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Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center
Image3D
  • See Also
    • Raster3D
    • Image
    • ArrayPlot3D
    • Import
    • ImageData
    • Image3DSlices
    • Image3DProjection
    • ImageType
    • ImageDimensions
    • Graphics3D
    • ImageQ
  • Related Guides
    • 3D Images
    • Image Processing & Analysis
    • Image Representation
    • Creating & Importing Images
    • Image Computation for Microscopy
    • See Also
      • Raster3D
      • Image
      • ArrayPlot3D
      • Import
      • ImageData
      • Image3DSlices
      • Image3DProjection
      • ImageType
      • ImageDimensions
      • Graphics3D
      • ImageQ
    • Related Guides
      • 3D Images
      • Image Processing & Analysis
      • Image Representation
      • Creating & Importing Images
      • Image Computation for Microscopy

Image3D[data]

represents a 3D image with pixel values given by the array data.

Image3D[{image1,image2,…}]

creates a 3D image from a list of 2D images.

Image3D[obj,"type"]

creates a 3D image of the specified data type.

Details and Options
Details and Options Details and Options
Background & Context
Examples  
Basic Examples  
Scope  
Creating a 3D Image  
Arithmetic & Statistical Operations  
Options  
Background  
BoxRatios  
ColorFunction  
Applications  
Properties & Relations  
Possible Issues  
Neat Examples  
See Also
Related Guides
Related Links
History
Cite this Page
BUILT-IN SYMBOL
  • See Also
    • Raster3D
    • Image
    • ArrayPlot3D
    • Import
    • ImageData
    • Image3DSlices
    • Image3DProjection
    • ImageType
    • ImageDimensions
    • Graphics3D
    • ImageQ
  • Related Guides
    • 3D Images
    • Image Processing & Analysis
    • Image Representation
    • Creating & Importing Images
    • Image Computation for Microscopy
    • See Also
      • Raster3D
      • Image
      • ArrayPlot3D
      • Import
      • ImageData
      • Image3DSlices
      • Image3DProjection
      • ImageType
      • ImageDimensions
      • Graphics3D
      • ImageQ
    • Related Guides
      • 3D Images
      • Image Processing & Analysis
      • Image Representation
      • Creating & Importing Images
      • Image Computation for Microscopy

Image3D

Image3D[data]

represents a 3D image with pixel values given by the array data.

Image3D[{image1,image2,…}]

creates a 3D image from a list of 2D images.

Image3D[obj,"type"]

creates a 3D image of the specified data type.

