X3D has a rich set of componentized features that can tailored for use in engineering and scientific visualization, CAD and architecture, medical visualization, training and simulation, multimedia, entertainment, education, and more.
The development of real-time communication of 3D data across all applications and network applications has evolved from its beginnings as the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) to the considerably more mature and refined X3D standard.
X3D Features at a Glance
- XML Integrated: the key to integration with:
- Web Services
- Distributed Networks
- Cross-platform, inter-application file and data transfer
- Componentized: allows lightweight core 3D runtime delivery engine
- Extensible: allows components to be added to extend functionality for vertical market applications and services
- Profiled: standardized sets of extensions to meet specific application needs
- Evolutionary: easy to update and preserve VRML97 content as X3D
- Broadcast/Embedded Application Ready: from mobile phones to supercomputers
- Real-Time: graphics are high quality, real-time, interactive, and include audio and video as well as 3D data.
- Well-Specified: makes it easier to build conformant, consistent and bug-free implementations
X3D Supports
- 3D graphics and programmable shaders - Polygonal geometry, parametric geometry, hierarchical transformations, lighting, materials, multi-pass/multi-stage texture mapping, pixel and vertex shaders, hardware acceleration
- 2D graphics - Spatialized text; 2D vector graphics; 2D/3D compositing
- CAD data - Translation of CAD data to an open format for publishing and interactive media
- Animation - Timers and interpolators to drive continous animations; humanoid animation and morphing
- Spatialized audio and video - Audio-visual sources mapped onto geometry in the scene
- User interaction - Mouse-based picking and dragging; keyboard input
- Navigation - Cameras; user movement within the 3D scene; collision, proximity and visibility detection
- User-defined objects - Ability to extend built-in browser functionality by creating user-defined data types
- Scripting - Ability to dynamically change the scene via programming and scripting languages
- Networking - Ability to compose a single X3D scene out of assets located on a network; hyperlinking of objects to other scenes or assets located on the World Wide Web
- Physical simulation and real-time communication - Humanoid animation; geospatial datasets; integration with Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) protocols
Overview of X3D Profiles and Conformance
The modular architecture of X3D allows for layered "profiles" that can provide 1) increased functionality for immersive environments and enhanced interactivity or 2) focused data interchange formats for vertical market applications within a small downloadable footprint composed of modular blocks of functionality ("Components"), that can be easily understood and implemented by application and content developers.
A component-based architecture supports creation of different "profiles" which can be individually supported. Components can be individually extended or modified through adding new "levels", or new components can be added to introduce new features, such as streaming. Through this mechanism, advancements of the specification can move quickly because development in one area doesn't slow the specification as a whole. Importantly, the conformance requirements for a particular piece of content are unambiguosly defined by indicating the profiles, components and levels required by that content.
X3D Baseline Profiles
- Interchange is the basic profile for communicating between applications. It support geometry, texturing, basic lighting, and animation. There is no run time model for rendering, making it very easy to use and integrate into any application.
- Interactive enables basic interaction with a 3D environment by adding various sensor nodes for user navigation and interaction (e.g., PlanseSensor, TouchSensor, etc.), enhanced timing, and additional lighting (Spotlight, PointLight).
- Immersive enables full 3D graphics and interaction, including audio support, collision, fog, and scripting.
- Full includes all defined nodes including NURBS, H-Anim and GeoSpatial components.
Additional X3D Profiles
- MPEG-4 Interactive is a small footprint version of the Interactive profile designed for broadcast, handheld devices and mobile phones
- CDF (CAD Distillation Format) is in development to enable translation of CAD data to an open format for publishing and interactive media.
X3D Content Authoring & Editing Tools
Tools for authoring X3D objects, scenes, behaviors, and character animation
X3D Viewers, Browsers & Plug-ins
X3D file and scene viewers, web browsers & viewer plug-ins
Developer Toolkits and Libraries
Tools to help developers create X3D applications and integrate X3D-support into existing applications
File Translators & Utilities
Utilities for optimizing and translating 3D data for import and/or use in X3D applications
et-Specific Applications
X3D applications that are targeted for use in specific vertical markets such as simulation, CAD, geographic mapping, medical and prototyping
X3D Collaboration Applications
X3D applications for online collaboration and communication in virtual environments.
