Creating a 3D model scheme

Creating a new 3D model scheme

In the main navigation, select Resources > 3D > 3D models. Here you can arrange, create and remove 3D model schemes in the same way this is done for other resource types.
Click the “add new” button to create a new scheme. Then double click this new item, or click the “edit” button. The 3D model scheme editor will launch.

Selecting a collada document

Click on the + button next to "Collada model" and select the collada file of the 3D model you want to use.
The model will be loaded in the scheme editor. It will become visible after adding a light.

It is recommended to keep the number of polygones used in the model below 30.000.
It is possible to import files with a higher polygone count but the loading time will be significantly longer and thus will influence the end-user's experience.

3D Model Properties

Properties

Collada model: select or remove a 3D model
Initial camera target position (T): This is the point the camera looks at
- x: Move the camera along the x-axis (Horizontal)
- y: Move the camera along the y-axis (Vertical)
- z: Move the camera along the z-axis (Forward or backward movement)
- place at model center: This positions the camera in the center of the model
Background color: pick a color for the background from the swatches or specify the hex number for the desired color
Model rotation X: Rotate the model along the x-axis (Horizontal)
Model rotation Y: Rotate the model along the y-axis (Vertical)
Model rotation Z: Rotate the model along the z-axis
Model scale: defines the size of the 3D design

Lights

use the + or x sign to add or remove a light
via the arrow keys you can move a light up or down in the list

Name: Name of the light
Attach to camera: Attaches the light to the position of the camera. When deselected the position is set via the x, y and z components.
Color: Sets the color of the light
x component: Defines the position of the light along the x-axis
y component: Defines the position of the light along the y-axis
z component: Defines the position of the light along the z-axis

Light specific settings to determine how the object will be illuminated

Ambient: Ambient color is the color of an object when it is in shadow. This color is what the object reflects when illuminated by ambient light rather than direct light.
Specular: Specular color is the color of the light of a specular reflection (specular reflection is the type of reflection that is characteristic of light reflected from a shiny surface).
Diffuse: Diffuse color is the most instinctive meaning of the color of an object. It is that essential color that the object reveals under pure white light. It is perceived as the color of the object itself rather than a reflection of the light.

A visual explanation of these different light settings can be seen here:

Click on the image to enlarge it.

3D Model Configuration

In the 3D model configuration, a material (setup in materials) is assigned to a mesh defined in the Collada model.

Model contents: A list of all the meshes available in the Collada model. A selected mesh will be visualized on the model (highlighted in green)
Use group material: when checked, the material defined on the group will be used. When unchecked, the settings underneath become visible.
Material: list of all the materials defined under materials in this 3D model scheme
Visibility: Via a variable (set here and also in the CHILI Publisher document) you can define if the selected mesh will be visible in the model.
- Variable name: Name of the variable
- Variable value: Value used to control the visibility

Materials

In the Materials tab you define the materials that will be assigned to a mesh of the model.
There are different types of material possible: color, asset, document and composed document.
Composed documents are explained more in detail here: /wiki/spaces/CPDOC/pages/1412448

Materials

Name: Name of the material
Material type: list of available types (color, asset, document, composed > see screenshots below)

Effects

Specular: Specular color is the color of the light of a specular reflection (specular reflection is the type of reflection that is characteristic of light reflected from a shiny surface).
Gloss: Defines the reflection of the material.
Ambient: Ambient color is the color of an object where it is in shadow. This color is what the object reflects when illuminated by ambient light rather than direct light.