Volume Imbalance Identifier

Volume Imbalance Identifier is a free TradingView overlay indicator developed by NAMI Trading. It automatically detects body-to-body gaps between consecutive candles — zones of inefficient price delivery where institutional order flow overwhelmed available liquidity. Each imbalance zone renders as a color-coded box that extends forward in real time until price returns to fill it.

Volume imbalances are distinct from fair value gaps: where FVGs measure wick-to-wick inefficiency across three candles, volume imbalances capture the direct body-to-body displacement between two consecutive candles. These zones represent price levels that were skipped entirely during aggressive institutional execution, making them high-probability rebalancing targets.

How to Use Volume Imbalance Identifier

After adding the indicator to your TradingView chart, volume imbalance zones immediately begin rendering on your active timeframe. No configuration is required to get started — it works out of the box on any asset and any timeframe.

Bullish VI boxes (cyan) appear when the current candle's body opens entirely above the previous candle's body close — a gap-up displacement created by aggressive buying. Bearish VI boxes (red) appear in the opposite scenario — the current candle's body opens entirely below the previous candle's body close, reflecting aggressive selling. When price returns to a VI zone, it recolors to gray (mitigated), indicating the inefficiency has been repriced.

All active boxes extend their right edge to the current candle in real time, giving you a clear view of which imbalance zones remain open and unfilled. Common setups include:

• Using unmitigated bullish VIs as pullback targets in uptrends
• Watching bearish VIs as overhead resistance for short setups
• Identifying stacked VIs as signs of a liquidity void — expect partial fills before continuation
• Combining VI zones with NAMI SMC PRO order blocks for layered confluence
• Using NAMI-D divergence signals to confirm when a retrace into a VI zone is likely

Key Features

Body-to-Body Imbalance Detection

Scans every candle pair for body-to-body gaps in both directions. Bullish and bearish imbalances are detected independently, each with its own toggle and color controls. Detection compares completed bodies, so results are final on bar close.

Real-Time Mitigation Tracking

When price returns to a volume imbalance zone, the box automatically recolors to a mitigated state and stops extending forward. Choose between wick-based or close-based mitigation triggers depending on how conservatively you define a fill. A toggle lets you hide mitigated zones entirely for a cleaner chart.

Live Box Extension

All active (unmitigated) VI boxes extend their right edge to the current candle in real time. This gives you an always-current view of open imbalance zones without manual adjustment.

Full Visual Customization

Every color, border style, transparency, label size, and text color is fully configurable. Match bullish, bearish, and mitigated zones to your chart theme and personal preferences.

Built-In Alerts

Two alert conditions — Bullish Volume Imbalance and Bearish Volume Imbalance — let you get notified the moment a new VI forms. Recommended with "Once Per Bar Close" for confirmed signals.

Settings Reference

Volume Imbalance Settings

Setting	Default	Description
Show Bullish VI	On	Enable or disable bullish volume imbalance detection.
Bullish VI Color	Cyan (75% transparency)	Fill color for bullish VI boxes.
Show Bearish VI	On	Enable or disable bearish volume imbalance detection.
Bearish VI Color	Red (75% transparency)	Fill color for bearish VI boxes.
Border Style	Dotted	Border style for VI boxes: solid, dashed, or dotted.
Border Transparency	25	Transparency of box borders. Range: 0–100.

Mitigation Settings

Setting	Default	Description
Mitigated Color	Gray (85% transparency)	Fill color for mitigated VI boxes.
Mitigated Border	Gray (50% transparency)	Border color for mitigated VI boxes.
Mitigation Trigger	Wick	How mitigation is determined. "Wick" triggers when the candle's low (bullish) or high (bearish) reaches the zone. "Close" requires the candle body to reach the zone.
Show Mitigated VI	On	Show or hide mitigated VI boxes. Turn off for a cleaner chart.

Label Settings

Setting	Default	Description
Show VI Labels	On	Show or hide "VI" text labels on each box.
Label Size	Tiny	Font size for VI labels: tiny, small, normal, or large.
Bull Text Color	Cyan	Label text color for bullish VI boxes.
Bear Text Color	Red	Label text color for bearish VI boxes.
Mitigated Text Color	Gray	Label text color for mitigated VI boxes.

Alerts

Alert	Trigger	Recommended Frequency
Bullish Volume Imbalance	Fires when a bullish body-to-body gap is detected.	Once Per Bar Close
Bearish Volume Imbalance	Fires when a bearish body-to-body gap is detected.	Once Per Bar Close

Use Cases

Pullback Entry Targeting

When price displaces aggressively in one direction and leaves a volume imbalance behind, the VI zone acts as a pullback target. Wait for price to retrace into the unmitigated box, then look for confirmation from momentum (NAMI 2.0) or structure (NAMI SMB) before entering in the direction of the original displacement.

VI + SMC PRO Confluence

A volume imbalance that aligns with an unmitigated order block or fair value gap from NAMI SMC PRO creates a high-probability rebalancing zone. When both tools agree on the same price level, institutional intent is layered — the reaction at that level carries significantly more weight.

Liquidity Void Identification

Multiple consecutive volume imbalances stacked in the same direction signal a liquidity void — an aggressive displacement where price skipped multiple levels. These clusters indicate strong institutional intent and often see only partial fills before price continues in the original direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this indicator free?

Yes — completely free, no subscription, no account required beyond TradingView. Add it to any chart and start identifying volume imbalances immediately.

What's the difference between a volume imbalance and a fair value gap?

A fair value gap is a three-candle pattern measured wick-to-wick (candle 1 high to candle 3 low). A volume imbalance is a two-candle pattern measured body-to-body — the current candle's body opens entirely beyond the previous candle's body. Both represent inefficient price delivery, but they capture different types of displacement. Using both together (via NAMI SMC PRO for FVGs) gives you a more complete map of institutional activity.

Does it repaint?

Volume imbalance detection compares the completed bodies of two consecutive candles. A VI box may briefly appear or disappear on the current (forming) bar, but once the bar closes, the detection is final and does not repaint. Active boxes extend their right edge to the current bar in real time. Mitigation is checked on each new bar after the creation bar.

What TradingView plan do I need?

This indicator works on all TradingView plans, including the free tier.

Does it work with other NAMI indicators?

Yes. It pairs naturally with SMC PRO (order blocks + FVGs for layered confluence), NAMI-D (divergence signals to confirm retrace probability), and the free High Probability Order Blocks & Fair Value Gaps indicator. For full-suite confluence, combine it with NAMI 2.0 momentum data and ENIGMA support/resistance levels.