How to use these pictures

Every chart uses made-up prices. These are shape examples, not real tickers, live signals, or proof that the scanner's full checks pass. The pictures show what happened in the example, not what must happen next.

A candle shows the open, high, low, and close of one period. The other charts join selected turning points to make the structure clear. Support is a lower boundary that price tests. Resistance is an upper boundary that price tests.

There are 17 pattern types, not 20. Range boxes can break in either direction. The moving-average types each have MA100 and MA200 examples. These extra pictures do not add new pattern types.

Hammer vs shooting star

Compare one-candle shapes. A hammer rejects lower prices after selling. A shooting star rejects higher prices after buying.

Hammer

Hammer — made-up chart example After falling prices, a small candle body sits above a long lower wick. The last candle opens at 100, reaches 90, and closes at 101. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 85 105 125 Earlier Time → Later

Hollow body: close above open.
Filled body: close below open.

The shaded strip marks the last candle.

  1. The long lower wick shows the move down and the recovery within one period.
  2. The small body is near the top of the last candle. The example low is 90.
Open
100
High
102
Low
90
Close
101

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Shooting star

Shooting star — made-up chart example After rising prices, a small candle body sits below a long upper wick. The last candle opens at 100, reaches 112, and closes at 99. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 80 100 120 Earlier Time → Later

Hollow body: close above open.
Filled body: close below open.

The shaded strip marks the last candle.

  1. The long upper wick shows a rise that did not hold during that period.
  2. The small body is near the bottom of the last candle. The example high is 112.
Open
100
High
112
Low
98
Close
99

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Bullish vs bearish engulfing

Compare two-candle shapes. The second body covers the first body. The earlier trend and the direction of the second candle change the meaning.

Bullish engulfing

Bullish engulfing — made-up chart example After a fall, the final upward candle body from 99 to 106 covers the previous downward body from 100 to 104. Engulfing compares bodies, not the full wicks. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 94 106 118 Earlier Time → Later

Hollow body: close above open.
Filled body: close below open.

The shaded strip marks the last candle.

  1. Previous body: 100–104. Final body: 99–106. The final body covers the previous body.
  2. An upward candle closes above its open. It does not prove the next period will rise.
Final open
99
Final high
107
Final low
98
Final close
106

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Bearish engulfing

Bearish engulfing — made-up chart example After a rise, the final downward candle body from 98 to 105 covers the previous upward body from 100 to 104. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 86 98 110 Earlier Time → Later

Hollow body: close above open.
Filled body: close below open.

The shaded strip marks the last candle.

  1. Previous body: 100–104. Final body: 98–105. Compare the bodies, not just the colours.
  2. The example high is 106. A later move above it would weaken this bearish case.
Final open
105
Final high
106
Final low
97
Final close
98

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Double and triple tops vs bottoms

Compare two or three tests of a price area. Bottoms test support; tops test resistance. The moves between the tests must be clear.

Double bottom

Double bottom — made-up chart example Two lows at 100 are separated by a rebound to 106. The later price of 108 is above the neckline at 106. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 96 106 116 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Support 100
  • Neckline 106
  1. The two low points make the W shape. The rebound between them sets the neckline.
  2. A move above 106 is the example break. The scanner still needs a valid, held confirmation.
Two lows
100
Neckline
106
Later price
108

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Double top

Double top — made-up chart example Two highs at 100 are separated by a pullback to 94. The later price of 92 is below the neckline at 94. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 84 94 104 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Resistance 100
  • Neckline 94
  1. The two high points make the M shape. The dip between them sets the neckline.
  2. A move below 94 is the example break. Two peaks alone do not confirm it.
Two highs
100
Neckline
94
Later price
92

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Triple bottom

Triple bottom — made-up chart example Three lows at 100 have two similar rebounds, to 106 and 105.5. The later price of 108 is above both rebound highs. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 96 106 116 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Support 100
  • Break level 106
  1. Three separate tests reach the same support. There is a clear rebound between each pair.
  2. The third touch is not an automatic score bonus. Spacing and reaction size still matter.
Three lows
100
Rebound highs
106 / 105.5
Later price
108

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Triple top

Triple top — made-up chart example Three highs at 100 have two similar pullbacks, to 94 and 94.5. The later price of 92 is below both pullback lows. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 84 94 104 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Resistance 100
  • Break level 94
  1. Three separate tests reach the same resistance. The two pullbacks are similar in size.
  2. A price above the top boundary breaks the normal sell setup. A shallow wiggle is not a full third test.
Three highs
100
Pullback lows
94 / 94.5
Later price
92

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Rising support vs falling resistance

Compare a rising line under price with a falling line above price. A test of a line is different from a confirmed move through it.

Rising support

Rising support — made-up chart example Higher low points touch an upward support line. The line rises from 100 to 110, and the final price tests it at 110 without crossing it. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 96 108 120 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Rising support
  1. The support line connects rising low points. It must not be drawn through intervening candle wicks.
  2. This picture shows a support test. A fresh held break below the line is a different, bearish event.
Line at start
100
Line at end
110
Final test
110

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Falling resistance

Falling resistance — made-up chart example Lower high points touch a downward resistance line. The line falls from 100 to 90, and the final price tests it at 90 without crossing it. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 80 92 104 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Falling resistance
  1. The resistance line connects falling high points. A line crossed by earlier wicks is not clean resistance.
  2. This picture shows a resistance test. A fresh held break above the line is a different, bullish event.
Line at start
100
Line at end
90
Final test
90

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Ascending vs descending channels

Compare two rising edges with two falling edges. A channel needs evidence for both sides, not just one well-drawn line.

