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I want to place a caption at the bottom of a Plot3D graphic that doesn't move as I rotate the plot with the mouse. I have tried two approaches, neither of which is satisfactory.

My first approach is to position Graphics3D@Text under the 3D plot. This method forces in the caption's position to move relative to the 3D plot. Here is my stripped down code for this attempt:

Show[
 Plot3D[(y^2 - x^2 - 1/6 x^3), {x, -8, 5}, {y, -6, 6}, 
 MeshFunctions -> {#3 &}, Mesh -> 60, PlotPoints -> 50],

 Graphics3D@Text[Style["Caption goes here", 14,
 Black, FontFamily -> "Helv"], {9, -10, -10}]
]

My second approach is to use PlotLabel in Plot3D. Although the label remains relatively fixed in position, it appears at the top of the 3D plot and I want it to appear at the bottom of the 3D plot. Here is my stripped down code for this attempt:

Plot3D[(y^2 - x^2 - 1/6 x^3), {x, -8, 5}, {y, -6, 6}, 
 MeshFunctions -> {#3 &}, Mesh -> 60, PlotPoints -> 50,
 PlotLabel -> Style["Caption goes here", 14, FontFamily -> "Helv"]]

Any suggestions?

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1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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Update

From the comments what I believe you want is the rotating window not to resize as you rotate. This happens because the default RotatingAction is "Fit". You need it to be "Clip".

Labeled[
 Plot3D[(y^2 - x^2 - 1/6 x^3), {x, -8, 5}, {y, -6, 6}, 
  MeshFunctions -> {#3 &}, Mesh -> 60, PlotPoints -> 50,
  RotationAction -> "Clip"],
 Style["Caption goes here", 14, FontFamily -> "Helv"],
 Bottom]

Now the window is not resized and the label does not jump around.

Original Post

You may use Inset in the Epilog option.

Plot3D[(y^2 - x^2 - 1/6 x^3), {x, -8, 5}, {y, -6, 6}, 
 MeshFunctions -> {#3 &}, Mesh -> 60, PlotPoints -> 50,
 Epilog -> {Inset[Style["Caption goes here", 14, Black, FontFamily -> "Helv"], 
    {Center, Bottom}, {Center, Bottom}]}
]

enter image description here

Hope this helps.

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  • $\begingroup$ Your suggestion is helpful but does not do what I want. Let me rephrase my original question. I would like the caption to behave like a FrameLabel in 2D graphics. Can my 3D plot be rotated in some sort of fixed frame and the caption be positioned below such a fixed frame? $\endgroup$
    – Stephen
    Jul 28, 2016 at 13:08
  • $\begingroup$ @Stephen Have you seen Labeled. $\endgroup$
    – Edmund
    Jul 28, 2016 at 13:17
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    $\begingroup$ @Stephen Actually, you just need to add the RotationAction option to your PlotLabel code. $\endgroup$
    – Edmund
    Jul 28, 2016 at 13:22
  • $\begingroup$ @Stephen See update. $\endgroup$
    – Edmund
    Jul 28, 2016 at 13:30
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    $\begingroup$ @Stephen I believe the default is "Globe". You can check with Method /. AbsoluteOptions[g]. Where g is the result of your Plot3D, sog = Plot3D[...]. $\endgroup$
    – Edmund
    Jul 28, 2016 at 14:07

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