MATLAB: Does reversing an axis direction change shading properties

Question

I am working on an interactive GUI. Part of the GUI contains an axis which is used render 3D objects. I need to use a left-handed coordinate system in this axis. Thus I run the line below to flip the z-axis

set(gca,'ZDir','reverse')

When I do this, the lighting of the object becomes very flat:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/psbvmla15lzr17z/Screen%20Shot%202012-10-10%20at%204.26.28%20PM.png

Compare this with the rendering before flipping the z-axis:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yq7mfrdg2iad65f/Screen%20Shot%202012-10-10%20at%204.27.03%20PM.png

Anyone know why this would be? I much prefer the way the second (non-flipped) rendering looks. Any way to reproduce this 'shiny' look and still have a flipped z-axis?

Thanks, Justin

Answer 1

The position of the light changed with respect to its original z-axis position when you reversed the direction of the z axis. You will probably have to reposition it with respect to the reversed z axis to put it back where it was originally with respect to your viewing angle.