These programs require Java 3D. To run these in your browser, you'll need to install the Java Plug-in (JPI) and Java 3D(TM). See the installation notes for more details. You'll need Java 3D version 1.2.1 or later. Also, be sure that you have the latest driver for your graphics card.

Click on any of the links below to run that example program in your browser using the Java Plug-in. The programs are pretty wide, so be sure that your screen size is set to at least 1024x768 and set your browser window wide enough to see the entire applet. If you have trouble fitting the applets in your browser window you can download the programs and run them as applications. See the download section below.

All of these programs allow the view to be moved around the object using the mouse. Dragging the mouse while pressing the main mouse button rotates the viewer around the object. Dragging the mouse while pressing the second mouse button (or the main mouse button while holding down the Alt key) moves the viewer closer or further from the object. Dragging the mouse while pressing the third mouse button (or the main mouse button while holding down the Shift key) moves the viewer sideways.

AppearanceExplorer

The AppearanceExplorer shows the attributes which are included in an Appearance object. The Setup panel controls the object being displayed, the background and the active lights. Select an object to display using the Data menu (there are a lot of entries). All of the primitives shown in Chapter 3, "Creating and Loading Geometry" are included in the Data menu.
 

Each of the appearance components that makes up an Appearance has a panel in the program. See Chapter 4, "Appearances" for descriptions of the appearance components. The default appearance has lighting and texture mapping disabled. Use Material: Enable Lighting to enable lighting and Texture2D: Enable Texture to enable texture mapping.

PolygonOffset

The PolygonOffset program shows the effect of polygon offset. The dynamic and static offset can be changed. The red sphere encloses a hidden sphere which is scaled by the "inner scale" slider. This simulates the effect of thin models, where the offset edges of hidden surfaces pop through the visible surfaces. Polygon offsetting is discussed in Chapter 4, "Appearances".

EnvironmentExplorer

The EnvironmentExplorer allows the aspects of environment nodes to be edited. There are panels for Light, Background, Fog and Sound nodes. Environment nodes are discussed in Chapter 5, "Environment Nodes"

TransformExplorer

The TransformExplorer shows the effects of translation, scaling and rotation transformation components. It also shows how to do transformations around a reference point. Transformations are discussed in Chapter 6, "Tools: Transformation, Viewing and Picking".

Human

The Human model shows the effect of hierarchical transformations. Changing the transformation for the shoulder changes the orientation of the arm and wrist, while changing the transform for the elbow changes only the wrist. Hierarchical transformations are discussed in Chapter 6, "Tools: Transformation, Viewing and Picking".

Perspective View Projection Z mapping

The ViewProj program shows the effect of perspective view projections on the depth buffer. A sphere is shown along with overhead views of the view in world space and clip space. The default clip distances of 0.1, 10.0 are used initially, resulting in the sphere being squished into the back of the depth buffer. Increasing the back/front ratio results in further distortion. Viewing is discussed in Chapter 6, "Tools: Transformation, Viewing and Picking".

Download and run locally