IMAGECF Complex Field Visualization (amplitude, phase)

Imaging Complex Field with a corresponding color wheel Also applicable to visualization of a 2D vector field

You are now following this Submission

This function provides a visualization tool of complex functions and 2D-real vector field.
IMAGECF(Z)
IMAGECF(Z,Zmax)
IMAGECF(X+iY,Z)
IMAGECF(X+iY,Z,Zmax)
IMAGECF(ax,___)
IMAGECF(ax,ax2,___) ax for the main image, ax2 for the color wheel plot
IMAGECF(___, option) color of zero. 'w'-white 'k'-black
h = IMAGECF(___);

Example1>
[x,y] = meshgrid(-2:.1:2);
z = x + 1i*y;
imagecf(x+1i*y, z.^2+1,1,'k');

Example2> Mapping real 2D vector field
[x,y] = meshgrid(-2:.1:2);
vx = -y;
vy = x;
imagecf(x+1i*y, vx+1i*vy);

New Features and Tips:
- Now, the tooltip shows the corresponding complex value of the current location
- The color wheel plot no longer takes a huge memory space.
- This function returns a handle of a Surface object. Try h.FaceColor = 'interp' or 'flat' if you are not satisfied with the current setting of h.FaceColor = 'texturemap'
- The real part of the complex field is stored in 'ZData', and the imaginary part is stored in 'UserData'. Try h.ZData and h.UserData to access them.

Cite As

Kanghyun Chu (2026). IMAGECF Complex Field Visualization (amplitude, phase) (https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/69930-imagecf-complex-field-visualization-amplitude-phase), MATLAB Central File Exchange. Retrieved .

General Information

MATLAB Release Compatibility

  • Compatible with any release

Platform Compatibility

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
Version Published Release Notes Action
2.0.0