A 3D surface plot visualizes a function of two variables as a continuous surface in three-dimensional space. The height (z-axis) represents the function value at each (x, y) point, with color encoding the same information to enhance depth perception. This visualization is ideal for understanding mathematical functions, terrain data, and response surfaces where the relationship between two inputs and one output needs to be explored.
""" anyplot.ai
surface-basic: Basic 3D Surface Plot
Library: matplotlib 3.10.9 | Python 3.13.13
Quality: 83/100 | Updated: 2026-05-06
"""
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
# Data - create a 40x40 grid for smooth visualization
x = np.linspace(-4, 4, 40)
y = np.linspace(-4, 4, 40)
X, Y = np.meshgrid(x, y)
# Gaussian-like surface with interesting features (radial ripple pattern)
Z = np.sin(np.sqrt(X**2 + Y**2)) * np.exp(-0.1 * (X**2 + Y**2))
# Create 3D plot (4800x2700 px)
fig = plt.figure(figsize=(16, 9))
ax = fig.add_subplot(111, projection="3d")
# Plot surface with colormap
surf = ax.plot_surface(X, Y, Z, cmap="viridis", edgecolor="none", alpha=0.9, antialiased=True)
# Add colorbar
cbar = fig.colorbar(surf, ax=ax, shrink=0.5, aspect=10, pad=0.1)
cbar.set_label("Z Value", fontsize=16)
cbar.ax.tick_params(labelsize=12)
# Labels and styling (scaled font sizes for 4800x2700)
ax.set_xlabel("X Axis", fontsize=18, labelpad=12)
ax.set_ylabel("Y Axis", fontsize=18, labelpad=12)
ax.set_zlabel("Z Axis", fontsize=18, labelpad=12)
ax.set_title("surface-basic · matplotlib · pyplots.ai", fontsize=24, pad=20)
# Tick parameters
ax.tick_params(axis="both", labelsize=14)
# Set viewing angle for good perspective
ax.view_init(elev=30, azim=45)
plt.tight_layout()
plt.savefig("plot.png", dpi=300, bbox_inches="tight")
Part of Basic 3D Surface Plot on anyplot.ai.