m.nviz.image(1)

NAME
m.nviz.image - Creates a 3D rendering of GIS data.
Renders surfaces (raster data), 2D/3D vector data, and volumes (3D raster data) in 3D.

KEYWORDS
miscellaneous, visualization, graphics, raster, vector, raster3d

SYNOPSIS
m.nviz.image
m.nviz.image --help
m.nviz.image [-anb] [elevation_map=name[,name,...]] [elevation_value=value[,value,...]] [color_map=name[,name,...]] [color=name[,name,...]] [mask_map=name[,name,...]] [transparency_map=name[,name,...]] [transparency_value=value[,value,...]] [shininess_map=name[,name,...]] [shininess_value=value[,value,...]] [emission_map=name[,name,...]] [emission_value=value[,value,...]] [mode=string[,string,...]] [resolution_fine=value[,value,...]] [resolution_coarse=value[,value,...]] [style=string[,string,...]] [shading=string[,string,...]] [wire_color=name[,name,...]] [surface_position=x,y,z[,x,y,z,...]] [vline=name[,name,...]] [vline_layer=string[,string,...]] [vline_width=value[,value,...]] [vline_width_column=name[,name,...]] [vline_color=name[,name,...]] [vline_color_column=name[,name,...]] [vline_mode=string[,string,...]] [vline_height=value[,value,...]] [vline_position=x,y,z[,x,y,z,...]] [vpoint=name[,name,...]] [vpoint_layer=string[,string,...]] [vpoint_size=value[,value,...]] [vpoint_size_column=name[,name,...]] [vpoint_width=value[,value,...]] [vpoint_width_column=name[,name,...]] [vpoint_color=name[,name,...]] [vpoint_color_column=name[,name,...]] [vpoint_marker=string[,string,...]] [vpoint_marker_column=name[,name,...]] [vpoint_mode=string[,string,...]] [vpoint_position=x,y,z[,x,y,z,...]] [volume=name[,name,...]] [volume_mode=string[,string,...]] [volume_shading=string[,string,...]] [volume_position=x,y,z[,x,y,z,...]] [volume_resolution=value[,value,...]] [isosurf_level=volume:value[,volume:value,...]] [isosurf_color_map=name[,name,...]] [isosurf_color_value=name[,name,...]] [isosurf_transparency_map=name[,name,...]] [isosurf_transparency_value=value[,value,...]] [isosurf_shininess_map=name[,name,...]] [isosurf_shininess_value=value[,value,...]] [slice=volume:axis[,volume:axis,...]] [slice_position=x1,x2,y1,y2,z1,z2[,x1,x2,y1,y2,z1,z2,...]] [slice_transparency=value[,value,...]] [bgcolor=name] [position=x,y] [height=value] [perspective=value] [twist=value] [zexag=value] [focus=x,y,z] [light_position=x,y,z] [light_color=name] [light_brightness=integer] [light_ambient=integer] [fringe=string[,string,...]] [fringe_color=name] [fringe_elevation=integer] [cplane=value[,value,...]] [cplane_position=x,y,z[,x,y,z,...]] [cplane_rotation=value[,value,...]] [cplane_tilt=value[,value,...]] [cplane_shading=string] [arrow_position=x,y] [arrow_size=value] [arrow_color=name] output=name format=string size=width,height [--overwrite] [--help] [--verbose] [--quiet] [--ui]

  Flags:

-a
    Use draw mode for all loaded surfaces

-n
    Toggles normal direction of all isosurfaces (changes light effect)

