3D | the R Graph Gallery

Data visualization and 3d → Warning

Three dimensional objects are very popular but negatively affect the accuracy and speed at which one can interpret a graphic in most cases. In general, it is better to avoid them.

Basically, 3d scatterplots and surface plots are the only tolerated exceptions. Please don't build 3d barplots or even worse, 3d pie charts.

3d distorts reality. Source

3D charts with rgl

The rgl package is the best tool to work in 3D from R. Here is an illustration: a 3d scatterplot showing the relationship between 3 numerical variables.

Note that rgl automatically builds interactive charts. Zooming and rotating can indeed make the chart more insightful.

Source code

Trying zooming / rotating →

Surface plot with plotly

A surface plot shows the shape of a surface. It basically requires a grid coordinates with a numeric variable attributed to each position: its height.

Plotly allows to build that kind of chart in minutes, and gives the interactivity for free.

Source code

Trying zooming / rotating →

Other examples

3D knot

A 3D knot to illustrate what is possible to do with rgl.

Nifty graph

A contribution by Matt Asher.

3D animation

A 3D animated scatterplot made with R and rgl.