surf

surface plot.

📝 Syntax

• surf(X, Y, Z)

• surf(X, Y, Z, C)

• surf(Z)

• surf(Z, C)

• surf(parent, ...)

• surf(..., propertyName, propertyValue)

• go = surf(...)

📥 Input argument

• X - x-coordinates: vector or matrix.

• Y - y-coordinates: vector or matrix.

• Z - z-coordinates: vector or matrix.

• C - Color array: m-by-n-by-3 array of RGB triplets.

• parent - a scalar graphics object value: parent container, specified as a axes.

• propertyName - a scalar string or row vector character.

• propertyValue - a value.

📤 Output argument

• go - a graphics object: surface type.

📄 Description

Set this property on an existing component has no effect.

surf creates a 3D surface plot. It can be used to plot data in the form of a matrix or a function of two variables.

You can customize the appearance of the plot using various options such as color, lighting, and shading.

For example, you can use the colormap option to change the color of the surface, and the FaceLighting option to change the lighting of the surface.

Properties:

Property	Description
AlphaData	Transparency data: array same size as ZData or 1 (default).
AlphaDataMapping	Interpretation of AlphaData values: 'direct', 'none' or 'scaled' (default).
AmbientStrength	Strength of ambient light: scalar in [0, 1].
BackFaceLighting	Face lighting when normals point away from camera: 'unlit', 'lit' or 'reverselit' (default).
CData	Vertex colors: 2-D or 3-D array.
CDataMapping	Color mapping method: 'direct', 'scaled' (default).
CDataMode	Selection mode for CData: 'manual', 'auto' (default).
Children	currently not used: []
DiffuseStrength	Strength of diffuse light: scalar in range [0, 1].
EdgeAlpha	Edge transparency: scalar value in range [0, 1].
EdgeColor	Edge line color: RGB triplets.
EdgeLighting	Effect of light objects on edges: 'flat', 'gouraud' or 'none' (default).
FaceAlpha	Face transparency: scalar in range [0, 1].
FaceColor	Face color: RGB triplet.
FaceLighting	Effect of light objects on faces: 'gouraud', 'none' or 'flat' (default).
LineStyle	Line style: '--', ':', '-.', 'none' or '-' (default).
LineWidth	Line width: positive value, 0.5 (default).
Marker	Marker symbol: 'o' (circle), '+' (Plus sign), '*' (asterisk), '.' (point), 'x' (cross), '_' (horizontal line), '
MarkerEdgeColor	Marker outline color: RGB triplet.
MarkerFaceColor	Marker fill color: RGB triplet.
MarkerSize	Marker size: scalar positive value.
MeshStyle	Edges to display: 'row', 'column' or 'both' (default).
Parent	Parent: axes object.
SpecularColorReflectance	Color of specular reflections: scalar in range [0, 1].
SpecularExponent	Size of specular spot: scalar greater than or equal to 1.
SpecularStrength	Strength of specular reflection: scalar in range [0, 1].
Tag	Object identifier: character vector, string scalar or '' (default).
Type	Type of graphics object: 'surface'.
UserData	User data: array or [] (default).
VertexNormals	Normal vectors for each surface vertex: m-by-n-by-3 array or [] (default).
Visible	State of visibility: 'off' or 'on' (default).
XData	x-coordinate data: vector or matrix.
XDataMode	Selection mode for XData: 'manual' or 'auto'.
YData	y-coordinate data: vector or matrix.
YDataMode	Selection mode for YData: 'manual' or 'auto'.
ZData	z-coordinate data: vector or matrix.
CreateFcn	Callback (function handle, string or cell) called when object is created. Set this property on an existing component has no effect.
DeleteFcn	Callback (function handle, string or cell) called when object is deleted.
BeingDeleted	Flag indicating that the object is being deleted.

Some properties are available only for compatibility and have currently no effect on the surface.

💡 Examples

f = figure();
[X, Y, Z] = peaks(35);
C(:, :, 1) = zeros(35);
C(:, :, 2) = ones(35) .* linspace(0.5, 0.6, 35);
C(:, :, 3) = ones(35) .* linspace(0, 1, 35);
S = surf(X, Y, Z, C)

f = figure();
[X,Y] = meshgrid(-8:.5:8);
R = sqrt(X.^2 + Y.^2) + eps;
Z = sin(R)./R;
h = surf(X, Y, Z);
axis square

🔗 See also

view, surface, meshgrid.

🕔 History

Version	📄 Description
1.0.0	initial version
1.7.0	CreateFcn, DeleteFcn callback added.
--	BeingDeleted property added.