understanding the syntax in the surface command

The simple form of the surface cammand is straightforward to understand:

surface(x,y,z)

where x,y,z are vectors.

However, I find it difficult to understand when x, y and z are matrices. As in the following commands :

% front

surface([-1 1; -1 1], [-1 -1; -1 -1], [-1 -1; 1 1],'FaceColor', 'texturemap', 'CData', t1 );

% top

surface([-1 1; -1 1], [-1 -1; 1 1], [1 1; 1 1],'FaceColor', 'texturemap', 'CData', s1);

view(3)

% t1 and s1 are just any two images that can be texture mapped on to cube surfaces

I would appreciate it if somebody could explain to me how the syntax works in the above commands. What is the best way of understanding these commands, where x, y and z are matrices? Thanks

Answer 1

[Ravi]

I have the solution now. Just required a little more effort on my part. Thought that I should share it.

When we have x, y and z as matrix arguments as in the following, just gather all the indices together to get the 3D coordinates of a point.

 % front

surface([-1 1; -1 1], [-1 -1; -1 -1], [-1 -1; 1 1],'FaceColor', 'texturemap', 'CData', t1 )

The x, y and z matrices above are equivalent to (front face of a cube) :

[(-1,-1,-1) (1,-1,-1); (-1,-1,1) (1,-1,1)]

Similiarly, the top face becomes :

[(-1,-1,1) (1,-1,1); (-1,1,1) (1,1,1)]

Ridiculously simple. I should have arrived at this a lot sooner.

Ravi