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Overview
If an application is using some 3D content it would be very handy if it can be
used just as simple as images are used – by directly importing 3D models,
materials, lights and cameras from a file into the application.
The most commonly used file format for storing 3D content is 3ds file format.
This format was used by AutoDesk's 3D Studio program. Because of the great
popularity of this program, the file format has become very widely used. Almost
all 3D modeling programs support some kind of import from or export to this
file format. Also, there are huge web libraries that are providing objects in
this file format (see Links).
The idea is to be able to do something like:
Reader3ds.Read("sample_scene.3ds", myViewport);
With Reader3ds it is possible to read the model information
directly from 3ds file and use it in WPF application. This is the main class
library that can be downloaded from my website.
With the new version it is possible to import
almost all information from 3ds files. So if you get a nice looking 3D object
from the internet or have created your own 3D model (for a list of free 3D
modeling applications with support for 3ds format see
Links), with the new Reader3ds in most cases the imported model in WPF
will look just as original. There are some differences between models
description in 3ds file format and 3D objects in WPF. The new version adapts
the readed models so they fit into WPF objects model. The Reader3ds is
described in more details in the Features and Usage sections.
So let me quickly describe the other two items that can be downloaded from my
web site. The first one is MeshUtility assembly that contains
two classes: MeshFactory for preparing the model for different shading models
and XamlExport for exporting Model3DGroup into xaml text.
MeshFactory class is used to prepare 3D objects for different
shading types. Original models sometimes have some anomalies when they are
shown in WPF. They can be repaired using the GetGouraudModelGroup method. If
you want to have a flat shaded model, you can use the GetFlatModelGroup
method. More details about MeshFactory can be found in my article on
CodeProject. The difference can also be seen on the following picture:
XamlExporter class is used to export Model3DGroup into XAML
string. Its main method ExportModel3DGroup takes two parameters: Model3DGroup
and Camera. They are used to produce the XAML string. You can also set some
additional parameters. With DoubleFormatString property you can set
the format for all double values - its default value is "#0.#####" (decimal
values are returned with five decimal digits). You can also set
DefaultMaterialXaml that is used when there is no material set for the object.
You can also set the XamlTemplate or load if from disk
with LoadXamlTemplate. This template is used to produce the while
xaml string with Viewport3D and other WPF controls, so it can be directly used
in xaml page or in XamlPad.
MeshInfo class is used to create a simpel report from
Mesh3DGroup - sample of a report can be seen
here. It contains the description of all the used materials, lights,
cameras and the count of all the read Positions, TriangleIndices, etc.
There is also Viewer3ds
- a free 3ds file viewer and xaml application. It is also one of the first applications with animated 3D buttons and other WPF goodies like reflection, transparencies and work area zoom.
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