Parameters for changing features

### 12.3.2 Parameters for changing features

Graphical features are changed by giving appropriate values to certain parameters. Several values can be given at once with an expression of the form feature = value1 + value2 + …. Some values can be set using optional arguments to graphic commands, which will set the feature locally; namely, it will only apply to that particular graphic object. Some values can be specified at the beginning of a line, which will set the feature globally; it will apply to all the graphic objects created on that line. For some features, both options are available.

#### Parameters for local features

Commands which create graphic objects, such as triangle, can have optional arguments to change a features of the object. For example, the argument color = red will make an object red.
Input:

triangle(0,1,1+i,color=red)

Output:

The features and their possible values are:

display or color
  These two parameter names have the same effect. They control the following features.
  Color
    The following values will change the color:
    - An integer from 0 to 381.
      Integers from 0 to 255 correspond to the color palette, integers from 256 to 381 will be the spectrum of colors.
      The program

            rainbow() := {
              local j, C;
              C := [];
              for (j := 256; j < 382; j++) {
                C := append(C,square(j,j+1,color=j+filled));
                }
             }

      will show the colors;
      Input:
      rainbow();
      Output:
      The number of a color is its x-coordinate. To see just one color, say the color corresponding to n for 256 ≤ n ≤ 381, enter
      Input:
      rainbow()[n-256]
    - The names black, white, red, blue, green, magenta, cyan or yellow.
  Fill
    The filled value creates a solid object.
    Input:
    triangle(0,1,1+i,display=filled)
    Output:
  Point markers
    By default, points are drawn with a small cross. The following (self-explanatory) values change the marker.
    rhombus_point
    square_point
    cross_point
    star_point
    plus_point
    point_point
    triangle_point
    invisible_point
  Point width
    The values point_width_1,…,point_width_8 change the thickness of the lines in the point markers.
  Line style
    The following (self-explanatory) values change the style of lines.
    solid_line
    dash_line
    dashdot_line
    dashdotdot_line
    cap_flat_line
    cap_round_line
    cap_square_line
  Line widths
    The values line_width_1,…,line_width_8 change the thickness of the lines.
thickness
  This controls line thickness, it can be an integer from 1 to 7.
nstep
  This sets the number of sampling points for three-dimensional objects.
tstep
  This sets the step size of the parameter when drawing a one parameter parametric plot.
ustep
  This sets the step size of the first parameter when drawing a two-parameter parametric plot.
vstep
  This sets the step size of the second parameter when drawing a two-parameter parametric plot.
xstep
  This sets the step size of the x variable.
ystep
  This sets the step size of the y variable.
zstep
  This sets the step size of the z variable.
frames
  This sets the number of graphs computed when an animated graph is created with the animate or animate3d command.
legend
  This adds a legend to a graphic object and should be a string. It is probably most useful when that object is a point or a polygon. If the object is a polygon, the legend will be placed in the middle of the last side. Other parameters for the graphic object will specify the color or position of the legend.
gl_texture
  This sets an image file to be put on the graphic object; it should be the name of the file.

#### Parameters for global features

Parameters set at the beginning of a line change features on the entire graphic screen. It only takes effect when the line ends with a graphic command. For example, starting the line with title=title string will give the graphic screen a title.
Input:

title = "Some triangles"; triangle(0,1,1+i); triangle(2,3,3+i);

Output:

The parameters for global features and their possible values are:

axes
  This determines whether axes are shown or hidden; a value of 0 or false hides the axes, a value of 1 or true shows the axes.
labels
  This sets labels for the axes; it should be a list of two strings ["x axis label","y axis label"].
label
  This puts labels on the graphic screen in the following ways.
  - To set the units on the axes, it can be a list of two or three strings, ["x units","y units"] or ["x units","y units","z units"].
  - To place a string at a particular point, it can be a list of two integers followed by a string. The integers determine the point, starting from [0,0] in the top left of the screen.
title
  This sets the title for the graphic window, it should be a string.
gl_texture
  This sets the wallpaper of the graphic window to be an image file, it should be the name of the file.
gl_x_axis_name,gl_x_axis_name,gl_x_axis_name
  These set the names of the axes.
gl_x_axis_unit,gl_x_axis_unit,gl_x_axis_unit
  These set the units of the axes.
gl_x_axis_color,gl_x_axis_color,gl_x_axis_color
  These set the colors of the axes labels; they take the same color options as the local parameter color.
gl_ortho
  This ensures that the graph is orthonormal when it is set to 1.
gl_x,gl_y,gl_z
  These define the framing of the graph; they should be intervals min..max. (They are not compatible with interactive graphs.)
gl_xtick,gl_ytick,gl_ztick
  These determine the spacing of the ticks on the axes.
gl_shownames
  This shows or hides object names, it can be true or false.
gl_rotation
  This sets the axis of rotation for three-dimensional scene animations; it should be a direction vector [x,y,z].
gl_quaternion
  This sets the quaternion for viewing three-dimensional scenes; it should be a fourtuple [x,y,z,t]. (This is not compatible with interactive graphs.)