3D Plot Format Dialog Box (Lighting Tab)

To enable lighting on a 3D Plot:

  1. Double-click the plot to open the tabbed dialog box.
  2. Click the Lighting tab.
  3. Check Enable Lighting in the Lighting section.
  4. Click the options on tabs labeled Light 1, Light 2, and so on, to enable a directed light and set its color and location. You can set up to eight directed lights.
  5. Click the Ambient Light Color box to set the ambient light color.

To control general lighting, work with the options on the left of the dialog box. Lighting is one way to control the color and shading of a 3D plot. The color of a rendered 3D shape depends on its color and the color of the surrounding light. Since the 3D Plot renderings mimic the physical world, recall that objects reflect more light of the same color as their surface and will be more visible in bright, white, diffuse light.

If your 3D graph contains multiple plots, lighting will affect all the plots in the graph, but you can fill individual plots with color independently.

Enable Lighting

Makes all the options on the Lighting tab operational.

Ambient Light Color

Specifies the color of the ambient light, general light that shines evenly all around a rendered object. Note that black corresponds to no ambient light.

Lighting Scheme

Displays a list of built-in lighting schemes.

On/Off

Turns a directed light on or off.

Diffuse Color

Specifies the color of the diffuse light portion of a light shining from a particular direction. Diffuse light is reflected off a surface evenly in different directions, brightening an object. Florescent lighting is a good example of a diffuse, directed light.

Specular Color

Specifies the color (usually white) of the specular light portion of a light shining from a particular direction. Specular light is reflected off a surface in a particular direction, creating a bright spot on an object. A spotlight is a good example of a specular light.

Specular light does not greatly affect a graph's appearance, but it is useful, however, when controlling shininess on the Advanced page.

Light Location − X, Y, Z

Specifies a directed light on the X, Y, and Z axis.

Infinite Light Source

Makes a directed light that is located an infinite distance away.

Notes:

If you want lighting to be the sole determinant of the color of a plot, use the Appearance tab options in the 3D Plot Format dialog box to fill the plot with solid white.