Graphs in Math Textbooks

[Cod]

Does anyone know which program writers and publishers use to create graphs in textbooks (see attachement for example)? I'm trying to create a basic 3D graph like the one in the attachment, but can't seem to figure it out. To give you an idea, I'm trying to begin by graphing simple circles in a specific plane (z).

Any help / guidance is greatly appreciated.

[TylerH]

I would guess they have professional digital media people create them as normal pictures. Someone who really knows what they're doing can get something like that in 5-10 minutes.

[AlephZero]

If you want free software that is compatible with LaTeX, look at
http://asymptote.sourceforge.net
The advantage of this is that the text in labels etc can be linked to the actual drawing, so if you decide to move a point from x = 2 to x = 3, the relevant labels will automatically move to the correct positions and the text in the labels will automatically update.

Asymptote is based on an earlier 2D package
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MetaPost
(but the user interface is very diifferent form MetaPost)

MetaPost was derived from MetaFont, which Knuth wrote to create the original fonts for TeX.

If you have LaTeX, you probably already have MetaPost.

[Simon_Tyler]

You could also try Inkscape (http://inkscape.org/) (or its older brother xfig (http://www.xfig.org/)).
They're both vector graphics programs that can play nicely with latex.
I've used them both for making diagrams for lecture notes.

[nbo10]

OriginLab and Sigma plot are two options.