Any 3D graph plotting tools for Mac?

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The discussion revolves around the search for free graphing and scientific visualization tools for macOS. Gnuplot is highlighted as a powerful graphing utility due to its scripting capabilities, although some users express frustration with its complexity and limitations, such as the inability to rotate surfaces in real time. Grapher, a native macOS application, is mentioned as a user-friendly option for entering equations, but it lacks the ability to import custom data, which is a significant drawback for some users. Paraview is noted as a potential tool for 3D visualization, but its requirement for data in vtk format complicates its use, and users struggle to find adequate tutorials for this format. The conversation also touches on the nostalgia for a previous version of graphing software that was included with macOS, which had a more appealing interface but limited functionality unless upgraded to a premium version.
christianjb
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Anything free that is?

BTW, I have a biological aversion to Gnuplot.
 
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Hmmm, I don't really want to spend half a day messing around with Wine. I'd prefer a native OS X app.
 
Gnuplot's wonderful. In fact, it's one of the best graphing utilities on the planet, mainly because you can script it and embed it within a flow involving other programs.

- Warren
 
/Applications/Utitilities/Grapher.app

Not sure if that's exactly what you're looking for. But it allows you enter equations and nice way. For example, if you type (5x^2)/2 it will format it for you.
 
Kuno said:
/Applications/Utitilities/Grapher.app

Not sure if that's exactly what you're looking for. But it allows you enter equations and nice way. For example, if you type (5x^2)/2 it will format it for you.

Thanks. I love grapher, but I want to import my own data and grapher won't let me do this.
 
chroot said:
Gnuplot's wonderful. In fact, it's one of the best graphing utilities on the planet, mainly because you can script it and embed it within a flow involving other programs.

- Warren

Thanks. I'm not sure I really want to battle with gnuplot one more time. It nerds me out. Plus, it doesn't allow you to rotate surfaces in real time.

I'm amazed there isn't a simple free 3d scientific visualization code for the mac.

Paraview looked simple, but it requires writing data in vtk format which seems quite complicated. I haven't been able to find a good vtk tutorial on the web.
 
Whatever happened to that graphing software that came with the MacOS? I think it was a basic version and you paid if you wanted a premium version that allowed implicit functions. It was very pretty.
 
FulhamFan3 said:
Whatever happened to that graphing software that came with the MacOS? I think it was a basic version and you paid if you wanted a premium version that allowed implicit functions. It was very pretty.

Thanks. It's called Grapher. See my answer above.
 

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