Tools-Tutorials
Information about 3D tools and tutorials to create VRML/X3D worlds and avatars. This info was replaced updated with a version for WebGL!
1- 3D TOOLS: Essential pack of great tools
Easy 3D TOOLS to get you making worlds and avatars in no time!In short: all about CREATE, VIEW and NAVIGATE virtual worlds and avatars, using the web3D standards (vrml/x3d):
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Look below for links, help, easy tutorials and more details.
Create objects, scenes and worlds |
Vivaty Studio (VS)A free program for Windows platform(*), is the essential tool for vrml/x3d creators. Easy to work with and covers (almost) all aspects involved in vrml/x3d creation: objects, animations, avatars and (also) vrml code scripting. »Download from Web3D.org Alternatives/complementary software (*)if you need a specialized vrml/x3d editor/modeler for other platforms look for Xj3D and other applications on W3C resources page |
Vivaty Studio Tutorials Tutoriel Vivaty Studio VRML/X3D with Vivaty Studio (in portuguese) A set of short Illustrated Tutorials (vcard & others, in portuguese) A playlist of 12 video tutorials |
Create avatars |
Avatar Studio 2 (AS2)A free program. Is the most advised (and the easiest) to create avatars for vrml/x3d worlds. »Download a ready to go portable version avatar_studio2_eng_portableFLY.zip (already includes the addon below) »If you already have AS2 - use this addon to generate flying avatars and have other enhancements: BabelX3D_Avatar_Studio_addonPack.zip Alternatives/complementary software |
Avatar Studio Tutorials Video Avatar Studio - Program features show Video Avatar Studio - Another video with Portuguese subtitles A set of short Illustrated Tutorials (vcard & others, in portuguese) Tools Other info |
Plugin for vrml/x3d online vewing |
BS Contact pluginA vrml/x3d visualizer and plugin for Internet Explorer, Firefox and other browsers. Lets you view 3D objects, avatars and visit multiuser worlds in a browser window. »Download version 7.212 from bitmanagement.com |
Bs Contact, info and docs The best version that supports babelx3d is 7.212 (Later versions have compatibility issues and are blocked by babelx3d/ABNet server) -A beautifully illustrated manual |
Choose the right browser configuration |
BrowserInternet Explorer is the browser ABNet3/BabelX3D was conceived for. Try to access babelx3d worlds with it and all will work well. Alternatives/complementary software
Look for more info here |
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Launch 3D scenes as multiuser worlds |
Babelx3D/ABNet ServerA free multiuser online server to easily make your vrml/x3d worlds available online with avatars and interaction. »Navigate online worlds: visit the main site http://www.odisseia.univ-ab.pt/ABNet2 with a list of worlds. -See the help page . |
2- Other useful tools
Image tools, converters and other useful and complimentary tools
A tool to convert between 3D formats |
Accutrans 3dProvides accurate translation of 3D geometry between the file formats used by many popular modeling programs. A perfect complement for Vivaty Studio users since this is the full version program of the plugin Vivaty Studio uses to export/import 3D formats. Although not a free program, can be downloaded and fully used indefinitely. »Download from micromouse.ca/ |
Tutorials Visit the home page for help and tutorials: micromouse.ca/ |
Convert between 3D formats and reduce mesh |
MeshLabA free program. MeshLab is a powerful open-source system to convert 3D formats and for manipulation of 3D meshes. It supports most known 3D formats, and has several types of filters and operators for remeshing, reducing, cleaning, and modifying 3D structures. »Download from meshlab.sourceforge.net |
Tutorials blog that reports small tutorials, hints and practical examples of stuff done with MeshLab: meshlabstuff.blogspot.com |
123D Catch |
123D CatchIs a free app from Autodesk that lets you easily create 3D models from photos you take of virtually any object. MeshMixer, a free app that lets you edit easily the mesh of 123 Catch objects and correct some gaps or other minor corrections on the model. Alternatively you can use other 3D editors to do this.
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Tutorials Check this tutorial that uses both programs |
A powerful image editor |
GIMP and other useful image toolsA free program. Gimp is a well known powerful image editor. »Download from http://www.gimp.org/ Alternative: For beginners, another nice image editor. easy to use but powerful enough, is Paint.Net Complimentary: The viewer and batch image converter IrfanView is a good complement for Gimp and Paint.Net users. |
Tutorials How To Use GIMP Photo Editor (crash course by Maximum Pc) |
A powerful audio editor |
AudacityIs a free, open source, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds. Alternative: absolute beginners can try the interesting online simple editor and mixer available at http://naturesoundsfor.me/ |
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Movie MakerFree for windows users, does everything most people need to create simple videos.
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3- Advanced tools
The tools below are intended for advanced creators. Beginners don't need them (for a long time at least :-)
The best editor for VRML code |
VRMLPadA commercial program with a free evaluating version. VrmlPad is a fine professional editor for VRML programming. »Download from parallelgraphics.com The evaluation version can be used to edit files up to 64k with no other limitations. |
Tutorials There is a free manual available at the download site. Plugins & addins
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Chisel - VRML optimizer |
Chisel - VRML Optimisation ToolA free program for improving the quality, performance and reliability of VRML worlds. Chisel offers authors a wide range of tools for working with VRML files: diagnostic tools for locating errors, cleaners for converting dangerous and cluttered code to safe and clean code, lossy and non lossy data reducers, file reorganizers, special effects and compression.. »Download from http://www2.hrp.no/vr/tools/chisel/install.htm |
Tutorials -Chisel (HVRC Edition) User Documentation -http://www.neeneenee.de/vrml/documents/chisel/doc/chiseldoc.html |
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4- Other modelers: Blender, Sketchup, 3D Studio Max, Maya, ...
If you are beginning, we advise you to start modeling in vrml/x3d with Vivaty Studio which is an easy and multipurpose tool, essential to any vrml/x3d artist/creator. If you need more advance modelers you have a very large choice since vrml is a standard and very common format that most tools export to.
Said that, the most known tools (Blender, Sketchup, 3D studio Max, ...) can be used as vrml/x3d modelers, individually (since they export directly to vrml) or in conjunction with Vivaty Studio. We advise this later methodology because vivaty studio is "a" specialized vrml/x3d tool that you may need to fine tune your 3D world: create individual objects in specialized modelers then import/inline them in vivaty studio to make animations/interaction and assemble the final vrml/x3d scene.
Info prepared by Vitor Cardoso, 2014
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