3D Graph Settings

The Desmos 3D calculator includes a Graph Settings menu. Here, you can change the display of the 3D cube, toggle off the axes and/or grid, turn on Complex Mode and Braille Mode, and switch between radians (the default) and degrees.

Keep reading to learn more about the settings unique to the 3D Calculator.

Drag the Perspective slider to change the perspective distortion of the 3D cube.

For no distortion, or an orthographic view, drag the slider all the way to the left.

For the most distortion, or a perspective view, drag the slider all the way to the right.

The \(x-\), \(y-\), and \(z-\)axes of the 3D cube span from \(-5\) to \(5\) by default. To change all the bounds simultaneously, enter the new bounds into the All Bounds section.

To change the bounds individually, click All Bounds and enter values for the \(x-\), \(y-\), and/or \(z-\)axes.

Changing any individual axis bound will prompt the Zoom Square and Center Origin buttons to appear. Click Zoom Square to readjust the ranges of the \(y-\) and \(z-\)axes to match the range of the \(x-\)axis. Click Center Origin to maintain the range of the axes while recentering your graph around the origin.

Disable zoom

Select Disable zoom to remove the Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons and prevent unintentional zooming.

Disable rotation

Select Disable rotation to prevent the cube from rotating.

Disable lighting

Select Disable lighting to remove the built-in light source and reflections. This option creates a flatter image and gives you precise control over color and custom lighting.

Your zoom, rotation, and lighting settings are all saved with your graph state. So, if you save a graph with these settings, it will open with the same settings.

Reverse contrast

Select Reverse contrast to invert the colors of the background, expression list, and buttons. This option does not change the color of your points, lines, and surfaces.

Translucent surfaces

Select Translucent surfaces to view inside your surfaces and visualize the intersection of different surfaces more easily.

Your reverse contrast and translucent surfaces settings are not saved with your graph state. So, you will need to reapply these settings each time you open your saved graph.

You can also change the default settings for the numbers, planes, and labels that appear inside the 3D cube. To remove everything inside the cube, select the Axes & Grid toggle. Or, select XY plane, Numbers, and/or Labels to remove them individually.