Ascending channel

Ascending channel — made-up chart example Price moves between parallel rising edges. Support rises from 100 to 110. Resistance rises from 108 to 118. The last point tests support at 110. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 96 110 124 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Lower edge: support
  • Upper edge: resistance
  1. Both edges rise at the same rate. The gap between them stays at 8 price units.
  2. The last point tests the lower edge. A rising channel can also fail through a held break below it.
Final lower edge
110
Final upper edge
118
Channel width
8

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Descending channel

Descending channel — made-up chart example Price moves between parallel falling edges. Resistance falls from 100 to 90. Support falls from 92 to 82. The last point tests resistance at 90. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 76 90 104 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Lower edge: support
  • Upper edge: resistance
  1. Both edges fall at the same rate. Several separate tests help define each edge.
  2. The last point tests the upper edge. A held break above it is different from a rejection at it.
Final lower edge
82
Final upper edge
90
Channel width
8

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Bull flags vs bear flags

Compare a short pause after a sharp rise with a short pause after a sharp fall. The earlier sharp move is part of the pattern.

Bull flag

Bull flag — made-up chart example Price rises quickly from 100 to 120, then pauses in a short falling band. The later price of 121 is above the flag's upper edge. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 96 110 124 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Flag support
  • Flag resistance
  1. The first sharp rise is the pole. The smaller pause is the flag, not a full long-term channel.
  2. The later move above the upper edge illustrates a breakout. A fall below the lower edge would break the bull-flag case.
Pole start
100
Pole high
120
Pause low
112
Later price
121

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Bear flag

Bear flag — made-up chart example Price falls quickly from 120 to 100, then pauses in a short rising band. The later price of 99 is below the flag's lower edge. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 96 110 124 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Flag support
  • Flag resistance
  1. The first sharp fall is the pole. The short rising pause is not itself evidence of a lasting recovery.
  2. The later move below the lower edge illustrates a breakdown. A rise above flag resistance would break the bearish case.
Pole start
120
Pole low
100
Pause high
108
Later price
99

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Moving-average support vs resistance

Compare price holding above or below MA100 and MA200. Each average is checked separately. Being near a line is not the same as reacting to it.

MA100 support

MA100 support — made-up chart example A schematic 100-period moving average acts as support. Price tests the average at 108, then moves to 114. The average is drawn for teaching, not calculated from this short price trace. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 96 110 124 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • MA100 — schematic
  1. Price meets MA100 at 108. It then bounces above the average.
  2. The MA line is schematic. A real MA100 needs 100 full periods of prices, plus the scanner's required history.
Average at test
108
Later price
114

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

MA100 resistance

MA100 resistance — made-up chart example A schematic 100-period moving average acts as resistance. Price tests the average at 112, then moves to 106. The average is drawn for teaching, not calculated from this short price trace. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 96 110 124 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • MA100 — schematic
  1. Price meets MA100 at 112. It then turns down below the average.
  2. The MA line is schematic. A real MA100 needs 100 full periods of prices, plus the scanner's required history.
Average at test
112
Later price
106

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

MA200 support

MA200 support — made-up chart example A schematic 200-period moving average acts as support. Price tests the average at 88, then moves to 94. The average is drawn for teaching, not calculated from this short price trace. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 76 90 104 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • MA200 — schematic
  1. Price meets MA200 at 88. It then bounces above the average.
  2. The MA line is schematic. A real MA200 needs 200 full periods of prices, plus the scanner's required history.
Average at test
88
Later price
94

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

MA200 resistance

MA200 resistance — made-up chart example A schematic 200-period moving average acts as resistance. Price tests the average at 92, then moves to 86. The average is drawn for teaching, not calculated from this short price trace. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 76 90 104 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • MA200 — schematic
  1. Price meets MA200 at 92. It then turns down below the average.
  2. The MA line is schematic. A real MA200 needs 200 full periods of prices, plus the scanner's required history.
Average at test
92
Later price
86

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Range boxes: breakout vs breakdown

Compare a break above a flat range with a break below it. A box describes the boundaries; it does not predict which way price will leave.

Range box: breakout

Range box: breakout — made-up chart example Repeated tests define a flat box from 100 to 110. The later price of 113 is above resistance. The box itself does not choose a direction. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 94 105 116 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Flat support 100
  • Flat resistance 110
  1. The upper and lower edges stay flat. Each has several separate tests and reactions.
  2. The later move above 110 shows the breakout. A return inside the box would remove a break signal.
Lower edge
100
Upper edge
110
Later price
113

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Range box: breakdown

Range box: breakdown — made-up chart example Repeated tests define a flat box from 100 to 110. The later price of 97 is below support. The box itself does not choose a direction. Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal. Price 94 105 116 Earlier Time → Later
  • Example price
  • Flat support 100
  • Flat resistance 110
  1. The upper and lower edges stay flat. Each has several separate tests and reactions.
  2. The later move below 100 shows the breakdown. A return inside the box would remove a break signal.
Lower edge
100
Upper edge
110
Later price
97

Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.

Keep reading

Hammer vs shooting star

A hammer has a long lower wick. A shooting star has a long upper wick. Their place in the trend matters as much as their shape.

Bullish vs bearish engulfing

Compare two-candle shapes. The second body covers the first body. The earlier trend and the direction of the second candle change the meaning.

Bull flags vs bear flags

Compare a short pause after a sharp rise with a short pause after a sharp fall. The earlier sharp move is part of the pattern.

Range boxes: breakout vs breakdown

Compare a break above a flat range with a break below it. A box describes the boundaries; it does not predict which way price will leave.