# Surfaces in Space

> 3D viewer for mathematical surfaces and imported 3D models. (iPhone/iPad app by Colin Ford.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfaces-in-space/id6757165264 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Colin Ford](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864865082)
- Category: Graphics & Design
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.4 · 86 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-01-06
- Data updated: 2026-08-17
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfaces-in-space/id6757165264/reviews.md

## What is Surfaces in Space?

A 3D viewer for mathematical surfaces. Visualize and interact with parametric shapes including spheres, tori, Klein bottles, Möbius strips, and more.

Features:

- An expanding catalogue of both vertex-based, tessellated surfaces, and a physical objects category
- Rotate, zoom, and pan with (multi-)touch gestures
- Auto-rotate along an axis, adjust speed with a dismissible slider
- Adjustable tessellation detail via a dismissible slider
- Adjustable tessellation fill: solid or wireframe
- Adjustable vertex primitives: points, lines, triangles
- Adjust point size with a dismissible slider
- Optional ripple effect on vertex-based surfaces
- Optional rotating light for most surfaces
- Customizable background color, background image
- Save 10-bit snapshots
- Restore previous session, start fresh, or randomize launch
- Import .stl (STL) or .obj (OBJ) files for viewing
- choose culling mode: none, back, or front
- spatial environments: standard / default, Milky Way panorama, a black hole, and 
- free camera mode: toggle on/off in settings to freely move camera around environment

## Key features

- 3D mathematical surface visualization
- Interactive touch controls (rotate, zoom, pan)
- Customizable surface appearance (fill, primitives)
- Import .stl and .obj files
- Adjustable tessellation detail
- Customizable backgrounds and lighting
- Save 10-bit snapshots


## Frequently asked questions about Surfaces in Space

### What mathematical surfaces can I view in Surfaces in Space?

Surfaces in Space allows you to visualize a wide range of parametric shapes, including spheres, tori, Klein bottles, and Möbius strips. It also supports vertex-based and tessellated surfaces from an expanding catalogue.

### Can I import my own 3D models into Surfaces in Space?

Yes, you can import your own 3D models into Surfaces in Space. The app supports importing files in .stl and .obj formats for viewing within the application's environments.

### How do I control the 3D models in Surfaces in Space?

You can interact with the surfaces using intuitive multi-touch gestures. This includes rotating, zooming, and panning the view. There are also sliders for adjusting auto-rotate speed and tessellation detail.

### Does Surfaces in Space have ads?

No, Surfaces in Space is ad-free. The application does not contain any advertisements, allowing for an uninterrupted viewing experience.

### What devices is Surfaces in Space available on?

Surfaces in Space is available on iPhone and iPad devices. It is designed to take advantage of the touch interfaces on these platforms.

### How often is Surfaces in Space updated?

The latest version of Surfaces in Space is 1.1.5, which was last updated on March 19, 2026. Updates typically include new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements.

### What is the age rating for Surfaces in Space?

Surfaces in Space has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for users aged 4 and older, with no mature content concerns.

### Can I customize the visual appearance of surfaces in Surfaces in Space?

Yes, you can customize the appearance of surfaces in Surfaces in Space. Options include adjusting tessellation fill (solid or wireframe), vertex primitives (points, lines, triangles), point size, background color, and background image.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.2.0 — 2026-08-13

- Soap bubble! Check out the physically-informed rendering of a bubble under the Physical Objects category. It will be invisible on a black background!
- A new park background, which pairs well with the soap bubble. Check it out in the Environments tab!
- Improved meshing for vertex-based (VB) surfaces; each VB surface now has its own triangulation, which is computed on-device and cached for quick re-use. The vertices of the VB surfaces are still always recomputed, on-device, every time. Please note: the cached triangulations do cost some user-storage, which will appear under your iOS Settings, "Documents & Data" for this app; the triangulations are more costly to generate on-demand, hence my decision to cache them on-device.
- Significant restructuring behind the scenes, including improved concurrency and staging the way for upcoming updates (such as a dedicated render thread -- stay tuned!).

### 1.1.5 — 2026-03-19

- free camera mode: enable in settings, use the joysticks to move around the environment
- new Schwarzschild black hole environment
- set custom background images

### 1.1.0 — 2026-01-13

- import .stl (STL) or .obj (OBJ) files for viewing
- 2-finger panning for improved control
- choose culling mode: none, back, or front
- better persistence between launches (for Restore Last Session preference)

### 1.0.3 — 2026-01-10

Internal restructuring in order to improve user experience

### 1.0.1 — 2026-01-07

No release notes.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-17.*