Details and Options

  • Image3D, also known as a volumetric image or a 3D volume, is a regular 3-dimensional grid of voxels, typically generated from a sequence of 2D images acquired by MRI or CT scanners.
  • Image3D displays in a notebook as a rendered volume.
  • In Image3D[data], by default the first three dimensions correspond to slices, rows, and columns of the 3D image, respectively. Slices are enumerated from top to bottom, rows from back to front, and columns from left to right.
  • An Image3D object with ImageDimensions of {width,depth,height} is placed in the 3D space so that in a position {x,y,z} given in the standard image coordinate system, x runs from 0 to width, y runs from 0 to depth, and z runs from 0 to height. The position {0,0,0} corresponds to the bottom-left front corner.
  • Image3D[{image1,image2,…,imageheight}] will have ImageDimensions of {width,depth,height}, where ImageDimensions[imagej] is {width,depth} for each of the 2D images, stacked from top to bottom. »
  • In Image3D[data], each element of data can specify values for any number of channels.
  • Elements of data can be one of the following:
  • vrendered as gray level from 0 (black) to 1 (white)
    {r,g,b}rendered as red, green, blue values from 0 to 1
    {c1,c2,c3,…}channel values rendered by equally spaced hues
    colorspecific color
  • The input array data can be given as a List, NumericArray, SparseArray, etc.
  • Image3D[data] by default allows values in any range, but displays only values between 0 and 1.
  • Image3D[data,"type"] can be used to create a 3D image of a specified data type. Values in data are coerced to the specified type by rounding or clipping. By default, "Real32" is assumed.
  • Possible settings for "type" include:
  • "Bit"integer 0 or 1
    "Byte"integer 0 through 255
    "Bit16"integer 0 through 65535
    "Real32"single-precision real (32-bit)
    "Real64"double-precision real (64-bit)
  • Image3D[image,"type"] can be used to convert between types.
  • Image3D[{i1,i2,…}] converts all images to the largest type among the input images.
  • Image3D[{i1,i2,…},"type"] converts all images to the specified type.
  • Image3D takes the following options:
  • ColorSpaceAutomaticwhat color space to assume for the data
    ImageResolutionAutomaticthe resolution to use when exporting
    ImageSizeAutomaticdisplay size of the volume
    InterleavingTruewhether to assume channels are interleaved
    MagnificationAutomatichow to magnify the displayed volume
    MetaInformation{}meta-information associated with the volume
  • Image3D also accepts the following Raster3D options:
  • ClipRangeNonecut away a rectangular region from the view
    ColorFunction Automatichow to translate data values into colors
    MethodAutomaticoptions for rendering the color cells
  • Image3D also accepts the following Graphics3D options:
  • AlignmentPointCenterthe default point in the graphic to align with
    AxesFalsewhether to draw axes
    AxesEdgeAutomaticon which edges to put axes
    AxesLabelNoneaxes labels
    AxesOriginAutomaticwhere axes should cross
    AxesStyle{}graphics directives to specify the style for axes
    BackgroundNonebackground color for the Image3D
    BaselinePositionAutomatichow to align with a surrounding text baseline
    BoxedFalsewhether to draw the bounding box
    BoxRatiosAutomaticbounding 3D box ratios
    BoxStyle{}style specifications for the box
    ClipPlanesNoneclipping planes
    ClipPlanesStyleAutomaticstyle specifications for clipping planes
    RotationAction"Fit"how to render after interactive rotation
    SphericalRegionFalsewhether to make the circumscribing sphere fit in the final display area
    ViewAngleAutomaticangle of the field of view
    ViewCenterAutomaticpoint to display at the center
    ViewMatrixAutomaticexplicit transformation matrix
    ViewPoint{1.3,-2.4,2.}viewing position
    ViewRangeAllrange of viewing distances to include
    ViewVectorAutomaticposition and direction of a simulated camera
    ViewVertical{0,0,1}direction to make vertical
  • With the setting BoxRatios->{sx,sy,sz}, the Image3D is rendered in a box of the given side-length ratios.
  • With ColorFunction->cf, color and opacity of each voxel can be specified. An interactive color function editor is available via the Image3D contextual (right-click) menu.
  • ColorSpace->"space" specifies that values in the data should be interpreted as coordinates in a particular color space. ColorSpace->Automatic treats values as arbitrary channel intensities.
  • Bit images always have ColorSpace set to Automatic.
  • With the setting ColorSpace->"RGB", data given as {r,g,b,a} is taken to include an opacity value a.
  • With the default setting Interleaving->True, Image3D[data,…] takes data to be a 3D array of lists {c1,c2,…} of channel values.
  • With Interleaving->False, Image3D[data,…] takes data to be a list {v1,v2, …} of 3D arrays of values for each channel.
  • Explicit settings for ImageSize determine the absolute size at which Image3D should be displayed.
  • With ImageSize->Automatic, the size at which the 3D image should be displayed is determined by the setting for Magnification.
  • A setting Magnification->m specifies that each displayed voxel in Image3D is magnified by a factor of m.
  • With Magnification->Automatic, smaller 3D images are typically displayed at larger magnifications, and large 3D images are reduced to fit within available notebook or other display areas.
  • Image3D[Image3D[…],opts] effectively resets the options for an Image3D.
  • ImageDimensions, ImageChannels, and ImageType find information on the structure of a 3D image.
  • Image3D[Raster3D[…]] converts a Raster3D object to a 3D image.
  • Arithmetic and statistical operations such as Log, Plus and Mean can work directly with images.
  • Information for Image3D may include the following properties:
  • "Channels"number of image channels
    "ColorSpace"the color space to assume for data
    "DataType"underlying data type
    "ImageDimensions"pixel dimensions
    "Interleaving"whether data is stored interleaved
    "Transparency"whether the image has transparency (alpha) channel