Games, Entertainment, and Education
Games, entertainment applications, and media-rich educational applications
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File Translators & Utilities
3d model translation and interactive viewing shareware tool that imports X3D geometry and exports to other formats
AccuTrans 3D provides accurate translation of 3D geometry between the file formats used by many popular modeling programs. Positional and rotational information for the 3D meshes is maintained. Also many material attributes, such as color, index of refraction, reflection, specularity and Phong shading, are transferred between the files. Textures and UV coordinates are supported. The program has been enhanced with additional features to make it more than just a 3D file conversion program. It supports VRML and writing of X3D-files.
Polyhedron modelling in OFF format with conversion from OFF to VRML97 with the off2vrml program. [please include in the VRML section]
BS Encrypt encrypts 3D models for use in commercial business applications with focus on Internet use.
BS Encrypt encrypts 3D models as content protection for use in applications with focus on Internet use or content dissemination via CD/DVD.
BS Exporter for 3ds max converts data from 3ds max and supported Extensions for BS Contact VRML/X3D for state of the art realtime and Internet ready applications.
This feature-rich exporter includes support for real-timeshadows, static radiosity lighting, dynamic particle effects, multi-texturing, normal and environment maps, movie textures, animation and custom interaction scripting from within Blender itself.
BS Reducer decreases the number of polygons in high detailed 3D models without changing the appearance.
BS Reducer decreases the number of polygons in high detailed models without changing the appearance.
A series of scripts to take BVH (Biovision) motion capture files and apply them to CAESAR human body scan files. The body parts plus the animation are combined into a complete VRML file following the H-ANIM spec plus the animation resulting in a complete H-ANIM figure animated by the BVH file.
CIS/2 are the CIMsteel Integration Standards, a common method to represent steel structures. The translator converts a CIS/2 file into a VRML or X3D file.
Translator utility to convert files in the Keyhole Markup Language (KML), the modeling format for Google Earth, into X3D
The Octaga Exporter is a very useful tool if you are a user of 3D studio max. It helps you to ease the process from design to real-time 3D presentation. It saves you a lot of time and hazel by directly exporting visual effects made in 3D studio max. The Octaga Exporter makes the work process complete from 3D studio max, to Octaga Professional, Octaga Producer to Octaga Server. Octaga Exporter is available for both 3ds Max v.5 and v.6
Okino's PolyTrans & NuGraf provide the defacto implementations of X3D, Classic-VRML, VRML2 and VRML1 for the 3D industry. Provides bi-directional conversion between all major 3D file formats, animation systems (3ds Max, Maya, XSI, Lightwave, C4D and more), CAD file formats and VisSim systems. Robustly and accurately cross-converts meshes, trimmed NURBS, curves, 3D points, line sets, materials, textures, bitmaps, animation, and everything expected of a professional conversion system. See online help for full details. Used by 10's of thousands of 3D professionals and Fortune 1000 companies.
Enables 3DS MAX to use SFImage data in WRL/X3D/X3DV file, include input PixelTexture to a bitmap, and output a bitmap to WRL/X3D/X3DV file.
RawKee is an open source plugin for Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited that not only allows users to export the X3D file format, but also allows them to setup X3D scripting and routing from with Maya through the RawKee X3D interaction editor.
A stand-alone application to convert the scene files exported from UnrealEd (free Unreal game editor) into X3D, including geometry, animation, sound and interactivity.
This is a standalone Java-based software package for translating VRML97 files into X3d file using "x3d-3.0.dtd".
VrmlMerge converts VRML'97 files to X3D files (XML encoding), merges multiple .wrl files producing one big file, and replaces image textures with pixel textures.
The X3D and VRML Plugin Detector determines which, if any, X3D and VRML plugins are installed in your web browser.
Xj3D includes a command-line X3D translator between XML encoding (.x3d), Classic VRML encoding (.x3dv) and VRML97 encoding (.wrl).
http://www.web3d.org/about/overview/
