X3D shape and geometry: Difference between revisions

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A Shape node includes:
A Shape node includes:
* A mandatory geometry node, of which several exist
* A mandatory geometry node, of which several exist
* An optional (quasi-mandatory) ''Appearance'' node which in turn includes a ''Material'' node for coloring.
* An optional (quasi-mandatory) ''Appearance'' node which in turn usually includes a ''Material'' node for coloring.
 
Here is an example fragment that would define a red ball with a radius of 0.9 (metres):
<source lang="xml">
<Shape>
    <!-- A sphere -->
    <Sphere radius='0.9'/>
    <Appearance>
      <Material diffuseColor='0 1 1'/>
    </Appearance>
</Shape>
</source>


X3D includes several kinds of geometry nodes:
X3D includes several kinds of geometry nodes:
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== Translations and color ==
== Translations and color ==


In order to position geometric shapes we need to use a so-called ''Transform node'' and in order to see a node we need to color it. Below we just introduce a minimal design pattern that you should use and understand before playing with geometry nodes.
In order to position geometric shapes we need to use a so-called ''Transform node'' and in order to see a node in most clients we need to color it. Below we just introduce a minimal design pattern that you should use and understand before playing with geometry nodes. Otherwise, all your shapes will be in the same location and be rather invisible ...


The ''translation="2 0 0"'' attribute of the ''Transform'' node allows to position an object in the x,y and z axis. The code below will move the containing object two meters to the right along the x-axis.
The ''translation="2 0 0"'' attribute of the ''Transform'' node allows to position an object in the x,y and z axis. The code below will move the containing object two meters to the right along the x-axis.
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[[image:x3d-primitives-list.jpg|thumb|800px|none|An exhibit of primitive geometry nodes]]
[[image:x3d-primitives-list.jpg|thumb|800px|none|An exhibit of primitive geometry nodes]]
Most of these nodes have additional attributes, e.g. a cylinder can be open. However, all positioning and rotation has to made through a Transform node.
Most of these nodes have additional attributes, e.g. a cylinder can be open. However, all positioning and rotation has to made through a Transform node.
== Extrusions ==
(to be written)
== Point, Line and FaceSets ==
If you use a modeling tool, it rarely will use X3D primitives, but produce descriptions of shape in terms of either points, lines or faces.
As explained in [[X3D graphics principles]] and the [[OpenScad beginners tutorial]], and according to Don Brutzman, graphics software and hardware uses triangle geometry constructs. More complex shapes can always be reduced to triangles by the rendering software (known as tesselation)
Triangles used to defined a polygone are usually arranged in a way that only one side is visible, since that way only one side needs to be computed. By default objects created are only rendered on the outside. Geometry nodes can be parametrized to show the inside by setting ''solid='false'',
* solid='true' means do not render (draw) the inside
* solid='false' means render both inside and outside
Let's have a look at an example that we made with [[Sketchup 3D printable objects tutorial|Google sketchup]] using 2D letters and the extrusion tool. The scene is very simple, i.e. a list of 3D letters.
[[image:laurence-name.jpg|frame|none| <LABEL> ]]
[[image:laurence-name-wireframe.jpg|frame|none| <LABEL> ]]


== Links ==
== Links ==

Revision as of 11:47, 6 October 2010

Draft

This article or section is currently under construction

In principle, someone is working on it and there should be a better version in a not so distant future.
If you want to modify this page, please discuss it with the person working on it (see the "history")

X3D tutorials

Introduction

This short tutorial introduced basic X3D modeling concepts.

Prerequisites: X3D, X3D graphics principles and X3D shape and geometry

In X3D, 3D "things" are defined with shape nodes. Shape nodes can appear under any grouping node (including the Scene node). Usually, a geometry is included under at least a Transform node for positioning, rotation, etc.

A Shape node includes:

  • A mandatory geometry node, of which several exist
  • An optional (quasi-mandatory) Appearance node which in turn usually includes a Material node for coloring.

Here is an example fragment that would define a red ball with a radius of 0.9 (metres): 

 <Shape>
    <!-- A sphere -->
    <Sphere radius='0.9'/>
    <Appearance>
      <Material diffuseColor='0 1 1'/>
    </Appearance>
 </Shape>

X3D includes several kinds of geometry nodes:

  1. Simple geometric primitives
  2. Points, lines and polygone nodes
  3. Geometric 2D nodes
  4. Triangle nodes

Translations and color

In order to position geometric shapes we need to use a so-called Transform node and in order to see a node in most clients we need to color it. Below we just introduce a minimal design pattern that you should use and understand before playing with geometry nodes. Otherwise, all your shapes will be in the same location and be rather invisible ...

The translation="2 0 0" attribute of the Transform node allows to position an object in the x,y and z axis. The code below will move the containing object two meters to the right along the x-axis.

