| | The Mesh Surface chart is a type of surface chart that displays a grid of data points with specified XYZ coordinates.
Unlike a Grid Surface chart, which only allows users to define the y-position or elevation, Mesh Surface provides more precise control over the position of each data point, thus allowing you
to visualize irregularly spaced data. A variation of the Mesh Surface chart allows the user to specify a color per each data point, thus adding a fourth dimension of data to the chart.
Mesh Surface charts are commonly used in scientific and engineering applications, allowing for more detailed visualizations of complex data sets.
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 | The Mesh Surface chart displays a grid of data points, where each data point specifies a distinct XYZ coordinate. This is in contrast to the Grid Surface series where only the y-position (elevation) is user-defined and the X/Z coordinates are shared for data points in the same row or column. |
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This example demonstrates a mesh representing a mathematically generated spiral surface. |  |
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 | The Mesh surface series supports a FillEffect for the whole surface. The user can apply images, gradients, advanced gradients and patterns to the surface, as well as modify material properties like Specular Color, Emissive Color and Shininess. In this example are added texture and mesh frame. |
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Mesh surface series may intersect. Using settings for surface filling allows higher readability of the represented data. |  |
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 | "Empty data points" is a feature allowing data points inside the mesh surface grid to contain invalid data. These data points are not rendered by the chart which allows you to create "holes" in the surface. |
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- Choose the right type of chart: Mesh Surface charts are best used when displaying irregularly spaced 3D data that is orderded in a grid. In some cases it may be more appropriate to use a Grid Surface (when all data points have common X/Z coordinates), or Triangulated Surface (when the data points are not ordered in a grid).
- Simplify the data: Mesh Surface charts can contain millions of data points, and rendering such an amount of data points, especially interactively is very computationally expensive. You can use various methods to simplify the rendered data set like binning or clustering, which are built into the chart.
- Label axes clearly: Label the x, y, and z axes to ensure the chart is easily interpretable. Include units of measurement if necessary.
- Use lighting and shading appropriately: Lighting and shading can enhance the 3D effect of Mesh Surface charts. Experiment with different lighting and shading options to find the best way to represent your data.
- Provide context for the data by including a title, captions, and annotations. Explain the purpose of the chart, the meaning of the data, and any relevant background information.
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- Choose the right type of chart: Mesh Surface charts are best used when displaying irregularly spaced 3D data that is orderded in a grid. In some cases it may be more appropriate to use a Grid Surface (when all data points have common X/Z coordinates), or Triangulated Surface (when the data points are not ordered in a grid).
- Simplify the data: Mesh Surface charts can contain millions of data points, and rendering such an amount of data points, especially interactively is very computationally expensive. You can use various methods to simplify the rendered data set like binning or clustering, which are built into the chart.
- Label axes clearly: Label the x, y, and z axes to ensure the chart is easily interpretable. Include units of measurement if necessary.
- Use lighting and shading appropriately: Lighting and shading can enhance the 3D effect of Mesh Surface charts. Experiment with different lighting and shading options to find the best way to represent your data.
- Provide context for the data by including a title, captions, and annotations. Explain the purpose of the chart, the meaning of the data, and any relevant background information.
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