-b
    Draw volume box

--overwrite
    Allow output files to overwrite existing files

--help
    Print usage summary

--verbose
    Verbose module output

--quiet
    Quiet module output

--ui
    Force launching GUI dialog

  Parameters:

elevation_map=name[,name,...]
    Name of raster map(s) for elevation

elevation_value=value[,value,...]
    Constant elevation value(s) to use instead of a raster DEM

color_map=name[,name,...]
    Name of raster map(s) for color

color=name[,name,...]
    Color value(s)
    Either a standard color name or R:G:B triplet

mask_map=name[,name,...]
    Name of raster map(s) for mask

transparency_map=name[,name,...]
    Name of raster map(s) for transparency

transparency_value=value[,value,...]
    Transparency value(s)
    Options: 0-255

shininess_map=name[,name,...]
    Name of raster map(s) for shininess

shininess_value=value[,value,...]
    Shininess value(s)
    Options: 0-255

emission_map=name[,name,...]
    Name of raster map(s) for emission

emission_value=value[,value,...]
    Emission value(s)
    Options: 0-255

mode=string[,string,...]
    Draw mode
    Options: coarse, fine, both
    Default: fine

resolution_fine=value[,value,...]
    Fine resolution
    Default: 6

resolution_coarse=value[,value,...]
    Coarse resolution
    Default: 9

style=string[,string,...]
    Draw style
    Options: wire, surface
    Default: surface

shading=string[,string,...]
    Shading
    Options: flat, gouraud
    Default: gouraud

wire_color=name[,name,...]
    Wire color
    Either a standard color name or R:G:B triplet
    Default: 136:136:136

surface_position=x,y,z[,x,y,z,...]
    Surface position
    Default: 0,0,0

vline=name[,name,...]
    Name of vector map
    Name of line vector overlay map(s)

vline_layer=string[,string,...]
    Layer number or name
    Layer number or name for thematic mapping
    Default: 1

vline_width=value[,value,...]
    Vector line width
    Options: 1-100
    Default: 2

vline_width_column=name[,name,...]
    Name of width definition column
    Name of attribute column

vline_color=name[,name,...]
    Vector line color
    Either a standard color name or R:G:B triplet
    Default: blue

vline_color_column=name[,name,...]
    Name of color definition column
    Name of attribute column

vline_mode=string[,string,...]
    Vector line display mode
    Options: surface, flat
    Default: surface
    surface: drape on raster surface
    flat: draw at constant elevation

vline_height=value[,value,...]
    Vector line height
    Options: 0-1000
    Default: 0

vline_position=x,y,z[,x,y,z,...]
    Vector lines position
    Default: 0,0,0

vpoint=name[,name,...]
    Name of vector map
    Name of point vector overlay map(s)

vpoint_layer=string[,string,...]
    Layer number or name
    Layer number or name for thematic mapping
    Default: 1

vpoint_size=value[,value,...]
    Icon size (map units)
    Options: 0-1000
    Default: 100

vpoint_size_column=name[,name,...]
    Name of size definition column
    Name of attribute column

vpoint_width=value[,value,...]
    Icon width
    Options: 1-1000
    Default: 2

vpoint_width_column=name[,name,...]
    Name of width definition column
    Name of attribute column

vpoint_color=name[,name,...]
    Icon color
    Either a standard color name or R:G:B triplet
    Default: blue

vpoint_color_column=name[,name,...]
    Name of color definition column
    Name of attribute column

vpoint_marker=string[,string,...]
    Icon marker
    Options: x, box, sphere, cube, diamond, dec_tree, con_tree, aster, gyro, histogram
    Default: sphere

vpoint_marker_column=name[,name,...]
    Name of marker definition column
    Name of attribute column

vpoint_mode=string[,string,...]
    3D vector point display mode
    Options: surface, 3D
    Default: 3D
    surface: drape on raster surface
    3D: place at 3D point’s z-elevation

vpoint_position=x,y,z[,x,y,z,...]
    Vector points position
    Default: 0,0,0

volume=name[,name,...]
    Name of 3D raster map(s)

volume_mode=string[,string,...]
    Volume draw mode
    Options: isosurface, slice
    Default: isosurface

volume_shading=string[,string,...]
    Volume shading
    Options: flat, gouraud
    Default: gouraud

volume_position=x,y,z[,x,y,z,...]
    Volume position
    Default: 0,0,0

volume_resolution=value[,value,...]
    Volume resolution
    Default: 3

isosurf_level=volume:value[,volume:value,...]
    Isosurface level

isosurf_color_map=name[,name,...]
    Name of volume for isosurface color

isosurf_color_value=name[,name,...]
    Isosurface color
    Either a standard color name or R:G:B triplet

