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GraphicsComplex
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GraphicsComplex

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GraphicsComplex[{pt1,pt2,…},data]

represents a graphics complex in which coordinates given as integers i in graphics primitives in data are taken to be pti.

Details and Options

Examples

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Basic Examples  (3)Summary of the most common use cases

Polygons and lines in 2D:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-ftsu6s
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-7xmx6
Out[2]=2

Polygons and lines in 3D:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-oj5cw
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-hebi7
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-73ynw
Out[3]=3

Use built-in PolyhedronData:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-gzqs93
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-d1dozg
In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-cuezch
Out[3]=3

Do the same using PolyhedronData property annotations:

In[4]:=4
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-c46wcn
Out[4]=4

Scope  (3)Survey of the scope of standard use cases

The coordinate data for any primitive can come from a GraphicsComplex:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-nw645
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-lqiek7
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-cq2gmf
Out[3]=3

3D primitives:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-bcgh3l
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-g59q94
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-iskskk
Out[3]=3

Mixing directives and primitives within a GraphicsComplex:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-j14e4o
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-cscsmj
Out[2]=2

Options  (7)Common values & functionality for each option

ContentSelectable  (3)

No individual object is selectable; the graphics complex appears as one object:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-l25cix
Out[1]=1

Allow the individual objects in the graphics complex to be selectable by a single click:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-fugd5
Out[1]=1

The first click selects the whole complex, and subsequent clicks select individual objects:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-db8u7t
Out[1]=1

VertexColors  (2)

Specify colors for each vertex:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-h8mkut
Out[1]=1

Specify vertex colors for 3D polygons:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-l58qcl
Out[1]=1

VertexNormals  (1)

Define vertices and face indices of a cylindrical model:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-bvw8jm
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-m5tuy

Without surface normals, the shading is constant or flat for each polygon face:

In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-g7dc06
Out[3]=3

With surface normals, the shading is interpolated or smooth across each polygon face:

In[4]:=4
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-efqagj
Out[4]=4

VertexTextureCoordinates  (1)

Texture mapping with 2D polygons:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-esvf27
Out[1]=1

Texture mapping with 3D polygons:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-fyj5
Out[2]=2

Applications  (2)Sample problems that can be solved with this function

Most surface and region plots produce GraphicsComplex:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-jsguv
Out[1]=1

You can use GraphicsComplex to transform the coordinates in this simple rotation:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-fwp5w6
Out[2]=2

The same idea applies to 3D surfaces:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-b1jzb
Out[1]=1
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-lno4j
Out[2]=2

Properties & Relations  (4)Properties of the function, and connections to other functions

Set up a graphics complex with shared coordinates:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-gbl5s2

Applying Normal will split a complex into primitives with duplicated coordinates:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-f33r8z
Out[2]=2

Both forms produce the same image:

In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-bt4b95
Out[3]=3

Graphics complexes can be built up from integrated PolyhedronData:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-bvj6xw
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-du73z
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-bl7mmt
Out[3]=3

Or, get a graphics complex directly:

In[4]:=4
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-car1rq
In[5]:=5
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-5u07j
Out[5]=5
In[6]:=6
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-n137pe
Out[6]=6

ExampleData contains a number of 3D graphics complex models:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-bnv08a
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-dp7iq5
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-b0s1pn
Out[3]=3

Many Import formats produce GraphicsComplex:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-ctm8yq
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-buvtrp
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-3j5dd
Out[3]=3

In this case the surface has about 35000 vertices:

In[4]:=4
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-cub1y7
Out[4]=4

Neat Examples  (2)Surprising or curious use cases

A random selection of index coordinates:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-l38plo
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-l5xam8
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-dyhgti
In[4]:=4
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-0d4om
Out[4]=4

Cows with random gradients:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-hqtjn8
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0en0dy7dm-k6cfa9
Out[2]=2
Wolfram Research (2007), GraphicsComplex, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html.
✖
Wolfram Research (2007), GraphicsComplex, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html.

Text

Wolfram Research (2007), GraphicsComplex, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html.

✖
Wolfram Research (2007), GraphicsComplex, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html.

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2007. "GraphicsComplex." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html.

✖
Wolfram Language. 2007. "GraphicsComplex." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2007). GraphicsComplex. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html

✖
Wolfram Language. (2007). GraphicsComplex. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_graphicscomplex, author="Wolfram Research", title="{GraphicsComplex}", year="2007", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html}", note=[Accessed: 22-June-2025 ]}

✖
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_graphicscomplex, author="Wolfram Research", title="{GraphicsComplex}", year="2007", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html}", note=[Accessed: 22-June-2025 ]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2025_graphicscomplex, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={GraphicsComplex}, year={2007}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html}, note=[Accessed: 22-June-2025 ]}

✖
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_graphicscomplex, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={GraphicsComplex}, year={2007}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/GraphicsComplex.html}, note=[Accessed: 22-June-2025 ]}