Why is text() unable to orient output in 3 axes?

text(x,y,z,string,'rotation',theta) is only capable of rotating about one axis, and even more annoyingly the text rotates on its own when I change the view angle via the rotation toolbar tool. I'd like to be able to place text in 3-space but have it lie "flat" in the X-Y plane with some specified rotation in that plane. Any workarounds? Any plans at MathWorks to implement theta-phy-xsi rotation control?

Answer 1

[Jan]

 Why is text() unable to orient output in 3 axes?

It is the idea of text() to operate in 2D.

 Any workarounds?

You have to draw the text in 2D, capture the part of the screen and use it as TextureMap on surface object. See e.g. https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/15018-createbuttonlabel-string-varargin- .

 Any plans at MathWorks to implement theta-phy-xsi rotation control?

This is the public forum and the answers are given voluntarily by other Matlab users (which are partially employed by MathWorks, but do not act officially here). Therefore you will not get a reliable answer here to what MathWorks plans for the future. Personally, I do not expect that 3D text has a high priority, because it is rarely used.

[Carl Witthoft]

Well... text can be placed in 3D space, but the orientation is controlled by occult forces unaccessible to mere humans. That seems like a clear opportunity for an upgrade.

[Jan]

The orientation of the text command is not occult, but well defined: It is 2D in the screen plane and the rotation around the vector normal to the screen can be controlled.

Remember that "theta-phi-xsi" is not uniquely defined - the old problem with the order of Euler angles and the definition of the axes. Then some prefer to rotate the object, some the coordinate system.

ImageMagick creates nice and powerful renderings of text. Then mapping it to a surface afterwards seems to be a good solution currently.