Background & Context

  • Image3D provides unified symbolic representation for a variety of digital 3D image formats. In particular, an Image3D object contains a three-dimensional array of values (or lists of values) that represent a 3D raster image. 3D images are commonly encountered in medical imaging, geographic mapping, and scientific visualization.
  • The data inside a 3D image may take on a variety of values depending on if the image is binary, grayscale, RGB, etc. The first three dimensions of an Image3D correspond to slices, rows, and columns, respectively. Slices are enumerated from top to bottom, rows from back to front, and columns from left to right.
  • Image3D objects are visualized using a set of techniques collectively known as volume rendering that display a projection of discretely sampled 3D data values. Given an Image3D containing a regular volumetric grid, each volume element is known as a voxel and is represented by a single value (or list of values).
  • Upon output, a 3D image formats as a picture of a projection of the image (not as a 3D array of values). Image3D objects may be exported to a variety of standard image formats using Export, and images in a number of formats may be imported as Image3D objects using Import. Slices of a 3D image may be stored in separate images file formats or different frames of a file format that support multiple frames (e.g. TIFF, DICOM, etc.).
  • Applying Image3D to a list of 2D images creates a 3D image. The function Show can be used to combine 3D vector graphics with Image3D objects. A Raster3D graphics expression may be converted to a 3D image by applying the function Image3D to it.
  • The array of pixel values in a 3D image may be obtained using ImageData. ImageDimensions gives the pixel dimensions of the raster associated with an Image3D object. ImageType gives a label representing the number type used internally to represent each pixel of a 3D image. ImageChannels gives the number of channels the 3D image contains.
  • Options useful for Image3D objects include ColorSpace, Interleaving, ImageSize, and Magnification. Other options useful for 3D rendering include BoxRatios, ColorFunction, ColorFunctionScaling, and Background.

Examples

open all close all

Basic Examples  (4)

Create a real-value 3D image from numbers in the range 0 to 1:

Create a three-channel 3D image:

Create a 3D image from a stack of images:

Import a list of images as a 3D volume:

Scope  (4)

Creating a 3D Image  (2)

Create from a 3D region:

Create a 3D volume from an elevation map:

Arithmetic & Statistical Operations  (2)

Multiply two volumes to highlight a region of interest:

Compute statistical measures on images:

Options  (3)

Background  (1)

Use a black background for volume rendering:

BoxRatios  (1)

By default, BoxRatios is set to the dimensions ratios of the 3D volume:

Set BoxRatios to the ratios of the object:

ColorFunction  (1)

Default rendering of a grayscale volume:

A gray color function with linear opacity is commonly used for rendering of grayscale volumes:

Use a gray color function with constant opacity:

Use one of the predefined color functions:

Use a customized color function:

With a fully opaque color function, only the box surface is visible:

Applications  (1)

Display a motion pattern by blurring an animation in the temporal dimension:

Convert the animation frames into an Image3D object:

Blur along the slices to get a temporal interpolation:

Properties & Relations  (2)

Use Show to combine 3D vector graphics and Image3D objects:

ArrayPlot3D displays the data as discrete elements:

Possible Issues  (2)

Placing a grayscale image into an Image3D object will change the overall visualization:

Use GrayLevel color function to see similar gray values:

White background is not suitable when rendering binary images with a gray color function:

Use a black background:

Adding a box can also help make the 3D object more visible:

Neat Examples  (3)

Evolution of a 3D cellular automaton:

Evolution of a Game of Life cellular automaton:

Blurred evolution of a discrete 2D cellular automaton, reminiscent of diffusion processes in the continuous domain:

See Also

Raster3D  Image  ArrayPlot3D  Import  ImageData  Image3DSlices  Image3DProjection  ImageType  ImageDimensions  Graphics3D  ImageQ

Related Guides

    ▪
  • 3D Images
  • ▪
  • Image Processing & Analysis
  • ▪
  • Image Representation
  • ▪
  • Creating & Importing Images
  • ▪
  • Image Computation for Microscopy

Related Links

  • An Elementary Introduction to the Wolfram Language: Arrays, or Lists of Lists
  • An Elementary Introduction to the Wolfram Language: More about Pure Functions

History

Introduced in 2012 (9.0) | Updated in 2014 (10.0) ▪ 2017 (11.1) ▪ 2019 (12.0)

Wolfram Research (2012), Image3D, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Image3D.html (updated 2019).

Text

Wolfram Research (2012), Image3D, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Image3D.html (updated 2019).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2012. "Image3D." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2019. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Image3D.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2012). Image3D. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Image3D.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_image3d, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Image3D}", year="2019", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Image3D.html}", note=[Accessed: 01-December-2025]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2025_image3d, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Image3D}, year={2019}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Image3D.html}, note=[Accessed: 01-December-2025]}

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