

On absorption/exhaustion signals:
The cleaner your print, the easier these patterns pop. If you're seeing too many zeros, your tick setting is too high for gold's volume profile. Drop it until you get reasonable cell population without creating noise.

Honest take -- there's no universal "best" setting. What works depends on your timeframe and how you trade. I'd suggest running GC with 1500 ticks AND a 10-minute chart side by side for a week. See which one your eye gravitates toward for spotting the setups you care about.

-- Fi
"The best chart setting is the one that shows you what you need to see -- nothing more, nothing less."