CDM303

3D ANIMATION

CHAPTER 2

MODELLING CONCEPT

PREPARED BY:

SARAIZA KHAIRUL IKRAM

SCHOOL OF MULTIMEDIA
FACULTY OF ART & DESIGN

TOPIC OUTLINE

2.1 Space, Objects, and Structures.

2.2 Vertices(Point), Edges(Lines), and Facets(Polygon).
2.3 Moving Things Around.
2.4 File Formats for Modeling.

2010 Cosmopoint

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2.1 Space , Object & Structure

What is 3D-

Three-dimensional or 3D is a new thing for us.

As we are living in a three-dimensional world, you may apply the same
concept in modeling a 3D object using computers.
Modeling A spatial description and placement of imaginary threedimensional objects, environment and scenes with a computer system.
Scenes/Workspace The three-dimensional place where we model our
objects.
Origin The main point of reference of the world.

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2.1 Space , Object & Structure

BASIC CONCEPT IN 3D DIMENSION

All three-dimensional objects have three basic dimensions.
These three basic dimensions are width, height and depth.
Axes are arrows used in representing these dimensions.
We use a certain letter to illustrate each axis:

X The width of the three-dimensional space.

Y The height of the three-dimensional space.
Z The depth of the three-dimensional space.
The world origin is the place where these three axes intersect or cross each other

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2.1 Space , Object & Structure

COORDINATE SYSTEM
The most famous coordinate system is the Cartesian (or rectangular)
coordinate system.
It was devise by an 18th-century French philosopher and mathematician,
Rene Descartes.
According to the system, each axis can be divided into many units that are
abstract values, which can represent different units of measurement and
scales of dimension.
The values on one side of the origin are positive while its negative for the
other side.

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2.1 Space , Object & Structure

EXAMPLE 1

Based on the figure, the positive direction is in the right-hand, which is represented with the
arrowhead.
The axes can also be paired with each other to define a plane or a view:
XY Front plane
XZ Top plane
YZ Side plane

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2.1 Space , Object & Structure

EXAMPLE 2

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2.1 Space , Object & Structure

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2.2 Points, Lines & Surfaces

POINTS, LINES AND SURFACES

Points, lines and surfaces are among the important basic elements of 3D.
A point can easily be defined by its XYZ location.
A line can be defined by the XYZ location of its two endpoints.
An edge is defined by two adjacent surfaces.
A planar surface can be defined by the position of its bounding lines.

a)3D object b: surfaces c: lines

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2.2 Points, Lines & Surfaces

POLYGON
Polygons or facets are the planar surfaces that define most three-dimensional
objects.
Polygons are closed planes bounded by straight lines.
The word polygon originated from a Greek word polygonon, meaning with many
angles.
Many of the three-dimensional objects created with computer are made of polygons.
Simple geometric shapes may have dozens of polygons while the more complicated
one may have thousand of polygons.
The modeling of natural phenomena may contain millions of polygons.
Different in polygons amount

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2.3 Moving Things Around

2.3.1 Geometric transformation

The function used for modifying the shape of object ,their size and proposition are
called geometric transformation

2.3.2 Global or Local Transformation

Geometric transformation can be perform on a single objects or an entire
environment . Transformation that are applied to the object using the
environment s axes and/or origin are called global transformation .When
transformation are applied to a single object or a limited selection of object
using the objects own axes and origin ,they are called local transformation.

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2.3 Moving Things Around

2.3.3 Translation
Translation is the simplest of all geometric transformations. This operation is
used to move object an object or group of objects in a linear way to anew
location in 3-Dimensional space.

2.3.4 Rotation
Rotation is a geometric transformation used to move an element or group of
elements around a specific center and axis. The amount of rotation is
usually specified in term of an angle rotation and a direction of rotation

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2.3 Moving Things Around

2.3.5 Scaling
Scaling is a geometric transformation used to change the size and/or the
proportion of an element or group of elements. Scaling can be applied to an
object in proportional or non proportional mode.

2.3.6 Perspective projection

Perspective projection is a transformation of critical importance because
makes possible the representation of 3-Dimensional environment on the flat
surface of the computers monitor or sheet of paper.

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2.4 File format for Modeling

There are many formats for saving the information contained in 3-dimensional
geometry files . Many of the existing file formats containing descriptions of object
geometry are exclusives to specific computer programs and are not portable.

The information contain in a native format are usually not compatible with other
software. A few geometry formats are portable which means that they can be
exchanged among several program.

The obvious advantage of using native format is that it is easy and fast for any
particular program to read files in its own native format. It is usually load faster and
require less space for storage.

There are a number of file conversion utilities that can translate geometry files in
native format between application in varying degrees of accuracy. Model that have a
simple topology can usually be converted successfully , however if trying to convert
complex object might modify some details or destroy them.
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2.4 File format for Modeling

Solutions to the format incompatibility problem include using universal file

format for saving information about 3-dimensional models or converting one
native file format to another program.
The file formats used for transporting geometry information between
modeling program are often called universal file format..Two most popular
includes OBJ and DXF. Two other format X3D and VRML are commonly
used on web application.
The OBJ format or .obj short for object was originally developed by
Wavefront technologies and popularized by Alias | Wavefront computer
animation software.
DXF is also known as Drawing Exchange format was developed by
Autodesk Inc. Widely used in computer aided design (CAD) applications.
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LAB ACTIVITY

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ACTIVITY

LIGHTWAVE PART 2

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NEXT SESSION PREVIEW

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LIST OF REFERENCES

1. Dan Ablan, Inside Lightwave 9, New Riders, 2009

2. Arnold Gallardo, 3D Lighting, Charles River Media Inc, 2005.
3. Isaac Victor Kerlow, The Art of 3-D Computer Animation and
Imaging

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APPENDIX

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End of slide show, click to exit.

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