# 3dplot viewing angle

I need to choose my view angle in \tdplotsetmaincoords{ }{ } (elevation and azimuth) so that my plot ends up looking like the one below. I wish to do this entirely via the view angle, not relabelling the x,y,z coordinates.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}   %TikZ is required for this to work.  Make sure this exists before the next line

%\usepackage{3dplot} %requires 3dplot.sty to be in same directory, or in your LaTeX installation
\usepackage{tikz-3dplot}
\usepackage[active,tightpage]{preview}  %generates a tightly fitting border around the work
\PreviewEnvironment{tikzpicture}
\setlength\PreviewBorder{2mm}

\begin{document}

%Angle Definitions
%-----------------

\tdplotsetmaincoords{60}{110}

%start tikz picture, and use the tdplot_main_coords style to implement the display
%coordinate transformation provided by 3dplot
\begin{tikzpicture}[scale=5,tdplot_main_coords]

%draw the main coordinate system axes
\draw[thick,->] (0,0,0) -- (1,0,0) node[anchor=north east]{$x$};
\draw[thick,->] (0,0,0) -- (0,1,0) node[anchor=north west]{$y$};
\draw[thick,->] (0,0,0) -- (0,0,1) node[anchor=south]{$z$};
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

• Main coordinates only rotate in 2 directions, which may not be enough for what you wand. See tex.stackexchange.com/questions/254820/… – John Kormylo Aug 6 '15 at 3:26
• @JohnKormylo There must be a way to specify the 3d view in tikz, starting from the default and applying a general euler angle transformation? – Dipole Aug 6 '15 at 13:51
• With tikz, yes. With tikz-3dplot, no, unless you use rotated coordinates. – John Kormylo Aug 6 '15 at 14:02
• @JohnKormylo I do use rotated coordinates, would you mind posting an answer showing what you mean in that case? It could be what I am looking for. – Dipole Aug 6 '15 at 14:04

You can specify the actual dimensions (before scaling) for each 3d axis in terms of screen coordinates.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}   %TikZ is required for this to work.  Make sure this exists before the next line

%\usepackage{3dplot} %requires 3dplot.sty to be in same directory, or in your LaTeX installation
\usepackage{tikz-3dplot}
\usepackage[active,tightpage]{preview}  %generates a tightly fitting border around the work
\PreviewEnvironment{tikzpicture}
\setlength\PreviewBorder{2mm}

\begin{document}

%Angle Definitions
%-----------------

\tdplotsetmaincoords{60}{110}

%start tikz picture, and use the tdplot_main_coords style to implement the display
%coordinate transformation provided by 3dplot

\begin{tikzpicture}[scale=5]
\pgfsetxvec{\pgfpoint{.866cm}{.5cm}}
\pgfsetyvec{\pgfpoint{0cm}{1cm}}
\pgfsetzvec{\pgfpoint{.866cm}{-.5cm}}
%draw the main coordinate system axes
\draw[thick,->] (0,0,0) -- (1,0,0) node[anchor=north east]{$x$};
\draw[thick,->] (0,0,0) -- (0,1,0) node[anchor=north west]{$y$};
\draw[thick,->] (0,0,0) -- (0,0,1) node[anchor=south]{$z$};
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}


Here is a solution using 3dplot.

\documentclass[border=2pt]{standalone}
\usepackage[svgnames]{xcolor}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows.meta}
\usepackage{tikz-3dplot}

\begin{document}
\Large
\tdplotsetmaincoords{60}{45}
\begin{tikzpicture}[scale=1in,tdplot_main_coords]
\tdplotsetrotatedcoords{0}{90}{90}
\begin{scope}[tdplot_rotated_coords]
\draw[thick,-latex] (0,0,0) -- (.1,0,0) node[below] {x};
\draw[thick,-latex] (0,0,0) -- (0,.1,0) node[left] {y};
\draw[thick,-latex] (0,0,0) -- (0,0,.1) node[below] {z};
\end{scope}
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}


• Thanks appreciate the effort. However, I end up with inconsistencies with all the other points and labels I draw in the 3dplot coordinate systems changing. It really comes down to the fact that I just want to change my view angle! – Dipole Aug 6 '15 at 14:46
• In that case, start experimenting with rotated coordinates. Note that in my linked answer I wound using \tdplotsetrotatedcoords{90}{90}{-90} in order to get the final circle. – John Kormylo Aug 6 '15 at 14:51
• Aha! \tdplotsetrotatedcoords{0}{90}{90} – John Kormylo Aug 6 '15 at 15:06