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  plotly:
    description: How to make 3D-surface plots in Python
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    name: 3D Surface Plots
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#### Topographical 3D Surface Plot

```python
import plotly.graph_objects as go

import pandas as pd

# Read data from a csv
z_data = pd.read_csv('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/plotly/datasets/master/api_docs/mt_bruno_elevation.csv')

fig = go.Figure(data=[go.Surface(z=z_data.values)])

fig.update_layout(title='Mt Bruno Elevation', autosize=False,
                  width=500, height=500,
                  margin=dict(l=65, r=50, b=65, t=90))

fig.show()
```

### Passing x and y data to 3D Surface Plot

If you do not specify `x` and `y` coordinates, integer indices are used for the `x` and `y` axis. You can also pass `x` and `y` values to `go.Surface`.

```python
import plotly.graph_objects as go
import pandas as pd
import numpy as np
# Read data from a csv
z_data = pd.read_csv('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/plotly/datasets/master/api_docs/mt_bruno_elevation.csv')
z = z_data.values
sh_0, sh_1 = z.shape
x, y = np.linspace(0, 1, sh_0), np.linspace(0, 1, sh_1)
fig = go.Figure(data=[go.Surface(z=z, x=x, y=y)])
fig.update_layout(title='Mt Bruno Elevation', autosize=False,
                  width=500, height=500,
                  margin=dict(l=65, r=50, b=65, t=90))
fig.show()
```


#### Surface Plot With Contours


Display and customize contour data for each axis using the `contours` attribute ([reference](https://plotly.com/python/reference/surface/#surface-contours)).

```python
import plotly.graph_objects as go

import pandas as pd

# Read data from a csv
z_data = pd.read_csv('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/plotly/datasets/master/api_docs/mt_bruno_elevation.csv')

fig = go.Figure(data=[go.Surface(z=z_data.values)])
fig.update_traces(contours_z=dict(show=True, usecolormap=True,
                                  highlightcolor="limegreen", project_z=True))
fig.update_layout(title='Mt Bruno Elevation', autosize=False,
                  scene_camera_eye=dict(x=1.87, y=0.88, z=-0.64),
                  width=500, height=500,
                  margin=dict(l=65, r=50, b=65, t=90)
)

fig.show()
```
#### Configure Surface Contour Levels
This example shows how to slice the surface graph on the desired position for each of x, y and z axis. [contours.x.start](https://plotly.com/python/reference/surface/#surface-contours-x-start) sets the starting contour level value, `end` sets the end of it, and `size` sets the step between each contour level.

```python
import plotly.graph_objects as go

fig = go.Figure(go.Surface(
    contours = {
        "x": {"show": True, "start": 1.5, "end": 2, "size": 0.04, "color":"white"},
        "z": {"show": True, "start": 0.5, "end": 0.8, "size": 0.05}
    },
    x = [1,2,3,4,5],
    y = [1,2,3,4,5],
    z = [
        [0, 1, 0, 1, 0],
        [1, 0, 1, 0, 1],
        [0, 1, 0, 1, 0],
        [1, 0, 1, 0, 1],
        [0, 1, 0, 1, 0]
    ]))
fig.update_layout(
        scene = {
            "xaxis": {"nticks": 20},
            "zaxis": {"nticks": 4},
            'camera_eye': {"x": 0, "y": -1, "z": 0.5},
            "aspectratio": {"x": 1, "y": 1, "z": 0.2}
        })
fig.show()
```
#### Multiple 3D Surface Plots

```python
import plotly.graph_objects as go
import numpy as np

z1 = np.array([
    [8.83,8.89,8.81,8.87,8.9,8.87],
    [8.89,8.94,8.85,8.94,8.96,8.92],
    [8.84,8.9,8.82,8.92,8.93,8.91],
    [8.79,8.85,8.79,8.9,8.94,8.92],
    [8.79,8.88,8.81,8.9,8.95,8.92],
    [8.8,8.82,8.78,8.91,8.94,8.92],
    [8.75,8.78,8.77,8.91,8.95,8.92],
    [8.8,8.8,8.77,8.91,8.95,8.94],
    [8.74,8.81,8.76,8.93,8.98,8.99],
    [8.89,8.99,8.92,9.1,9.13,9.11],
    [8.97,8.97,8.91,9.09,9.11,9.11],
    [9.04,9.08,9.05,9.25,9.28,9.27],
    [9,9.01,9,9.2,9.23,9.2],
    [8.99,8.99,8.98,9.18,9.2,9.19],
    [8.93,8.97,8.97,9.18,9.2,9.18]
])

z2 = z1 + 1
z3 = z1 - 1

fig = go.Figure(data=[
    go.Surface(z=z1),
    go.Surface(z=z2, showscale=False, opacity=0.9),
    go.Surface(z=z3, showscale=False, opacity=0.9)

])

fig.show()
```

### Setting the Surface Color

You can use the `surfacecolor` attribute to define the color of the surface of your figure. In this example, the surface color represents the distance from the origin, rather than the default, which is the `z` value.

```python
import plotly.graph_objects as go
from plotly.subplots import make_subplots

# Equation of ring cyclide
# see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dupin_cyclide
import numpy as np
a, b, d = 1.32, 1., 0.8
c = a**2 - b**2
u, v = np.mgrid[0:2*np.pi:100j, 0:2*np.pi:100j]
x = (d * (c - a * np.cos(u) * np.cos(v)) + b**2 * np.cos(u)) / (a - c * np.cos(u) * np.cos(v))
y = b * np.sin(u) * (a - d*np.cos(v)) / (a - c * np.cos(u) * np.cos(v))
z = b * np.sin(v) * (c*np.cos(u) - d) / (a - c * np.cos(u) * np.cos(v))

fig = make_subplots(rows=1, cols=2,
                    specs=[[{'is_3d': True}, {'is_3d': True}]],
                    subplot_titles=['Color corresponds to z', 'Color corresponds to distance to origin'],
                    )

fig.add_trace(go.Surface(x=x, y=y, z=z, colorbar_x=-0.07), 1, 1)
fig.add_trace(go.Surface(x=x, y=y, z=z, surfacecolor=x**2 + y**2 + z**2), 1, 2)
fig.update_layout(title_text="Ring cyclide")
fig.show()
```

#### Reference


See https://plotly.com/python/reference/surface/ for more information!
