# Why might the Z-axis become invisible or disappear when adjusting the range of a logarithmic scale in a 3D plot, and how can I fix it?

**URL:** <https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/why-might-the-z-axis-become-invisible-or-disappear-when-adjusting-the-range-of-a-logarithmic-scale-in-a-3d-plot-and-how-can-i-fix-it/6265>\
**Category:** Q&A\
**Tags:** gmt\
**Created:** [October 13, 2025, 3:06pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/why-might-the-z-axis-become-invisible-or-disappear-when-adjusting-the-range-of-a-logarithmic-scale-in-a-3d-plot-and-how-can-i-fix-it/6265 "2025-10-13T15:06:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Geomagics](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/geomagics/32/5065_2.png) [@Geomagics](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/Geomagics)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 3:06pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/why-might-the-z-axis-become-invisible-or-disappear-when-adjusting-the-range-of-a-logarithmic-scale-in-a-3d-plot-and-how-can-i-fix-it/6265/1 "2025-10-13T15:06:16Z")

</div>

```auto
gmt begin rms png E600
R=1e+17/1e+21/1e+17/1e+21/1e5/1e19
gmt basemap -R$R -Jz1cl -BwSEnZ -JX10cl -p130/50 -Bxa1f3p -Bya1f3p -Bza1f3p
R=1e+17/1e+21/1e+17/1e+21/1e10/1e19
gmt basemap -R$R -Jz1cl -BwSEnZ -JX10cl -p130/50 -Bxa1f3p -Bya1f3p -Bza1f3p -X15c
gmt end

```

 ![27ea7d1922e88c54d11ab12deea2399c](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/uploads/gmt/original/2X/d/d9553d2aad97aad5a29d74df2fe4bae4ae53fd7c.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joaquim](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/joaquim/32/16_2.png) [@Joaquim](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/Joaquim)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/why-might-the-z-axis-become-invisible-or-disappear-when-adjusting-the-range-of-a-logarithmic-scale-in-a-3d-plot-and-how-can-i-fix-it/6265/3 "2025-10-13T19:09:32Z")

</div>

Yes, see comment in [#8812](https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/gmt/issues/8812)