I don't understand what you already have, and what you want. The surf() function does not create a 3D array. It creates a 2.5D (two and a half D) perspective rendering of a 2D array. It does not create a 3D (volumetric) array, which would mean that there would be a value for every single (x,y,z) coordinate. So surf() output is not really 3D.
You say you have a 3D pattern already . Exactly what is this? Is it some variable? What does it say when you put this on its own line just after you've created it?
whos my3DPattern % Replace name with the actual name of your variable of course.
And define what a "3d matrix" is. Is that a Y rows by X columns by Z planes volumetric image - an actual 3D array like zeros(rows, columns, planes)? Can you give a small example, like with a 3 by 3 or 5 by 5 array?
