def render_surface_function(surfimg, funcimg=None, alphasurf=0.2, alphafunc=1.0, 
                            isosurf=0.5, isofunc=0.5, smoothsurf=None, smoothfunc=None,
                            cmapsurf='grey', cmapfunc='red', filename=None, notebook=False,
                            auto_open=False):
    """
    Render an image as a base surface and an optional collection of other image.

    ANTsR function: `renderSurfaceFunction`
        NOTE: The ANTsPy version of this function is actually completely different
        than the ANTsR version, although they should produce similar results.

    Arguments
    ---------
    surfimg : ANTsImage
        Input image to use as rendering substrate.
    
    funcimg : ANTsImage
        Input list of images to use as functional overlays.
    
    alphasurf : scalar
        alpha for the surface contour
    
    alphafunc : scalar
        alpha value for functional blobs

    isosurf : scalar
        intensity level that defines lower threshold for surface image
    
    isofunc : scalar
        intensity level that defines lower threshold for functional image
    
    smoothsurf  : scalar (optional)
        smoothing for the surface image
    
    smoothfunc : scalar (optional)
        smoothing for the functional image
    
    cmapsurf : string
        color map for surface image
    
    cmapfunc : string   
        color map for functional image
    
    filename : string   
        where to save rendering. if None, will plot interactively
    
    notebook : boolean
        whether you're in a jupyter notebook.
    
    Returns
    -------
    N/A

    Example
    -------
    >>> import ants
    >>> mni = ants.image_read(ants.get_ants_data('mni'))
    >>> mnia = ants.image_read(ants.get_ants_data('mnia'))
    >>> ants.render_surface_function(mni, mnia, alphasurf=0.1, filename='/users/ncullen/desktop/surffnc.png')
    """
    cmap_dict = {
        'grey': 'Greys',
        'gray': 'Greys',
        'red': 'Reds',
        'green': 'Greens',
        'jet': 'Jet'
    }
    if surfimg.dimension != 3:
        raise ValueError('surfimg must be 3D')

    #if (filename is None) and (not notebook_render):
    #    raise Exception('Must either 1) give filename, 2) set `html_render`=True or 3) set `notebook_render`=True')
    
    if notebook:
        init_notebook_mode(connected=True)

    fig_list = []
    fig_data_list = []

    surfimg = resample_image(surfimg, (3,3,3))
    surfimg_arr = surfimg.numpy()
    surfverts, surffaces,_,_ = skimage.measure.marching_cubes_lewiner(surfimg_arr, isosurf, spacing=(1,1,1))

    surffig = FF.create_trisurf(x=surfverts[:,0],
                                y=surfverts[:,1],
                                z=surfverts[:,2],
                                colormap=cmap_dict.get(cmapsurf, cmapsurf),
                                plot_edges=False,
                                simplices=surffaces)

    surffig['data'][0].update(opacity=alphasurf)

    fig_list.append(surffig)
    fig_data_list.append(surffig.data[0])

    if funcimg is not None:
        if not isinstance(funcimg, (tuple,list)):
            funcimg = [funcimg]
        if not isinstance(alphafunc, (tuple,list)):
            alphafunc = [alphafunc]*len(funcimg)
        if not isinstance(isofunc, (tuple,list)):
            isofunc = [isofunc]*len(funcimg)
        if not isinstance(cmapfunc, (tuple,list)):
            cmapfunc = [cmapfunc]*len(funcimg)
            #cmapfunc = [cmap_dict.get(c,c) for c in cmapfunc]
        
        for i in range(len(cmapfunc)):
            cmapfunc[i] = 'rgb%s' % str(wc.name_to_rgb(cmapfunc[i]))
            cmapfunc[i] = [cmapfunc[i]]*2

        for func_idx, fimg in enumerate(funcimg):
            if fimg.dimension != 3:
                raise ValueError('all funcimgs must be 3D')

            fimg = resample_image(fimg, (3,3,3))
            funcimg_arr = fimg.numpy()
            funcverts, funcfaces,_,_ = skimage.measure.marching_cubes_lewiner(funcimg_arr, 
                                            isofunc[func_idx], spacing=(1,1,1))
            funcfig = FF.create_trisurf(x=funcverts[:,0],
                                        y=funcverts[:,1],
                                        z=funcverts[:,2],
                                        plot_edges=False,
                                        simplices=funcfaces,
                                        colormap=cmapfunc[func_idx])
            funcfig['data'][0].update(opacity=alphafunc[func_idx])
            fig_list.append(funcfig)
            fig_data_list.append(funcfig.data[0])

    if filename is not None:
        save_file = 'png'
        image_filename = filename
        filename = image_filename.split('.')[0] + '.html'
    else:
        image_filename = 'ants_plot'
        filename = 'ants_plot.html'
        save_file = None

    try:
        plot(fig_data_list, image=save_file, filename=filename, image_filename=image_filename, auto_open=auto_open)
    except PermissionError:
        print('PermissionError caught - are you running jupyter console? Try launching it with sudo privledges (e.g. `sudo jupyter-console`)')
Render an image as a base surface and an optional collection of other image.

    ANTsR function: `renderSurfaceFunction`
        NOTE: The ANTsPy version of this function is actually completely different
        than the ANTsR version, although they should produce similar results.

    Arguments
    ---------
    surfimg : ANTsImage
        Input image to use as rendering substrate.
    
    funcimg : ANTsImage
        Input list of images to use as functional overlays.
    
    alphasurf : scalar
        alpha for the surface contour
    
    alphafunc : scalar
        alpha value for functional blobs

    isosurf : scalar
        intensity level that defines lower threshold for surface image
    
    isofunc : scalar
        intensity level that defines lower threshold for functional image
    
    smoothsurf  : scalar (optional)
        smoothing for the surface image
    
    smoothfunc : scalar (optional)
        smoothing for the functional image
    
    cmapsurf : string
        color map for surface image
    
    cmapfunc : string   
        color map for functional image
    
    filename : string   
        where to save rendering. if None, will plot interactively
    
    notebook : boolean
        whether you're in a jupyter notebook.
    
    Returns
    -------
    N/A

    Example
    -------
    >>> import ants
    >>> mni = ants.image_read(ants.get_ants_data('mni'))
    >>> mnia = ants.image_read(ants.get_ants_data('mnia'))
    >>> ants.render_surface_function(mni, mnia, alphasurf=0.1, filename='/users/ncullen/desktop/surffnc.png')