Posted by Miskatonicon 2010/1/30 23:20:00 (3860 reads)
OK, here’s my thing. I like creating in 3D. I got attracted to it through visiting virtual reality platforms back in the late ‘90’s. One of the platforms I was drawn to was VRML. You could create your models in quite a few 3D modeling programs and save out to that format. It just plain worked without a lot of fuss and muss. You easily learn the mark-up language (VRML) and enhance your models. The viewers were free and it turned out to be fairly simple to get your work online and share it with others.
There is something that appeals to myself and other creators I know about not only creating scenes, but being able to walk around in them and experience the creations in a real-time/real-world atmosphere.
That was a decade ago and I still create worlds and objects. VRML lost its popularity and other platforms came along. Second Life, Kaneva, Prototerra, and others. Although they have improved on the original virtual concept, they are proprietary and only use in-world tools and their own formats for creating your own objects and worlds. While this is not a bad thing, I and others I know find it limiting.
This brings us to 3DVIA Scenes.
I wrote previously about this site and its great way of being able to share models in quite a few different formats.
Now they have a new program called ‘Scenes’. This program provides a virtual space where you have an avatar, a chat interface, and a place to set up a virtual scene with models you create. It is just as format friendly (3ds, obj, Sketchup, VRML, etc) as their other program and surprisingly simple to use. You get a choice of pre-made spaces like a grassy area or a winter scene with snow and background. Once you have chosen the scene base you can import your models, or choose from thousands of other objects and models shared by other members. You first import the model, then you can position it, re-size and rotate it to look best in your scene. Other people can visit your scene and you can chat with them. You can collaborate on design by allowing others to add/subtract form your scene or move things around. Or, once your scene is set up the way you want it, you can lock down your objects so they can’t be moved or removed.
It is still in beta, so expect a few glitches. But all in all I have not found any. It does take some power to run though.
Here the requirements listed on their site:
• Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows Vista (SP1) • Windows Internet Explorer version 6 or 7, or Mozilla Firefox version 3.0 • 1GB or more of hard disk space • A 2.8 GHz processor • 2 GB of system memory • 256 MB video card (512 MB recommended) that supports OpenGL 2.0 and shader model 2.0 (with OpenGL 3D hardware acceleration enabled) • A 1024×768 screen, 32-bit true color minimum, 1280×1024 or higher recommended • A 2-button mouse for easier navigation • A high-speed or broadband Internet connection • Nvidia or ATI graphic card recommended
My personal experience has been that on my weaker test machine: AMD 3700+ 2.4GHz Nvidia FX5200 128MB Card 1 gig of ram TI connection Windows XP Pro SP2
I experience lag when I go into my scene. On my stronger machine…
Intel Core 2 Quad 2.6Ghz 3.5 Gig of Ram Nvidia 8800GT 640MB Video Fiber Optic connection Windows XP Pro SP3
… it works fine. No lag and it is smooth. Somewhere in the middle of that range should be good for most people. Bear in mind that in ‘Scenes’, as in a lot of virtual platforms coming out. The specs are aimed at the future of computing. As new machines come out and new operating systems and games appear, the power requirements go up. Now that hardware is cheaper, more power is cheaper too. I am still running XP. Your requirements will be different if you are running Vista or Windows 7. Also a dedicated video card is a good idea. Remember, if the card is part of the motherboard (integrated) it will use your ram to run. This is becoming less of a problem than it used to be though.
A few things to note. It is in closed beta so you have to ask for an invite code. You have to be a member of the site course, but the membership is free and worth it. It is a great community of creators and can be very nurturing to those just starting out in 3D modeling. With the combination of available models, the ‘Shape’ program, which is also free and ‘Scenes’, your creativity can really take off and flourish.
Some of us know Digital Spaces as the provider of Traveler, A VRML1 based chat program that uses real-time voice chat. I personally have used it on and off for years. Traveler is only one of the projects that they have created. There is also Blobber, a little program that indicates the number of people on your website in real-time and has a chat program, and interactive 3D demonstrations of various off planet experiences.
Their latest is a 3D simulation of the space shuttle on a repair mission to the Hubble Telescope. You can move around it. Zoom in, and even look for missing items for the astronauts. There is sound so you can hear the astronauts’ conversations.
To quote: “Just in time for this week's Shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, our Hubble Educational Spacewalk Simulation (ESS) built for NASA over the past year is live and can be downloaded and installed from NASA.gov! We have an easy link to the NASA-hosted simulation at the top of our homepage at: http://www.digitalspace.com”.
“In "ESS" you can "be the astronaut" going through three major spacewalk tasks to replace components on Hubble. Hear the astronauts’ voices (from real training), zoom around the shuttle/hubble and Earth at high speed, get info on the procedures, and look for a series of "lost" objects in the cargo bay. Its a great experience for K-12 students & educators, museums and just plain space fans. This is a windows-only version that requires a good 3D card (not basic chipsets). Other OS versions are in the works.”
