Volatility Value Bands

This indicator is a modern adaptation of Mark Helweg's original Value Charts concept, focused on visually displaying volatility zones and "extreme value" areas directly on the price chart. It does not replicate the original work but draws inspiration from the logic of normalizing price by volatility to highlight statistically stretched regions.

1. Introduction

This study displays three lines directly on the chart:
- a central reference line (base),
- an upper overvaluation band,
- and a lower undervaluation band.

The bands are calculated from the relationship between price, moving average, and volatility (via true range/ATR), following Mark Helweg's Value Charts concept but with a custom implementation and adjustable parameters for different assets and timeframes. This allows objectively visualizing when price is in a statistically extended region relative to its recent behavior.

2. Key Features

- Volatility-normalized base
The indicator converts price deviation into "value units" using a combination of moving average and smoothed volatility (true range/ATR), making levels comparable across different assets and time horizons.

- Auto-adjusting limits (optional)
An automatic mode can calculate upper and lower limits from recent value unit extremes, using a configurable sampling window and percentile, allowing bands to adapt to the current volatility regime without manual recalibration.

- Direct plot on price chart
The three lines (central, upper, and lower) are drawn directly on the main asset chart (`overlay`), making it easy to read context: it's clear when price "touches" or breaks the volatility bands without switching to a separate pane.

- Flexible parameters
Users can control:
- base moving average period (length)
- volatility factor (manual or automatic)
- independent windows for volatility and limits calculation
- limits mode (auto or manual) and percentile used
This allows adapting behavior to different markets (stocks, indices, forex, crypto).

3. How to Use

- Basic interpretation
- When price approaches or exceeds the upper band, it indicates a statistically overvalued zone where the asset is stretched upward relative to recent volatility.
- When price approaches or exceeds the lower band, it indicates a statistically undervalued zone.
- The central line serves as a reference for recent "average value," derived from the base moving average.

- Recommended initial setup
- Choose the Value Chart period (e.g., 144 bars) for the base.
- Enable automatic limits mode for coherent bands matching the asset's volatility.
- Adjust the limits window and percentile for tighter bands (more signals) or wider bands (fewer but more extreme).

- Best practices
- Use bands as context filters, not standalone buy/sell signals. Combine with trend, market structure, or other confirmation indicators.
- Avoid decisions solely because price touched a band; in strong trends, price can "walk the edge" for extended periods.
- Always follow TradingView community rules when publishing: clearly state in the description that the study is "inspired by Mark Helweg's Value Charts concept," without claiming official status, reproducing proprietary code, or violating copyrights.