What it does
Zero Print Zones detects consecutive zero-print ticks (bid-only or ask-only price levels) and draws them as rectangle zones on the chart. These zones represent one-sided liquidity gaps in the order book: short stretches of price where only buyers (ask-only) or only sellers (bid-only) were present, leaving an unbalanced footprint that price often revisits.
Zero prints are an order-flow concept: when price runs through a level with trades on only one side of the book, that level is essentially untested by the opposite side. The market frequently returns to those untested zones later in the session to fill them, which makes them useful as confluence with other order-flow tools or as standalone reference points.
Zero Print Zones automates the detection so you never have to scroll back through a footprint chart manually looking for them.
Key features
- Detects consecutive zero-print ticks: scans Volume-at-Price data and flags clusters where either bid or ask volume is zero across a sequence of consecutive tick levels.
- Draws each cluster as a filled rectangle zone extending to the right edge of the chart, so untested levels remain visible until price reaches them.
- Configurable minimum consecutive ticks: set the threshold for what counts as a meaningful zone (2 ticks for a tight filter, more for only the strongest clusters).
- Session time window filtering: restrict detection to a specific window (RTH, overnight, or any custom session) so the chart shows only the zones that matter to your trading style.
- Lookback days control: scan only the last N days of history, or set 0 to process the full chart.
- Auto-removal on intersect: by default, zones are deleted when price trades back through them, keeping the chart clean and only showing untested levels.
- Persistent mode: enable "Keep Zones on Intersect" to retain every detected zone permanently, useful for historical review or post-session analysis.
- Full styling: zone color, fill transparency, and border width are all configurable to fit your chart palette.
How it works
After purchase, Zero Print Zones is added to your Sierra Chart account automatically. Restart Sierra Chart, then add the study to a chart that has Volume-at-Price data available (typically a numbers bars, footprint, or time-based chart with VAP recorded) via Analysis → Studies → Add Custom Study → Zero Print Zones.
In the settings dialog, set the minimum consecutive ticks threshold, the session window for detection, the lookback days, and your preferred zone styling. The study walks each bar within the session window, examines Volume-at-Price data tick by tick, and flags sequences where bid volume is zero with ask volume positive (or vice versa). When a qualifying cluster is found, a rectangle zone is drawn from the cluster's price range and extended to the right edge of the chart.
As price moves, intersecting zones are automatically removed (default mode) or kept visible (persistent mode), depending on your configuration.
Who it's for
- Order flow traders working ES, NQ, CL, GC, or any liquid futures who already use footprint, market depth, or volume profile and want zero-print zones surfaced automatically.
- Mean-reversion scalpers who look for untested liquidity gaps as natural pullback targets.
- Trend traders using zero prints as confluence: a clean zone broken on a trend day is a stronger signal than a fresh fade setup.
- Prop firm traders (Apex, Topstep, MyFundedFutures) who want order-flow context without spending the session manually scanning footprints.
Compatibility & requirements
- Requires Sierra Chart with ACSIL custom study support
- Requires Volume-at-Price data on the chart (numbers bars, footprint, or a time-based chart configured to record VAP)
- Windows desktop platform
- Compatible with any instrument that has tick-level bid/ask volume data
- No external dependencies: runs as a native Sierra Chart custom study
- Automatic activation on your Sierra Chart account after purchase; no DLL download or manual installation required
- Lifetime updates included
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