Surface+Charts

A surface chart shows a three-dimensional surface that connects a set of data points (data points: Individual values plotted in a chart and represented by bars, columns, lines, pie or doughnut slices, dots, and various other shapes called data markers. Data markers of the same color constitute a data series.). A surface chart is useful when you want to find optimum combinations between two sets of data. As in a topographic map, the colors and patterns in a surface chart indicate areas that contain the same range of values. Unlike other chart types, a surface chart does not use colors to distinguish the data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) — colors are used to distinguish the values instead. To enhance a surface chart, you can change the colors and use transparency to display color bands that are obscured in the back of the chart. In this article
 * [|Learn more about plotting data in a surface chart]
 * [|Create a surface chart]
 * [|Change the colors in an existing surface chart]
 * [|Save a chart as a template]

Learn more about plotting data in a surface chart
Data that is arranged in columns or rows on a worksheet can be plotted in a surface chart. A surface chart is useful when you want to find optimum combinations between two sets of data. To create a surface chart, both categories and data series should contain numeric values. Surface charts include the following chart subtypes: [|Top of Page]
 * **3-D surface** 3-D surface charts show trends in values across two dimensions in a continuous curve. Color bands in a surface chart do not represent the data series; they represent the distinction between the values. This chart shows a 3-D view of the data, which can be imagined as a rubber sheet stretched over a 3-D column chart. It is typically used to show relationships between large amounts of data that may otherwise be difficult to see. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102378381033 caption="3-D surface chart type"]]
 * **Wireframe 3-D surface** When displayed without color on the surface, a 3-D surface chart is called a wireframe 3-D surface chart. This chart shows only the lines. A 3-D surface chart that is displayed without color bands on any surface is called a wireframe 3-D surface chart. This chart shows only the lines.
 * Note** A wireframe 3-D surface chart is not easy to read, but this chart type is useful for faster plotting of large data sets.
 * **Contour** Contour charts are surface charts viewed from above, similar to 2-D topographic maps. In a contour chart, color bands represent specific ranges of values. The lines in a contour chart connect interpolated points of equal value. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102378411033 caption="Contour chart type"]]
 * **Wireframe contour** Wireframe contour charts are also surface charts viewed from above. Without color bands on the surface, a wireframe chart shows only the lines.
 * Note** Wireframe contour charts are not easy to read. You may want to use a 3-D surface chart instead.

Create a surface chart
So, how did we create this surface chart? The following procedure will help you create a surface chart with similar results. For this chart, we used the example worksheet data. You can copy this data to your worksheet, or you can use your own data. How to copy the example worksheet data
 * 1) Copy the example worksheet data into a blank worksheet, or open the worksheet that contains the data that you want to plot in a surface chart.

Selecting an example from Help
 * 1) Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
 * 2) Select the example in the Help topic.
 * Note** Do not select the row or column headers.
 * 1) Press CTRL+C.
 * 2) In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.

