NDVI Image preference

[LauraCockrell]

I am using landsat images to build NDVI maps trying to assess wetland plant vigor. I am curious from people who have used NDVI in the past, how do you prefer to manipulate the image for better interpretation. As in: What kind of Contrast is best? What kind of Brightness do you prefer? Do you apply a gamma stretch (and if so, what)? When is it better to apply stretch as a std-dev rather than a percent clip?
Any useful tips for reading the NDVI is most appreciated!! I am currently using the Image analysis window in Arc10.
Thanks!
~Laura Cockrell

[FionaGregory2]

Frankly, I prefer to apply some kind of colour ramp ie brown to yellow to green....I find with greyscale images no matter how well you enhance them when you print it out the subtleties are lost. However this may be a minority opinion; my thesis advisor did not agree....

[LauraCockrell]

Thanks Fiona. I am using the Red-to-Green diverging bright color ramp for my NDVIs and I really think it helps display the differences better than a gray scale any day of the week. But like you, I am confined to my advisor's wishes! He just hasn't expressed an opinion on that... yet.

I am curious why NDVI automatically displays with a colormap symbology rather than a stretched color ramp in the first place. Perhaps this us just me, but I think the stretched color ramp shows the difference in the vegetation better.