3D surface and mesh plots

It is interesting to look at correlational relationships between three variables in a 3D representation. 3D surface and mesh plots are used to visualize component performance maps in a 3D space.

The display types below can be used to plot two or more variables against one another to observe trends and patterns between them.

3D Surface

A 3D surface is an extension of the 2D colormap used to look at relationships between three numeric variables. Each point in a 3D surface corresponds with a single data point, and the variables’ values for each point are indicated by a position in a horizontal plane, and a third vertical position with which a color can be associated.

The overall picture of 3D surfaces is typically used to compare and show the relationships between variables , by the use of interpolation between the points.

Figure 46: 3D Surface

To create a 3D surface, the curve to which you apply the display needs to be set as an XYZ curve or a M1D curve. Refer to the XYZ curve conversion, M1D curves conversion, and XYZ/M1D curves graph type sections for more information.

Once the 3D surface is created, you can access the options through the graph key. Double-click the graph key to open the window of the curve properties.

Figure 47: Curve properties of 3D surface

The colormap, the isolines, and the mesh settings allow you to customize the display.

Colormap

By default the color scale option is selected.

The option allows you to choose a predefined colormap from a list. It controls the mapping of data values into the colormap. An interpolation is made to create a color gradient between contours.

If you switch to the custom colorscale, you can choose whether to make an interpolation through the colors. Then you get what is called a contour plot.

Figure 48: 3D contour plot

You can adjust the contour values and colors in the custom tab of the colormap display.

Figure 49: Custom colorscale definition

Note

Please refer to the The custom colorscale for more information on colorscale customization.

You can select single color to apply a single color to the whole surface. In this case you can select a color from the drop-down list.

Figure 50: Single color

Isolines

Isolines are the lines of the contours. Isolines

Select either a single color from the color palette for all isolines or custom colors for each isoline. When the option custom colors is selected, the color of an isoline is defined by the colorscale from the custom tab.

Figure 51: Isolines using custom colors

Note

You can choose not to fill the contour with color if you uncheck the colormap box.

You can add the values of the isolines on the graph by checking the box show text.

Figure 52: Isolines with values

Mesh

This option allows you to display the mesh of the surface on the graph.

The mesh is a polygon mesh whose vertices are defined by data points.

Figure 53: Mesh of 3D surface plot

3D Mesh

A 3D mesh is an extension of the 3D surface used to look at relationships between three numeric variables. Each point in a 3D surface corresponds with a single data point, and the variables’ values for each point are indicated by a position in a horizontal plane, and a third vertical position with which a color can be associated. The faces are not displayed, only the mesh and its edges whose colors vary are represented.

The overall picture of 3D surfaces is typically used to compare and show the relationships between variables , by the use of interpolation between the points.

Figure 54: 3D Mesh

To create a 3D mesh, the curve to which you apply the display needs to be set as an XYZ curve or a M1D curve. Refer to the XYZ curve conversion, M1D curves conversion, and XYZ/M1D curves graph type sections for more information.

Once the 3D mesh is created, you can access the options through the graph key. Double-click the graph key to open the window of the curve properties.

Figure 55: Curve properties of 3D mesh

The mesh and the symbols settings allow you to customize the display.

Mesh

By default the color scale option is selected.

The option allows you to choose a predefined colormap from a list. It controls the mapping of data values into the colormap. An interpolation is made to create a color gradient between contours.

You can select single color to apply a single color to the whole mesh. In this case you can select a color from the drop-down list.

You can choose whether to add transparency on the faces of the mesh. When hide lines is checked, the transparency is not applied and the lines behind faces are not displayed.

Symbols

The symbols represent the nodes of the mesh

You can then display only the vertices of the mesh without the edges to focus on the points. Check the visibility of the symbols, you can then pick one color from a palette and choose in between symbol shapes and symbol size. The result is what we call a 3D scatter plot.

Figure 56: 3D scatter plot