Seamless3d

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Seamless3d
Image:Wiki_smls_071231.png‎
Developed by Graham Perrett (AKA thyme)
Latest release Seamless3d 2.133 / March 23, 2008
OS Microsoft Windows
Genre 3D modeling software
License MIT license
Website http://www.seamless3d.com

Seamless3d is open source 3D modeling software free and available for all under the MIT license[1].

The models for the virtual reality world, Techuelife Island were created using Seamless3d technology. Techuelife Island was developed years before Second Life existed and is showcased by Blaxxun as an example of what is possible when using the interactive multi-user Blaxxun platform[2][3][4][5][6]

English and French versions of Seamless3d are now supported and most Seamless3d tutorials have been translated to French.[7] [8]

Contents

[edit] History

In 2001 Seamless3d was made freely available online as a C++ library[9]. The library centered around the creation of animated single mesh avatars for the Blaxxun 3d multi-user platform. It allowed the user to create smooth shaped triangle meshes and join different meshes together with tangent matching surfaces at the joining edges using a C++ compiler.[10] By February 2003 Seamless3d had been transformed into a GUI based 3d modelling application with a file format designed around VRML format. This allowed Seamless3d files to be edited using VrmlPad utilising its syntax checking.

In 2005 a script compiler was developed and in May 2006 Seamless3d was able to act as a web browser for seamless3d files containing complex scripted animations. [11]

In 2006 a set of specialised nodes for creating simple shapes such as: Sphere, Cylinder, Cone, Torus, Box and Bezier Lathe were added to make Seamless3d easier for the novice to quickly make simple models. [12]

In 2007 the animation interface was greatly simplified by the introduction of a specialised control panel called the Anim bar.[13]

Towards the end of 2007 NURBS were introduced for making shapes and for synthesizing sounds.[14][15]

[edit] Build Node Technology

Seamless3d can be used as a mesh editor and an animator[16], however its key feature is its build node technology.

Build nodes allow the user to perform a sequence of complex operations in real time when ever a control point in the 3d window is dragged.

[edit] Low Poly Editing using NURBS

Seamless3d lets the user optimize meshes for real time graphics by allowing the user edit flat triangle meshes before they are curved into shape by shaping nodes such as NURBS patches

[edit] SeamlessScript

Seamless3d has its own built in script compiler which compiles SeamlessScript (a very fast light weight scripting language [17]) into native machine code. SeamlessScript is designed to look and feel a lot like JavaScript while being able to be compiled by a standard C++ compiler. This allows the user to develop complex animation sequences using a C++ IDE which gives the user access to professional debugging aids such as single step execution.


[edit] Seamless3d format

Seamless3d format (smls) is a text based human readable format with some aspects common to VRML.[18]

The following example shows the code (containing SeamlessScript) for an animated spinning box:

#SMLS V2.127 utf8
 
Seamless{
    effect ColorEffect{}
    skeleton DEF part Part{}
    build BoxBuild{
        part USE part
    }
}
Anim{
    play TRUE
    pause FALSE
    loop TRUE
    period 4
    void onFrame(float v){
        part.rotation = Rotation(0, 1, 0, PI * 2 * v);
    }
}

[edit] Features

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1]Download Source Code for Seamless3d
  2. ^ [2]Blaxxun programmed Techuelife Island to be permanently shown in the places list for the Blaxxun home community server
  3. ^ [3]Techuelife Island is still in service to the public to this present day
  4. ^ [4]18/08/2001: Web3d-fr Techuelife Island: A beautiful world with a real personality
  5. ^ [5]2002 Holger Grahn (creator of Bitmanagement/Blaxxun Contact browser): Techuelife Island: A marvellous generated landscape with many scripted surprises
  6. ^ [6]Blaxxun Home Site
  7. ^ [7] Page Seamless3d de Thyme en français. Translated by Matthieu
  8. ^ [8]Seamless3d - 3d underground stories
  9. ^ [9]One of the first Seamless3d tutorials showing how to use the early C++ library
  10. ^ [10]Some early examples of avatars made in late 2001 using the Seamless3d library and a C++ compiler
  11. ^ [11] Online C++ Scripted Hoppy Demo for 2.099
  12. ^ [12]Examples of vrml models created by school children using Seamless3d who had a very limited amount of learning time
  13. ^ [13]New Specialized Animation Controls for 2.121
  14. ^ [14]Creating a Sound Track Tutorial for 2.123
  15. ^ [15]NurbsLathe for 2.127
  16. ^ [16]Seamless3d can be used as a mesh editor and an animator
  17. ^ [17]GiL the B's polygon subdivision script showcased for 2.105 is an example of SeamlessScript running 36.2 times faster than a fast JavaScript engine
  18. ^ [18]Seamless3d VRML format comparison
  19. ^ [19]Also does a good job of importing Avatar Studio avatars, translating them to single mesh, standard pose.

[edit] External links