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There are a number of ways to combine and convert images which are possible.
| Prolog, Epilog | include Graphics primitives |
| Plot, ParametricPlot, ParametricPlot3D | combine plots of several functions |
| Graphics3D[ obj ] | convert to Graphics3D object |
| Graphics[ obj ] | convert to Graphics object |
| Show[ obj1 , obj2 , ... ] | convert and combine several objects |
The function plotting commands Plot, ParametricPlot and ParametricPlot3D all allow more than one function to be plotted.
| The Evaluate command is necessary since ParametricPlot3D is HoldAll. | In[30]:= ParametricPlot3D[Evaluate[Table[{Cos[x], Sin[x],
n x}, {n, 5}]], {x, 0, 2 Pi}, BoxRatios -> {1, 1, 1}] |
| Out[30]= - Graphics3D - |
| To combine existing images we can just use Show. | In[31]:= Graphics3D[Line[{{0, 0, 0}, {0, 0, 40}}]] Out[31]= - Graphics3D - |
| In[32]:= Show[%%, %] |
|
| Out[32]= - Graphics3D - |
There are also methods to convert graphics of one type to another. One of the most common is the conversion of SurfaceGraphics to Graphics3D. This is useful since Graphics3D primitives can intersect and generally represent more complex shapes than SurfaceGraphics.
| This makes a SurfaceGraphics object. | In[33]:= plot1 = Plot3D[x^2 - y^2, {x, -1, 1}, {y, -1, 1}, BoxRatios -> {1, 1, 2},
PlotPoints -> 10, DisplayFunction -> Identity] Out[33]= - SurfaceGraphics - |
| This converts it to Graphics3D. | In[34]:= Show[Graphics3D[plot1],
DisplayFunction -> $DisplayFunction] |
| Out[34]= - Graphics3D - |
|
| This makes another SurfaceGraphics object. | In[35]:= plot2 = Plot3D[y^2 - x^2, {x, -1, 1}, {y, -1, 1}, BoxRatios -> {1, 1, 2},
PlotPoints -> 10, DisplayFunction -> Identity] Out[35]= - SurfaceGraphics - |
| The convertion to Graphics3D happens automatically. | In[36]:= Show[plot1, plot2,
DisplayFunction -> $DisplayFunction] |
| Out[36]= - Graphics3D - |
With this ability to combine objects one can build up complex pictures by making use of built-in commands to build individual components. It is always good to use the tools provided by a computer system as much as possible. As an example we will put a vector field on the surface of a sphere.
| This generates a sphere. The setting of PlotPoints is crucial in this case. | In[37]:= sphere = ParametricPlot3D[{Cos[p] Sin[t], Sin[p] Sin[t],
Cos[t]}, {p, 0., 2 Pi}, {t, 0., Pi}, PlotPoints -> {12 + 1, 8 + 1}, DisplayFunction -> Identity] Out[37]= - Graphics3D - |
| This produces a list of pairs of starting points and corresponding vectors. | In[38]:= vecs = Flatten[Table[{{Cos[p] Sin[t], Sin[p] Sin[t], Cos[t]},
0.3 {Cos[p] Sin[t], Sin[p] Sin[t], Cos[t]} + {0.2, 0, 0}}, {p, 0., 2 Pi, 2 Pi / 12},
{t, 0., Pi, Pi / 8}], 1]; |
| To show the vectors I will use the package Graphics`PlotField3D`. | In[39]:= <<Graphics`PlotField3D` |
| This shows the list of vectors. | In[40]:= ListPlotVectorField3D[vecs] |
| Out[40]= - Graphics3D - |
|
| Finally we can combine both images. | In[41]:= Show[%, sphere] |
| Out[41]= - Graphics3D - |
| next page: 5 Coordinate Systems | back to table of contents |