3-D Visualization

Representing a Matrix as a Surface

MATLAB defines a surface by the z-coordinates of points above a rectangular grid in the x-y plane. The plot is formed by joining adjacent points with straight lines. Surface plots are useful for visualizing matrices that are too large to display in numerical form and for graphing functions of two variables.

MATLAB can create different forms of surface plots. Mesh plots are wire-frame surfaces that color only the lines connecting the defining points. Surface plots display both the connecting lines and the faces of the surface in color. This table lists the various forms.

Function	Used to Create
mesh, surf	Surface plot
meshc, surfc	Surface plot with contour plot beneath it
meshz	Surface plot with curtain plot (reference plane)
pcolor	Flat surface plot (value is proportional only to color)
surfl	Surface plot illuminated from specified direction
surface	Low-level function (on which high-level functions are based) for creating surface graphics objects

Line Plots of 3-D Data

Mesh and Surface Plots