Plotting in three dimensions

Functions with two arguments can be visualized in three-dimensional plots. Getting this on paper or into a PDF is a bit more challenging. We need a projection, a view point or angle, and a depth, which means that some parts will be hidden and others in the front.

At the end of the previous recipe, we plotted the function f(x) = sin(x). Now, when we add a dimension, we will plot f(x,y) = sin(x)*sin(y).

How to do it...

Like in the previous recipe, we will use the pgfplots package. Follow these steps:

1. Start with a document class. Like in the previous recipe, we use the standalone class. But it's fine if you choose the article class instead.

   \documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}

2. Load the pgfplots package:

   \usepackage{pgfplots}

3. Start the document, and open a tikzpicture environment:

   \begin{document}
     \begin{tikzpicture}

4. Begin an axis environment with options:

       \begin{axis} [
         title = {$f(x,y) = \sin(x)\sin(y)$},
         xtick = {0,90,...,360},
         ytick = {90,180...