> 1 ll ll **10** || **20** || **30** || **40** || **50** || > 2 || **0.1** || 15 || 65 || 105 ll 65 || 15 || > 3 || **0.2** || 35 || 105 || 170 || 105 || 35 || > 4 || **0.3** || 55 || 135 || 215 || 135 || 55 || > 5 || **0.4** || 75 || 155 || 240 || 155 || 75 || > 6 || **0.5** || 80 || 190 || 245 || 190 || 80 || > 7 || **0.6** || 75 || 155 || 240 || 155 || 75 || > 8 || **0.7** || 55 || 135 || 215 || 135 || 55 || > 9 || **0.8** || 35 || 105 || 170 || 105 || 35 || > 10|| **0.9** || 15 || 65 || 105 || 65 || 15 || This displays the **Chart Tools**, adding the **Design**, **Layout**, and **Format** tabs. [|Top of Page]
 * 1) Select the data that you want to plot in the surface chart.
 * Note** It is best not to include row or column headings in the selection. If you select the headings with your data, the chart may produce different results.
 * 1) On the **Insert** tab, in the **Charts** group, click **Other Charts**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654341033 caption="Charts group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 2) Under **Surface**, click **3-D Surface**.
 * 3) Click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.) of the chart.
 * 1) On the **Design** tab, in the **Chart Styles** group, click the chart style that you want to use. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102378311033 caption="Chart Styles on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * Tip** For our surface chart, we used **Style 34**.
 * 1) To move the legend, do the following:
 * 2) On the chart, right-click the legend, and then click **Format Legend** on the shortcut menu.
 * 3) Under **Legend Position**, click the position that you want.
 * Tip** For our surface chart, we used **Top**.
 * 1) To change the size of the chart, on the **Format** tab, in the **Size** group, select the shape size that you want in the **Shape Height** and **Shape Width** boxes, and then press ENTER.
 * Tip** For our surface chart, we used **6.5** for the shape height and **6.0** for the shape width.
 * 1) To add, format, and position a chart title in the chart, click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.), and then do the following:
 * 2) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Chart Title**, and then click **Above Chart**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654001033 caption="Labels group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) In the chart, click the chart title, and then type the text that you want.
 * Tip** For our surface chart, we typed **Tensile Strength Measurements**.
 * 1) To reduce the size of the chart title, right-click the title, and then enter the size that you want in the **Size** box on the shortcut menu.
 * Tip** For our surface chart, we used **14**.
 * 1) To add axis titles, first click the chart area of the chart. Then, on the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Axis Titles**, and then do the following:
 * 2) To add a title to the horizontal axis, click **Primary Horizontal Axis Title**, and then click the option that you want.
 * Tip** For our surface chart, we used **Title Below Axis**.
 * 1) To add a title to the vertical axis, click **Primary Vertical Axis Title**, and then click the option that you want.
 * Tip** For our surface chart, we used **Rotated Title**.
 * 1) To add a title to the depth axis, click **Depth Axis Title**, and then click the option that you want.
 * Tip** For our surface chart, we used **Horizontal Title**.
 * 1) Click each axis title, type the text that you want, and then press ENTER.
 * Tip** For our surface chart, we typed **Seconds** for the horizontal axis, **Tensile strength** for the vertical axis, and **Temperature** for the depth axis.
 * 1) If you want to use theme colors that are different from the default theme that is applied to your workbook, do the following:
 * 2) On the **Page Layout** tab, in the **Themes** group, click **Themes**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654451033 caption="Themes group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) Under **Built-in**, click the theme that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our surface chart, we used the **Office** theme.

Change the colors in an existing surface chart
Because the colors in a surface chart are based on the values instead of the data series, you cannot select the colors in the chart itself. However, you can select the corresponding color keys in the legend of a surface chart to make the formatting changes that you want. In Microsoft Office Excel 2007, you can even use transparency to show data that is obscured in the back of a surface chart. This displays the **Chart Tools**, adding the **Design**, **Layout**, and **Format** tabs. [|Top of Page]
 * 1) If a legend is not displayed, do the following:
 * 2) Click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.) of the chart.
 * 1) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Legend**, and then click the legend position that you want.
 * 2) In the legend, click the legend key for which you want to change the format.
 * 3) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Current Selection** group, click **Format Selection**.
 * 4) In the **Format Band** dialog box, click any formatting category, and then select the formatting options that you want.
 * Tip** If you want to use transparency, click **Solid Fill**, **Gradient Fill**, or **Picture or texture fill**, select any color, picture, or texture options, and then move the **Transparency** slider to the percentage of transparency that you want. You can also enter a percentage in the **Transparency** box.
 * 1) Repeat steps 2-4 for each level you want to format.

Save a chart as a template
If you want to create another chart like the one that you just created, you can save the chart as a template that you can use as the basis for other similar charts. For more information about how to apply a chart template, see [|Create, apply, or remove a chart template].
 * 1) Click the chart that you want to save as a template.
 * 2) On the **Design** tab, in the **Type** group, click **Save as Template**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101653891033 caption="Type group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) In the **File name** box, type a name for the template.
 * Tip** Unless you specify a different folder, the template file (.crtx) will be saved in the **Charts** folder, and the template becomes available under **Templates** in both the **Insert Chart** dialog box (**Insert** tab, **Charts** group, Dialog Box Launcher [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100985101033 caption="Button image"]]) and the **Change Chart Type** dialog box (**Design** tab, **Type** group, **Change Chart Type**).
 * Note** A chart template contains chart formatting and stores the colors that are in use when you save the chart as a template. When you use a chart template to create a chart in another workbook, the new chart uses the colors of the chart template — not the colors of the document theme that is currently applied to the workbook. To use the document theme colors instead of the chart template colors, right-click the chart area (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.), and then click **Reset to Match Style** on the shortcut menu.