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Built-in Mathematica Symbol

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GraphicsComplex

GraphicsComplex[{pt₁, pt₂, ...}, data]
represents a graphics complex in which coordinates given as integers i in graphics primitives in data are taken to be pt_i.

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GraphicsComplex works in both 2D and 3D.

GraphicsComplex[{pt₁, pt₂, ...}, data] effectively replaces integers i that appear as coordinates in data by the corresponding pt_i.

GraphicsComplex provides a convenient way to build up meshes or simplicial complexes in which vertices of polygons are shared.

GraphicsComplex is treated like a single primitive in Graphics and Graphics3D.

In GraphicsComplex[pts, data], data can be any nested list of graphics primitives and directives.

The following options can be given:

	ContentSelectable	Automatic	whether to allow contents to be selected
	VertexColors	Automatic	vertex colors corresponding to each pt_i
	VertexNormals	Automatic	vertex normals corresponding to each pt_i

GraphicsComplex[{pt₁, pt₂, ...}, data, VertexColors->{c₁, c₂, ...}] replaces Polygon[{i, j, ...}] by Polygon[{pt_i, pt_j, ...}, VertexColors->{c_i, c_j, ...}].

The VertexNormals option works the same way.

Normal[GraphicsComplex[pts, data]] substitutes coordinates to give an ordinary list of graphics primitives and directives.

Basic Examples (3)

Polygons and lines in 2D:

Polygons and lines in 3D:

Use built-in PolyhedronData:

Polygons and lines in 2D:

Polygons and lines in 3D:

Use built-in PolyhedronData:

Out[2]//Short=

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

3D primitives:

Mixing directives and primitives within a GraphicsComplex:

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

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

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

Specify colors for each vertex:

Specify vertex colors for 3D polygons:

Define vertices and face indices of a cylindrical model:

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

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

Applications (2)

Most surface and region plots produce GraphicsComplex:

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

The same idea applies to 3D surfaces:

Properties & Relations (4)

Set up a graphics complex with shared coordinates:

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

Both forms produce the same image:

Graphics complexes can be built up from integrated PolyhedronData:

Or, get a graphics complex directly:

ExampleData contains a number of 3D graphics complex models:

Many Import formats produce GraphicsComplex:

In this case the surface has about 35000 vertices:

Neat Examples (2)

A random selection of index coordinates:

Cows with random gradients:

GraphicsGroup Plot3D

3D Geometry & Modeling Formats

Combining Graphics

Graphics Objects

Polygons

Symbolic Graphics Language

New in 6.0: Graphics Primitives & Directives

New in 6.0: Visualization & Graphics

Demonstrations with GraphicsComplex (Wolfram Demonstrations Project)

New in 6

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