Formatting a 3D Plot

You can change the appearance of any 3D plot by using the options available in the 3D Plot Format dialog box.

Double-click the plot or click on the plot and choose Graph > 3D Plot from the Format menu to open the 3D Plot Format dialog box.

3D Plot Format Dialog Box

Some options in the 3D Plot Format dialog box work together to control the appearance of a plot. For example, the choices on the Appearance page, the Lighting page, and the Special and Advanced pages together control the color of a plot.

The General Tab options control the overall appearance of the graph.

The Axes Tab options control exactly how each axis looks.

The Backplanes Tab options specify whether a backplane is colored, has a border, or has grid lines or tick marks.

The Appearance Tab controls the format of the surfaces, lines, and points of a plot.

The Lighting Tab options control both the overall lighting of the plot as well as individual lights directed onto it.

The Title Tab provides options for titling the plot.

The Special Tab allows you to control options for specific kinds of plots.

The Advanced Tab is used when you need very fine control over the appearance of a plot.

The QuickPlot Data Tab contains the range and grid settings for the independent variables. You can specify whether your functions are in Cartesian, spherical, or cylindrical coordinates.

Tutorial: Formatting 3D Plots