VRML - x3d and authoring tools

Author

x3d and authoring tools

Giuseppe

2006-01-05, 7:00 pm

Sorry for my error sending this (double) message.

Hello, I'm new to this group and I'm new to the 3D world. I want to
realize something using X3D(I still don't know what exactly) and I'm
serching the web for as many information as possible regarding this
fashinating world.
I want to know, if you can help me:
- do you think X3D is really better than VRML? So, for a people who was
starting learning a new lenguage now it's better to learn X3D o VRML?
- do you think X3D will have a large diffusion in future?
- I see that there are some X3D exporters for maya, blender and 3dstudio
max. Have someone of you ever used these exporters? Do you think they
represent a good solution for creating complex scene? Or I cannot use
authoring tool for x3d?
- In your opinion, which of these tools is the best or much simple to use?
- Do you know sites that help me learn X3D or VRML except www.web3d.org?
- Is it possible to use X3D with java application?

Thank you ahead of time for your help and sorry to bother you,
Giuseppe.

Joerg Scheurich aka MUFTI

2006-01-05, 7:00 pm

> - do you think X3D is really better than VRML?

Yes.
X3D adds some features to VRML97 including the ability to store it in XML form
(and in binary form, if the ISO procedures complete).

> So, for a people who was
> starting learning a new lenguage now it's better to learn X3D o VRML?

If you learned to write VRML97, then there are minor differences to X3DV,
only a few keywords and fieldnames changed.
X3DV is X3D in VRML encoding. It is part of the X3D ISO standards.

It is possible to automatically convert valid VRML97 files into X3D files, you
only have to clearly differ between

- "VRML97 to X3DV (X3D VRML encoding)" converters
- "VRML97 to X3D (X3D XML encoding)" converters
- "X3DV (X3D VRML encoding) to X3D (X3D XML encoding)" converters

when people talk confusingly about a "VRML to X3D" converter.

If you know to write X3DV, then you can also read/understand the X3D (XML form),
its a different syntax, but the same content.

> - I see that there are some X3D exporters for maya, blender and 3dstudio
> max. Have someone of you ever used these exporters? Do you think they
> represent a good solution for creating complex scene?

It depends what are you doing. If your task is artistic polygon modelling and you
are familar with polygon reducing concepts (and the tools itself...), tools like
maya, blender and 3D studio are the right thing. You only need to accept that a
lot of the VRML exporting tools are limited. It is rare (nearly impossible ?), that
a generic 3D modelling tool can export all of its features into a VRML/X3D file,
especially for complicated animation features (e.g. that create surface during
animation).

You can also think about using tools with some low polygon modeller features
(like wings3D) for artistic modelling, especially, if you are a beginner.

The typical exporter of a artistic modelling tool only support mesh data
(+line/color/texture information) so it usually do not make much difference
if you export VRML (and convert it to X3D) or export X3D directly from this tools.

3D studio can handle some interactive VRML commands, AFAIK one of the X3D maya
exports can export NURBS data and AFAIK one of the blender exporters can export
special features of the bitmanagement X3D browser...

If you mainly want to build a world full of interaction and scripting, you
possibly better use a VRML/X3D specialist program or fall back to a text editor.

VRML/X3D supports the usage of multiple tools of different classes via the
Inline node, so you can use the matching tool for the matching task resulting
in a VRML/X3D file that can be part of a big VRML world.

> - In your opinion, which of these tools is the best or much simple to use?

This depends on your task and your personal preferences.
The most flexible tool is a pure Text editor but building complex meshes with
it is not so easy.

The most powerfull tool for building complex meshes is a 3D modelling program,
but it usually can not do very much more than exporting meshes.

The perfect graphical VRML/X3D specialist program would be nearly as flexible tool
as the pure Text editor and would be nearly as powerfull in 3D modelling as
3D modelling specialists, but unfortunatly nothing is perfect 8-)

> - Do you know sites that help me learn X3D or VRML except www.web3d.org?

http://web3d.vapourtech.com/tutorials/ is a good VRML tutorial and the very most
part of it is still valid in X3D/X3DV.

> - Is it possible to use X3D with java application?

Yes, either with VRML EAI, its X3D successor, a java based VRML/X3D scriptnode
or with a opensource VRML/X3D browser written in java (like Xj3d).

so long
MUFTI
--
Beginnen Sie die Maschine ohne irgendein Gedruckte Schaltkarten Geschenk
wieder und Gedruckte Schaltkarten.
(Card Executive 2.0 for NT Diagnostics)