Volume Visualization

Representing gridded volume data as iso, slice, and stream plots

Functions

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contoursliceDraw contours in volume slice planes
flowSimple function of three variables
isocapsCompute isosurface end-cap geometry
isocolorsCalculate isosurface and patch colors
isonormalsCompute normals of isosurface vertices
isosurfaceExtract isosurface data from volume data
reducepatchReduce number of patch faces
reducevolumeReduce number of elements in volume data set
shrinkfacesReduce size of patch faces
sliceVolume slice planes
smooth3Smooth 3-D data
subvolumeExtract subset of volume data set
volumeboundsCoordinate and color limits for volume data
coneplotPlot velocity vectors as cones in 3-D vector field
curlCurl and angular velocity of vector field
divergenceCompute divergence of vector field
interpstreamspeedInterpolate stream-line vertices from flow speed
stream2Compute 2-D streamline data
stream3Compute 3-D streamline data
streamlinePlot streamlines from 2-D or 3-D vector data
streamparticlesPlot stream particles
streamribbon3-D stream ribbon plot from vector volume data
streamslicePlot streamlines in slice planes
streamtubeCreate 3-D stream tube plot

Topics

Visualizing Volume Data

This example shows several methods for visualizing volume data in MATLAB®.

Overview of Volume Visualization

Volume visualization is the creation of graphical representations of data sets that are defined on three-dimensional grids.

Techniques for Visualizing Scalar Volume Data

There are several techniques available for visualizing scalar volume data, such as MRI slices.

Visualizing Four-Dimensional Data

This example shows several techniques to visualize four dimensional (4-D) data in MATLAB®.

Visualizing Vector Volume Data

There are several techniques that are useful for visualizing vector data, such as stream lines, stream particles, stream ribbons, stream tubes, and cone plots.

Exploring Volumes with Slice Planes

A slice plane is a surface that takes on coloring based on the values of the volume data in the region where the slice is positioned.

Connecting Equal Values with Isosurfaces

Isosurfaces are constructed by creating a surface within the volume that has the same value at each vertex. Isosurface plots are similar to contour plots in that they both indicate where values are equal.

Isocaps Add Context to Visualizations

Isocaps are planes that are fitted to the limits of an isosurface to provide a visual context for the isosurface.

Display Streamlines Using Vector Data

Visualize air currents in 3-D using streamlines, slice planes, and contours on the same plot.

Displaying Curl with Stream Ribbons

Stream ribbons illustrate direction of flow, similar to stream lines, but can also show rotation about the flow axis by twisting the ribbon-shaped flow line.

Displaying Divergence with Stream Tubes

Stream tubes are similar to stream lines, except the tubes have width, providing another dimension that you can use to represent information.

Create Stream Particle Animations

Visualize the speed and direction of particles within vector fields using streamlines.

Vector Field Displayed with Cone Plots

This example shows how to use cone plots, isosurfaces, lighting, and camera placement to visualize a vector field.

Related Information