The Appearence node allows to add various colors and textures to an objet. In our case we define a simple Material with a diffuseColor of red (RGB value = "1 0 0"). 

  <Transform translation='2 0 0'>
            <Shape>
		<!-- A single geometry node here -->
                <Box size="2 2 2"/>
		<!-- A simple RGB color for appearence, e.g. a 100% red cube -->
                <Appearance>
                    <Material diffuseColor="1.0 0 0"/>
                </Appearance>
            </Shape>
 </Transform>

We probably will introduce so-called grouping nodes (e.g. Transform) and Appearence in two other tutorials yet to be written.

Geometric primitives

The five geometric primitives are most often used for hand coding, and implementation details (i.e. tessellation/polygon count) is left to the client.

Below is some example code that you can play with. 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE X3D PUBLIC "ISO//Web3D//DTD X3D 3.2//EN" "http://www.web3d.org/specifications/x3d-3.2.dtd">
<X3D profile='Immersive' version='3.2' xmlns:xsd='http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance' xsd:noNamespaceSchemaLocation='http://www.web3d.org/specifications/x3d-3.2.xsd'>
  <head>
    <meta content='primitives-list.x3d' name='title'/>
    <meta content='Exhibit of X3D primitive geometry nodes. Each one is positioned and colored differently' name='description'/>
    <meta content='Daniel K. Schneider, TECFA, University of Geneva' name='creator'/>
    <meta content='october 4 2010' name='created'/>
    <meta name='modified'/>
    <meta content='1.0' name='version'/>
    <meta content='http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/X3D_shape_and_geometry' name='reference'/>
    <meta content='Any X3D client' name='requires'/>
    <meta content='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/' name='rights'/>
    <meta content='http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/x3d/ex/basics/primitives-list.x3d' name='identifier'/>
    <meta content='X3D-Edit, https://savage.nps.edu/X3D-Edit' name='generator'/>
    <meta content='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/' name='license'/>
  </head>
  <Scene>
    <!-- Positioning in the x, y, z axis -->
    <Transform translation='-4 0 0'>
      <Shape>
        <!-- A box -->
        <Box size='1.8 1.8 1.8'/>
        <Appearance>
          <Material diffuseColor='1.0 0 0'/>
        </Appearance>
      </Shape>
    </Transform>
    <!-- Positioning in the x, y, z axis -->
    <Transform translation='-2 0 0'>
      <Shape>
        <!-- A cone -->
        <Cone bottomRadius='0.9' height='1.8'/>
        <Appearance>
          <Material diffuseColor='1.0 1.0 0'/>
        </Appearance>
      </Shape>
    </Transform>
    <!-- Positioning in the x, y, z axis -->
    <Transform translation='0 0 0'>
      <Shape>
        <!-- A solid cylinder -->
        <Cylinder height='1.8' radius='0.9'/>
        <Appearance>
          <Material diffuseColor='0 0 1.0'/>
        </Appearance>
      </Shape>
    </Transform>
    <!-- Positioning in the x, y, z axis -->
    <Transform translation='2 0 0'>
      <Shape>
        <!-- A sphere -->
        <Sphere radius='0.9'/>
        <Appearance>
          <Material diffuseColor='0 1 1'/>
        </Appearance>
      </Shape>
    </Transform>
    <!-- Positioning in the x, y, z axis -->
    <Transform translation='3 0 0'>
      <Shape>
        <!-- Text -->
        <Text length='0' maxExtent='5' string='"hello"'/>
        <Appearance>
          <Material diffuseColor='1.0 0 1.0'/>
        </Appearance>
      </Shape>
    </Transform>
  </Scene>
</X3D>

The rendered scene may look like this (depending on your viewing position). Try to understand:

  • how we defined the dimensions of each object
  • (optionally) how we aligned the five objects and how we defined color for each.
An exhibit of primitive geometry nodes

Most of these nodes have additional attributes, e.g. a cylinder can be open. However, all positioning and rotation has to made through a Transform node.

Extrusions

(to be written)

Point, Line and FaceSets

If you use a modeling tool, it rarely will use X3D primitives, but produce descriptions of shape in terms of either points, lines or faces.

As explained in X3D graphics principles and the OpenScad beginners tutorial, and according to Don Brutzman, graphics software and hardware uses triangle geometry constructs. More complex shapes can always be reduced to triangles by the rendering software (known as tesselation)

Triangles used to defined a polygone are usually arranged in a way that only one side is visible, since that way only one side needs to be computed. By default objects created are only rendered on the outside. Geometry nodes can be parametrized to show the inside by setting solid='false,

  • solid='true' means do not render (draw) the inside
  • solid='false' means render both inside and outside

Let's have a look at an example that we made with Google sketchup using 2D letters and the extrusion tool. The scene is very simple, i.e. a list of 3D letters.

<LABEL>
<LABEL>

Links

Reference manuals

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