MATLAB Release Notes

3-D Visualization Features

The following table lists new and enhanced volume visualization functions added in MATLAB 6.0.

Function	Purpose
coneplot	Create a 3-D coneplot
contourslice	Draw contours in slice planes
curl	Compute the curl and angular velocity perpendicular to the flow of a 3-D vector field
divergence	Compute the divergence of a 3-D vector field
interpstreamspeed	Interpolate streamline vertices from speed
isocolors	Compute the colors of isosurface vertices
isosurface	Extract isosurface
streamparticles	Draw stream particles from vector data
streamribbon	Draw stream ribbons from vector data
streamslice	Draw well-spaced stream lines from vector data
streamtube	Draw stream tubes from vector data
volumebounds	Return coordinate and color limits for volume data

Graphics Object Transparency

The transparency of an object determines the degree to which you can see through the object's surface and thereby see other objects that are obscured. You can specify a continuous range of transparency from completely transparent (i.e., invisible) to completely opaque (i.e., no transparency). You can specify transparency properties for the following objects:

• Surface
• Patch
• Images

Transparency Properties.   Transparency values, which range from [0 1], are referred to as alpha values. MATLAB handles transparency in a way that is analogous to how it handles color:

• Objects can define alpha data that is used as indices into the alphamap or directly as alpha values.
• Objects can define a single face and edge alpha value or use flat or interpolated transparency based on values in the figure's alphamap.
• Axes define alpha limits that control the mapping of object data to alpha values.
• Figures contain alphamaps, which are m-by-1 arrays of alpha values.

The following table summarizes the object properties that control transparency.

Property	Purpose
ALim	Alpha axis limits
ALimMode	Alpha axis limits mode
AlphaData	Transparency data for patch, surface, or image
AlphaDataMapping	Transparency data mapping method
Alphamap	Figure alphamap
FaceAlpha	Transparency of the object's faces
EdgeAlpha	Transparency of the object's edges
FaceVertexAlphaData	Patch-only alpha data specification

Transparency Helper Functions.   This table lists functions that simplify the process of setting transparency properties.

Function	Purpose
alpha	Set or query transparency properties for objects in current axes
alphamap	Specify the figure alphamap
alim	Set or query the axes alpha limits

See Transparency in the MATLAB "3-D Visualization" documentation for more information.

Renderer Autoselection

MATLAB automatically selects the rendering method used based on the content of the figure. If it is available, MATLAB selects OpenGL as the renderer when certain criteria are met. OpenGL is available on many computer systems and is generally faster than the MATLAB other renderers (Painters and Z-buffer). Using OpenGL enables MATLAB to access the graphics hardware that is available on some systems.

Criteria for Autoselection of OpenGL Renderer.   When the figure RendererMode property is set to auto, MATLAB uses the OpenGL autoselection criteria to determine whether to select the OpenGL renderer.

When the RendererMode property is set to manual, MATLAB does not change the renderer, regardless of changes to the figure contents.

If you do not want MATLAB to include OpenGL in the renderer autoselection process, issue the following command.

• opengl neverselect
  

See the opengl reference page for more information.

Camera Toolbar

The Camera Toolbar enables you to perform a number of viewing operations interactively. To display the toolbar, select Camera Toolbar from the figure window's View menu.

See View Control with the Camera Toolbar in the MATLAB documentation for more information.

Graphics Features

External Interfaces/API Features