It is packaged as an installer that puts the program onto your PC and is an approximately 30 meg download. With a game like experience, and excellent graphics and modeling, all in all this is a fun experience and worth checking out.
There are quite a few websites available where you can sell or give away the 3D models you create. There are also sites such as Renderosity where you can share renders, etc of your work. But, the most interesting variant of these, in my opinion, is 3DVIA.
3DVIA enjoys a kind of dual personality. To start with, Dassault Systemes, the company that provides this site, has an impressive line of software, some of which is focused on producing virtual experiences on and off line.
And the website provides a platform to upload, view and download 3D models.
The 3DVIA site itself serves a two fold purpose. A place to share your work with others, and to showcase Shape, a 3D modeling program that has a Sketchup feel to it and utilizes the 3DXML file format.
I am an amateur 3D modeler. Like a lot of amateurs, it is sometimes hard to put your stuff out there in an arena where there are people that do it professionally and are good at it. When I first stumbled across 3DVIA I saw it as a site to upload and share 3D models. I looked around and signed up, not knowing what to expect. I uploaded a simple model and that was it. Later I noticed an email that someone had commented on my work and went up to see what was said. To my surprise, it was a positive comment! This prompted me to look further into the site and observe that there was a lot of positive critique and commenting going on and more importantly, it was on work from all levels of expertise. This, in turn, encouraged me to submit more work.
Fast forward to now. There are all levels of modelers that upload to 3DVIA. Sometimes, on sharing sites and boards, there tends to be an “Elite Core” of creators that look down on people of lesser skill. Not here! I have received praise and encouragement from other modelers that in my opinion are professional level. What this creates is an atmosphere of safety for those that are just learning, middle level amateurs like me, and experienced creators to share tips with and suggestions to each other that help to make us all better at our mutual passion.
Here is how it works in a nutshell. The site uses the 3DVIA Player, which allows the model to be viewed in real time. It can zoom in, rotate, pan etc. It also provides different shader filters to view the model in and can be embedded in you own site just like a You Tube video. First, you can create your model in pretty much in any program you happen to prefer. The site accepts .3ds, .obj, .dea, .stl, vrml, .ply, .off and .kmz file formats.
It then converts a copy to its own 3DXML format for the online player while saving the original file type for download. You have to create an account on the site and then you can upload a model. You have to create a zip file if you are going to include textures with the object. You can download models that are uploaded there if the creator allows it (most do) in its original format. All creations, including your own, are copyrighted through Creative Commons and most can be used non-commercially. You can, however choose not to do this without losing the ability to upload it. There are 2 ways to share objects though. The second one is next…
This leads me to 3DVIA Shape. There is something exciting about being a participant on the ground floor of a new concept. The users input are right there along with what they create with it. This really helps speed along the process and allows the program designers to adjust quickly in developing a product. The people who oversee the site are helpful, encouraging and show an honest desire to nurture beginning creators, people trying to learn Shape, and even learn from others who upload to the site.
Once you have created an account you can download Shape. It is free to use. Once you have installed and launched it you login with the same user name and password you use for the site. It works seamlessly with the online site. As I said before, it feels a lot like Google Sketchup in the way it works. Here is the twist though, you can download any of the models on the site that allow it (most do) directly into Shape and create a new scene using them. The scenes can then be uploaded directly to your account on the 3DVIA site. It is just that simple. You can also model new creations with Shape. The only limitation is that there is no local saving of the work. It can only be uploaded to the site as their file format. There are tutorials and blogs to help you learn how to use the program.
Along with all of this, there are competitions that offer prizes and top ten lists help everyone to strive to be better and excel.
I am sure that some will say the site exists merely to advertise their products. And, it might be true. But thousands of users seem to be having a good time and learning. So I say, so what? Your content is protected just like other sites, you can’t sell models there, but you can have fun and get positive feedback on your work. Works for me.
This is going to be a very basic tutorial to get you started on some functions. I chose this function as I feel if you master this; it will give you a lot of confidence with the other and easier functions in this program. And, it’s fun. This tutorial assumes you have at least played with a modeling program of some kind, but should still be easy for a beginner to follow, I hope.
First, a little background. For those of us that have been creating and/or building in VRML for a number of years, there was a great program called Spazz 3D. It was one of the few pure VRML modeling and creating programs out there (Along with Internet Space Builder, Platinum VR Creator & Cosmo Worlds). Other programs would save or export to VRML but it wasn’t their primary file type. Spazz evolved into VizX Studio, and then into Flux Studio (the names might be sounding more familiar as we go). Spazz and VizX Studio cost 2 or 3 hundred dollars at the time. With the Release of Flux Studio it became free, much to the chagrin of those who had bought the prior versions. The final evolution of this program is now Vivaty Studio. While no longer merely a pure VRML modeler, it still and as of now, one of a tiny handful of programs focused on VRML/X3D. It is still free and still works as well as its previous versions.
