This works. > d$zz <- factor(d$z, levels=c("low","med","high")) > d$xx <- as.factor(d$x) > cloud(y~xx+zz, d, panel.3d.cloud=panel.3dbars, col.facet='grey', + xbase=0.4, ybase=0.4, scales=list(arrows=FALSE, col=1), + par.settings = list(axis.line = list(col = "transparent"))) > the default levels for factor are alphabetic. That is ok for d$x.