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Part 7: Making 3D on the Web more user-friendly

To improve the web surfer's experience, it is important to place as few obstacles in his or her path as possible. The web code on the pages (shown here) attempts to automatically load Cortona, a freely downloadable VRML viewer for Windows, Macintosh and Pocket PC. Cortona works with Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator and compatible browsers.

Similar code on various other pages prompts the user to download and install Macromedia's Flash Player software, if needed.

Part 6: The Scenic Tour: Adding Viewpoints

I then loaded this 3DS model into 3D Studio MAX, where I zoomed and panned to various positions in the 3D scene and defined these positions as camera viewpoints. I then exported the model in VRML97 format. I then double-clicked the resulting WRL file to test the results in my Web browser, on which I had previously installed ParallelGraphics' Cortona.

Viewpoints can be modified or even created by hand quite easily, by simply editing the WRL file in a text editor such as WordPad. Here, for example, is a sample viewpoint definition.

Part 5: Putting models on the Web with VRML and AVI

Model Size
When creating any 3D model for output via the web, file size is, of course, an important consideration. Performance on "average" computers is also an issue. To optimize my VRML output, I tried several methods:

  • Reduce the number of polygons in the model
  • Delete unnecessary items, such as clear glass windows.
  • Compress the WRL file with GZIP.
  • Try both colour and grayscale variations.

As it turned out, all of the options had both pros and cons.

Part 4: 3D-to-Flash Conversion

In addition to exporting the files as WRL, I also exported the model as a Flash animation using Vecta3D. This tool is available in two formats: Vecta3D-Max 1.1 is a plug-in for 3D Studio Max that allows you to output low-bandwidth SWF (Shockwave Flash) vector based images and animations from virtually any 3D scene. There's also a standalone edition of the tool, which is the version I used. It loads 3DS files, which can be imported or exported from MAX.

For more information and freely downloadable demos, go to www.vecta3d.com

Part 3: Rendering models in 3D

After converting the DWG model with PolyTrans or 3D Exploration for grayscale or colour models, respectively, I loaded the converted 3DS output into Vue D'Esprit 4.0. Vue4 is an easy to use rendering program with an easy, intuitive interface for placing lights, vegetation and various textures. I set up the scene with a partly cloudy sky, a bit of ocean water in the background (taking a bit of liberty with the scene, as most likely, the real house would only see the water from the front windows which, in my rendering, was facing the camera), and a few trees and a grassy yard.

Part 2: Converting AutoCAD models

The next step was to convert the supplied AutoCAD R14 model into a format suitable for display on web pages. Fortunately, I had several tools capable of performing such as conversion. Rhino 3D did a fairly good job at importing the model, but its exported files lost the colors of the original model components when I loaded the 3DS mesh output files into other programs capable of supporting this common format. Okino's PolyTrans, which supported a somewhat wider range of output file types, including 3DS, LWO, COB, OBJ and numerous other common 3D formats, had the same problem.

Part 1: Working with the Architect- An Overview

All designers tend to look at designs through a filter of their own sensibilities. The first step toward the development of a successful architectural website is to determine the architect's personal sensibilities.

3D Studio MAX: Dynamic Simulations

In this section, we'll discuss some of the plug-ins available for MAX that can help create realistic wind, gravity, cloth simulations, fluid dynamics and more.

3D Studio MAX: Makes 3D effects magic with volumetric particles

The image shown here was created with a Max R2 plugin called Afterburn. This plugin, from ID8 Media, can be used to create explosions, wispy clouds, smoke and a variety of other effects. Because the effect is volumetric, you can actually fly right through the clouds and see them move around you. Indeed, does it not kick ass?

3D Studio MAX: Puts 3D animation on the web with VRML97

AVI, MPEG and QuickTime movies aren't the only ways to view animations on the Web. The animation shown on the previous page was converted to VRML97 using Max's VRML export (virtual reality modeling language) capabilities, producing a 3D model shown here with 2000 polygons (290K), or here as a higher-quality 16,000 polygon (1.4MB) model. This way, the animation can be easily viewed by anyone with Internet Explorer or Netscape web browsers (etc.) and -- better still -- the model can be rotated or viewed from any angle.

3D Studio MAX: Makes 3D effects magic with Video Post FX

"Video post" effects can be applied to your scenes to enhance their visual appearance, as the before and after images to the right demonstrate. Max includes a number of Lens flare, Glow and brilliance effects that can be added to a scene -- even one you've already rendered. Indeed, video post production is akin to audio studio production, where leading producers often have their artists sing their vocals "clean," without reverb or other effects, and then "fix it in the mix."

3D Studio MAX: Makes 3D effects magic

  • Part 1: Program Overview
  • Part 2: Making things sparkle and shine with Video Post-processing
  • Part 3: Blowing things up with volumetric particle systems
  • Part 4: Character animation and Motion Capture
  • Part 5: Putting animations on the Web with VRML and AVI
  • Part 6: When things get hairy...

MAX 3.1

Product: 3D Studio MAX R3.1
From: Discreet (now headquartered in Montreal)
Availability: now
Price: US$3495 SRP ($ 5200 Canadian); an educational version is available for about $900