isosurf_transparency_map=name[,name,...]
    Name of 3D raster map(s) for isosurface transparency

isosurf_transparency_value=value[,value,...]
    Transparency value(s)for isosurfaces
    Options: 0-255

isosurf_shininess_map=name[,name,...]
    Name of 3D raster map(s) for shininess

isosurf_shininess_value=value[,value,...]
    Shininess value(s) for isosurfaces
    Options: 0-255

slice=volume:axis[,volume:axis,...]
    Volume slice parallel to given axis (x, y, z)

slice_position=x1,x2,y1,y2,z1,z2[,x1,x2,y1,y2,z1,z2,...]
    Volume slice position
    Default: 0,1,0,1,0,1

slice_transparency=value[,value,...]
    Volume slice transparency
    Options: 0-255
    Default: 0

bgcolor=name
    Background color
    Either a standard color name or R:G:B triplet
    Default: white

position=x,y
    Viewpoint position (x,y model coordinates)
    Options: 0.0-1.0
    Default: 0.84,0.16

height=value
    Viewpoint height (in map units)

perspective=value
    Viewpoint field of view (in degrees)
    Options: 1-180
    Default: 40

twist=value
    Viewpoint twist angle (in degrees)
    Options: -180-180
    Default: 0

zexag=value
    Vertical exaggeration

focus=x,y,z
    Focus to point on surface (from SW corner in map units)

light_position=x,y,z
    Light position (x,y,z model coordinates)
    Default: 0.68,-0.68,0.80

light_color=name
    Light color
    Either a standard color name or R:G:B triplet
    Default: white

light_brightness=integer
    Light brightness
    Options: 0-100
    Default: 80

light_ambient=integer
    Light ambient
    Options: 0-100
    Default: 20

fringe=string[,string,...]
    Fringe edges
    Options: nw, ne, sw, se
    nw: North-West edge
    ne: North-East edge
    sw: South-West edge
    se: South-East edge

fringe_color=name
    Fringe color
    Either a standard color name or R:G:B triplet
    Default: grey

fringe_elevation=integer
    Fringe elevation
    Default: 55

cplane=value[,value,...]
    Cutting plane index (0-5)

cplane_position=x,y,z[,x,y,z,...]
    Cutting plane x,y,z coordinates
    Default: 0,0,0

cplane_rotation=value[,value,...]
    Cutting plane rotation along the vertical axis
    Options: 0-360
    Default: 0

cplane_tilt=value[,value,...]
    Cutting plane tilt
    Options: 0-360
    Default: 0

cplane_shading=string
    Cutting plane color (between two surfaces)
    Options: clear, top, bottom, blend, shaded
    Default: clear

arrow_position=x,y
    Place north arrow at given position    (in screen coordinates from bottom left corner)

arrow_size=value
    North arrow size (in map units)

arrow_color=name
    North arrow color
    Either a standard color name or R:G:B triplet
    Default: black

output=name [required]
    Name for output image file (without extension)

format=string [required]
    Graphics file format
    Options: ppm, tif
    Default: ppm

size=width,height [required]
    Size (width, height) of output image
    Default: 640,480

DESCRIPTION
m.nviz.image allows users to realistically render multiple surfaces (raster data) in a 3D space, optionally using thematic coloring, draping 2D vector data over the surfaces, displaying 3D vector data in the space, and visualization of volume data (3D raster data) from the command line.

EXAMPLE
Render elevation map in a 3D space.

g.region raster=elevation
m.nviz.image elevation_map=elevation output=elev perspective=15

SEE ALSO
wxGUI 3D viewer

AUTHORS
Martin Landa, Google Summer of Code 2008 (mentor: Michael Barton) and Google Summer of Code 2010 (mentor: Helena Mitasova)
Anna Kratochvilova, Google Summer of Code 2011 (mentor: Martin Landa)

SOURCE CODE

Available at: m.nviz.image source code (history)

Accessed: Monday May 11 17:55:22 2026

Main index | Miscellaneous index | Topics index | Keywords index | Graphical index | Full index

© 2003-2026 GRASS Development Team, GRASS 8.5.0 Reference Manual