1. A method for displaying a three-dimensional view of the surface of a viewed object comprising the steps of: obtaining and displaying an image of the surface of the viewed object; determining the three-dimensional coordinates in a first coordinate system of a plurality of surface points on the surface of the viewed object; selecting a plurality of measurement points on the surface of the viewed object; determining a reference surface based on the three-dimensional coordinates in the first coordinate system of three or more of the plurality of surface points proximate one or more of the plurality of measurement points; establishing a second coordinate system different from the first coordinate system based on the reference surface and the plurality of measurement points; transforming the three-dimensional coordinates in the first coordinate system of the plurality of surface points to the three-dimensional coordinates in the second coordinate system; determining a subset of the plurality of surface points that are within a region of interest on the surface of the viewed object, wherein the region of interest is based on the plurality of measurement points; and displaying a rendered three-dimensional view of the subset of the plurality of surface points in the three-dimensional coordinates of the second coordinate system.