An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for three dimensional, 3D, imaging, comprising: an ultrasound probe comprising an array transducer adapted to scan a subject in three dimensions; a 3D image data memory , coupled to the ultrasound probe, and adapted to store a 3D image dataset of the subject; a volume renderer, coupled to the image data memory, and adapted to render a volume image of the subject; a two-dimensional, 2D, image reconstruction circuit, coupled to the image data memory, comprising a multiplanar image reconstruction circuit adapted to produce three 2D images of intersecting planes of the subject, wherein the three 2D images further comprise graphic markers of a point of intersection of the 2D image planes; a graphics generator adapted to produce image graphics; and a display adapted to simultaneously display the volume image and the 2D images of the subject with image graphics, and characterized in that the volume renderer is further adapted to render: a virtual light source graphic as a location marker in the volume image which is positioned at the point of intersection of the 2D image planes; and an effect of illumination of the volume from the virtual light source, and in that the system further comprises a user interface enabling the graphic markers of the 2D images and the virtual light source to be repositioned, wherein the graphic markers of the 2D images and the virtual light source are spatially linked such that the virtual light source is automatically repositioned in the volume image in response to a repositioning of one of the graphic markers of a 2D image, and vice versa. an ultrasound probe comprising an array transducer adapted to scan a subject in three dimensions; a 3D image data memory , coupled to the ultrasound probe, and adapted to store a 3D image dataset of the subject; a volume renderer, coupled to the image data memory, and adapted to render a volume image of the subject; a two-dimensional, 2D, image reconstruction circuit, coupled to the image data memory, comprising a multiplanar image reconstruction circuit adapted to produce three 2D images of intersecting planes of the subject, wherein the three 2D images further comprise graphic markers of a point of intersection of the 2D image planes; a graphics generator adapted to produce image graphics; and a display adapted to simultaneously display the volume image and the 2D images of the subject with image graphics, and characterized in that the volume renderer is further adapted to render: a virtual light source graphic as a location marker in the volume image which is positioned at the point of intersection of the 2D image planes; and an effect of illumination of the volume from the virtual light source, and in that the system further comprises a user interface enabling the graphic markers of the 2D images and the virtual light source to be repositioned, wherein the graphic markers of the 2D images and the virtual light source are spatially linked such that the virtual light source is automatically repositioned in the volume image in response to a repositioning of one of the graphic markers of a 2D image, and vice versa. a virtual light source graphic as a location marker in the volume image which is positioned at the point of intersection of the 2D image planes; and an effect of illumination of the volume from the virtual light source, and in that the system further comprises a user interface enabling the graphic markers of the 2D images and the virtual light source to be repositioned, wherein the graphic markers of the 2D images and the virtual light source are spatially linked such that the virtual light source is automatically repositioned in the volume image in response to a repositioning of one of the graphic markers of a 2D image, and vice versa. <EOS>