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Learn Three.js

Learn Three.js

By : Jos Dirksen
3 (4)
Buy this Book
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Learn Three.js

Learn Three.js

3 (4)
By: Jos Dirksen
Buy this Book

Overview of this book

WebGL makes it possible to create 3D graphics in the browser without having to use plugins such as Flash and Java. Programming WebGL, however, is difficult and complex. With Three.js, it is possible to create stunning 3D graphics in an intuitive manner using JavaScript, without having to learn WebGL. With this book, you’ll learn how to create and animate beautiful looking 3D scenes directly in your browser-utilizing the full potential of WebGL and modern browsers. It starts with the basic concepts and building blocks used in Three.js. From there on, it will expand on these subjects using extensive examples and code samples. You will learn to create, or load, from externally created models, realistic looking 3D objects using materials and textures. You’ll find out how to easily control the camera using the Three.js built-in in camera controls, which will enable you to fly or walk around the 3D scene you created. You will then use the HTML5 video and canvas elements as a material for your 3D objects and to animate your models. Finally, you will learn to use morph and skeleton-based animation, and even how to add physics, such as gravity and collision detection, to your scene. After reading this book, you’ll know everything that is required to create 3D animated graphics using Three.js.
Table of Contents (14 chapters)
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Preface
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Preface
Who this book is for
What this book covers
To get the most out of this book
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1
Creating Your First 3D Scene with Three.js
Creating Your First 3D Scene with Three.js
Requirements for using Three.js
Getting the source code
Creating the HTML skeleton
Rendering and viewing a 3D object
Adding materials, lights, and shadows
Expanding your first scene with animations
Using dat.GUI to make experimenting easier
Automatically resize the output when the browser size changes
Summary
2
The Basic Components that Make Up a Three.js Application
The Basic Components that Make Up a Three.js Application
Creating a scene
Geometries and meshes
Different cameras for different uses
Summary
3
Working with Light Sources in Three.js
Working with Light Sources in Three.js
The different kinds of lighting provided by Three.js
Basic lights
Special lights
Summary
4
Working with Three.js Materials
Working with Three.js Materials
Understanding common material properties
Starting with a simple mesh
Advanced materials
Materials you can use for a line geometry
Summary
5
Learning to Work with Geometries
Learning to Work with Geometries
The basic geometries provided by Three.js
Summary
6
Advanced Geometries and Binary Operations
Advanced Geometries and Binary Operations
THREE.ConvexGeometry
THREE.LatheGeometry
Creating a geometry by extruding
THREE.ParametricGeometry
Creating 3D text
Using binary operations to combine meshes
Summary
7
Points and Sprites
Points and Sprites
Understanding points
THREE.Points and THREE.PointsMaterial
Working with sprite maps
Creating THREE.Points from an advanced geometry
Summary
8
Creating and Loading Advanced Meshes and Geometries
Creating and Loading Advanced Meshes and Geometries
Geometry grouping and merging
Loading geometries from external resources
Importing from 3D file formats
Summary
9
Animations and Moving the Camera
Animations and Moving the Camera
Basic animations
Working with the camera
Morphing and skeletal animation
Creating animations using external models
Summary
10
Loading and Working with Textures
Loading and Working with Textures
Using textures in materials
Advanced usage of textures
Rendering to a canvas and using it as a texture
Using the output from a video as a texture
Summary
11
Render Postprocessing
Render Postprocessing
Setting up Three.js for postprocessing
Postprocessing passes
Using THREE.ShaderPass for custom effects
Creating custom postprocessing shaders
Summary
12
Adding Physics and Sounds to Your Scene
Adding Physics and Sounds to Your Scene
Creating a basic Three.js scene with physics
Physi.js material properties
Physi.js supported shapes
Using constraints to limit the movement of objects
Add sound sources to your scene
Summary
13
Other Books You May Enjoy
Other Books You May Enjoy
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To get the most out of this book

To get the most out of this book, you need to know a little bit of JavaScript and follow the instructions in the first chapter to set up a local web server and get the samples for this book.

Download the example code files

You can download the example code files for this book from your account at www.packtpub.com. If you purchased this book elsewhere, you can visit www.packtpub.com/support and register to have the files emailed directly to you.

You can download the code files by following these steps:

  1. Log in or register at www.packtpub.com.
  2. Select the SUPPORT tab.
  3. Click on Code Downloads & Errata.
  4. Enter the name of the book in the Search box and follow the onscreen instructions.

Once the file is downloaded, please make sure that you unzip or extract the folder using the latest version of:

  • WinRAR/7-Zip for Windows
  • Zipeg/iZip/UnRarX for Mac
  • 7-Zip/PeaZip for Linux

The code bundle for the book is also hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Learn-Three.js-Third-Edition. In case there's an update to the code, it will be updated on the existing GitHub repository.

We also have other code bundles from our rich catalog of books and videos available at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/. Check them out!

Download the color images

Conventions used

There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.

CodeInText: Indicates code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles. Here is an example: "The learning-threejs-third directory will now contain all the examples that are used throughout this book."

A block of code is set as follows:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

<head>
    <title>Example 01.01 - Basic skeleton</title>
    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
    <script type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" src="../../libs/three/three.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" src="../../libs/three/controls/TrackballControls.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="./js/01-01.js"></script>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="../../css/default.css">
</head>

When we wish to draw your attention to a particular part of a code block, the relevant lines or items are set in bold:

var scene = new THREE.Scene();
var camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera(45, window.innerWidth / window.innerHeight, 0.1, 1000);
var renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer();
renderer.setClearColor(new THREE.Color(0x000000));
renderer.setSize(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight);

Any command-line input or output is written as follows:

chrome.exe --disable-web-security

Bold: Indicates a new term, an important word, or words that you see onscreen. For example, words in menus or dialog boxes appear in the text like this. Here is an example: "When you hit the addCube button, a new object is created."

Warnings or important notes appear like this.
Tips and tricks appear like this.

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