Let’s get started. Once you have downloaded it and launched it you will see an interface that looks like this. I recommend that you fool around and learn the basic functions first, like zooming, changing and rotating the views, etc.
Looks pretty much like other 3D modeling programs, doesn’t it? You have four windows that are (from top left clockwise), Top, ISO, Front & Right views. Clicking a view window and then moving the mouse wheel will allow you to zoom in and out. On your left side you have tools, such as shape selectors, lights, cameras, etc. On the right you have a “tree view”, top, and parameters for translation (moving), textures, etc. in the lower right box. Don’t worry if you don’t see anything, nothing shows until it’s needed.
We are going to make a little grass hut with an opening in the front as this will utilize the pre-loaded basic shapes that come with the program. NOTE: don’t let the term Boolean Extraction throw you. It is one of those terms you hear or see knocked around in 3D Software circles. What it basically means is that we are going to make holes in things. The steps we will go through here are pretty much the same for most 3D programs. So if you have AC3D (see previous tutorial), or other programs that will perform this function, and not all will, the procedure will be similar.
Once the program is launched, go to the upper right tools and select the cylinder. Your cursor will turn into a small cylinder. Click in the front view window and one will appear. Hmmmmm, it’s kind of puny.
OK, now we get to play with the tools. Look in the upper right, above the ISO view, and you will see four icons that look like this
They are, from left to right, translation (moving), rotating, scaling (sizing), and pivoting. Select the scaling tool (3rd from left). When you click on the cylinder you created you will see tabs appear in the lower right corner.
The second tab from the left has a cross symbol right the translation tool you just saw above. Click on it; go ahead, it won’t bite! You will now see a repeat of the icons you saw above. Where is says “scale” make sure the box that says “uniform” is checked.
This allows you to increase the size of your object uniformly. Now take your cursor and click, and then drag on your object. In the front view dragging to the right will make it bigger, to the left will make it smaller. Once you have it a decent workable size, go back to the lower right and un-check the “uniform” box. Now go back to the front view and drag down slowly. This will flatten the object a little. At this point, your cylinder should be listed in the upper right window as “cylinder 1”.
Now go back to your shapes and select cylinder again and place it in the right view window. Go to the lower right window and to the far left of the “rotate” icon, click the 90 button. This will rotate the new object 90 degrees. Now go to the scale tool and increase the size both uniformly and non-uniformly so it looks somewhat like the illustration.
Now go to your translation (moving) tool and, using your top view, move the new cylinder so it falls inside the first one but NOT all the way through to the other side. You will probably have to move it around but try to end up with something like the next illustration.
In the upper right you should now see both “cylinder 1” and cylinder 2” listed. This is important, but we will get back to it later.
Now, click on the second cylinder you created, then go to the tools menu at the top, go to “Boolean Operations”, and then “Extraction”.
A window will pop up that looks like this
Don’t worry about all the terms you see. Basically it goes like this; the second cylinder you created is cylinder 2. The operation type section has “Node 1 cuts Node 2”. Huh? Note to the right of that it explains that “Node 1” is Cylinder 2, and “Node 2” is Cylinder 1. This is because you selected the second cylinder first. What you see is how you want it for this instance, so click OK. You should see something that looks like the next illustration.
Hmmmm, looks like part of the cylinder was left behind. Remember I said we would get back to the tree view? Select “Index Face Set: Cylinder 2”, and delete. YOU should now have a nice, neat, hole in the wall.
Before we go any further, it may look like the back parts are missing on your model. There is a reason for this. Polygons or index face sets have two faces. When both are visible it takes more resources and size to show them, especially on-line. So, the default setting is to not show (or “cull”, as it is called in some programs) the back faces. In order to see the complete model, go to the far right tab in the lower right window. There you will see a checked box with a phrase to the side that says “Solid (Don’t Draw Back Faces). Un-check it, like in the illustration, and you will see everything. You can always turn it back on later if need be.
From here I have gone a little further and created and resized a cone for the roof and added some textures. I will go into texturing in another installment.
Once you have completed your model, first save it out as a Vivaty Studio file. This will allow to you open it again immediately as needed for changes. Then go to “File”, “Export X3D or VRML”
and when the next window pops up, name it and click save. I recommend that you check the “Uncompressed” button in the compression option section, and the “All Content” button in the Scene section. Saving compressed should only be done if you are ready to upload your model.
I am including a zipped copy of the hut with this article. Play with it and practice. I think you will find that it is easy and fun to do.
