# shading

## Purpose

Set color shading properties.

## Synopsis

    shading flat
    shading faceted
    shading interp

## Description

`shading` controls the color shading of `surface` and `patch` objects. `surface` and `patch` objects are created by the functions `surf`, `mesh`, `pcolor`, `fill`, `and` `fill3`.

`shading flat` sets the shading of the current graph to `flat`. Flat shading is piecewise constant; each mesh line segment or surface patch has a constant color determined by the color values at the end points of the segment or the corners of the patch.

`shading interp` sets the shading to `interpolated`. Interpolated shading, which is also known as Gouraud shading, is piecewise bilinear; the color in each segment or patch varies linearly and interpolates the end or corner values.

`shading faceted` sets the shading to `faceted`, which is the default. Faceted shading is flat shading with superimposed black mesh lines. This is often the most effective.

## Algorithm

`shading` sets the `EdgeColor` and `FaceColor` properties of all surface objects in the current `axes`. It sets them to the correct values, depending on whether the `surface` objects represent meshes or surfaces.

## See Also

    fill, fill3, hidden, mesh, patch, pcolor, surf, surface
    surface object properties EdgeColor and FaceColor

(c) Copyright 1994 by The MathWorks, Inc.