PyVista - 3D Visualization

Name: pyvista
Rating: 78
Author: SteadfastAsArt

Quick Reference

python

import pyvista as pv

mesh = pv.read('model.vtk')
plotter = pv.Plotter()
plotter.add_mesh(mesh, scalars='property', cmap='viridis')
plotter.show()

Key Classes

Class	Purpose
`pv.Plotter`	Main visualization window
`pv.PolyData`	Surface meshes, point clouds
`pv.StructuredGrid`	Regular 3D grids
`pv.UnstructuredGrid`	Irregular meshes
`pv.ImageData`	3D voxel data (seismic)

Essential Operations

Load and Display Mesh

python

mesh = pv.read('model.vtk')
plotter = pv.Plotter()
plotter.add_mesh(mesh, scalars='lithology', cmap='Set1')
plotter.show()

Create Structured Grid (Surface)

python

x, y = np.meshgrid(np.arange(-10, 10, 0.5), np.arange(-10, 10, 0.5))
z = np.sin(np.sqrt(x**2 + y**2))
grid = pv.StructuredGrid(x, y, z)
pv.Plotter().add_mesh(grid, scalars=z.ravel(), cmap='terrain').show()

Visualize Point Cloud

python

cloud = pv.PolyData(np.random.rand(1000, 3) * 100)
cloud['depth'] = cloud.points[:, 2]
pv.Plotter().add_mesh(cloud, scalars='depth', point_size=5,
                      render_points_as_spheres=True).show()

Volume Rendering (Seismic)

python

grid = pv.ImageData(dimensions=(nx+1, ny+1, nz+1), spacing=(25, 25, 10))
grid.cell_data['amplitude'] = data.ravel(order='F')
pv.Plotter().add_volume(grid, cmap='seismic', opacity='sigmoid').show()

Slice Through Volume

python

volume = pv.read('seismic.vti')
slice_x = volume.slice(normal='x', origin=volume.center)
pv.Plotter().add_mesh(slice_x, cmap='seismic').show()

Well Path Visualization

python

points = np.column_stack([x, y, z])  # Well trajectory
tube = pv.Spline(points, 500).tube(radius=5)
pv.Plotter().add_mesh(tube, color='brown', label='Well').add_legend().show()

Combine Multiple Surfaces

python

plotter = pv.Plotter()
plotter.add_mesh(horizon1, color='gold', opacity=0.7, label='Top')
plotter.add_mesh(horizon2, color='blue', opacity=0.7, label='Base')
plotter.add_mesh(fault, color='red', opacity=0.5, label='Fault')
plotter.add_legend().show()

Export for Publication

python

plotter = pv.Plotter(off_screen=True)
plotter.add_mesh(mesh, cmap='terrain')
plotter.screenshot('figure.png', scale=3)   # High-res image
plotter.export_html('model.html')           # Interactive HTML

Color Maps

Map	Use Case
`terrain`	Topography, elevation
`seismic`	Seismic amplitudes (diverging)
`viridis`	General scientific
`Set1`, `Set2`	Categorical (lithology)

Supported Formats

.vtk, .vtu, .vti, .vtp, .stl, .obj, .ply (read/write)

Tips

•Use off_screen=True for batch processing
•Add axes with plotter.add_axes() for publication
•Export to HTML for interactive sharing
•Use opacity to show internal structure

References

•Mesh Types - PyVista mesh classes and when to use each
•Plotting Options - Plotter settings and rendering options

Scripts

•scripts/visualize_surface.py - Visualize geological surfaces from file