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X3D Resources |
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Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics is the royalty-free open standard for viewing and archiving interactive 3D models on the Web.
Applications |
Authoring Software |
Authoring Support |
Books |
Conformance |
Conversions |
Examples |
Export |
License |
Mobile |
PowerPoint |
References |
Security |
Showcase |
Training |
X3D-Edit |
X3D Scene Authoring Hints |
Contact
Your web browser must be capable of viewing X3D/VRML scenes in order to browse these X3D examples.
Please load one of these player plugins if necessary.
Example test scene:
HelloWorld
(.x3d
.x3dv
.x3db
.wrl
.html
.png)
X3D players from Web3D Consortium members:
Other X3D players, not (yet?) Web3D Consortium members:
Feature comparison:
Player support for X3D components.
Feature comparison of major X3D authoring tools:
Tool support for X3D components.
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X3D-Edit
is the primary authoring tool used at NPS to create the X3D, Sourcebook and SAVAGE examples. Available free.
-
BS Editor
is the authoring tool
from
BitManagement.
-
Vivaty Studio
(formerly
Flux Studio
and
VizX3D)
is a high-quality authoring tool
from
Vivaty.
It is an easy-to-use, inexpensive, general-purpose, visually oriented, 3D modeling and animation application
for X3D.
-
Flux Player and Flux Studio
X3D/VRML97 viewer plugin and authoring tool for Internet Explorer (Windows).
-
SwirlX3D Editor
is an X3D/VRML authoring environment from Pinecoast Software.
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Wings3D
is a free open-source X3D/VRML authoring environment.
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Blender
is an open-source 3D authoring tool that includes support for X3D import/export. Some external plugins are also available.
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Project RawKee: X3D Exporter Plug-in for
Maya
by Aaron Bergstrom
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Rez
provides an open-source framework and tools for translating planetary terrain data and images
to different formats including multiresolution versions optimized for web browsing.
-
Octaga Exporter
directly exports visual effects created using Autodesk 3D Studio Max (3ds max) into VRML and X3D.
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AC3D
is a small, simple, easy-to-learn 3D authoring tool that includes support for X3D export.
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Altova XMLSpy
is an
XML development environment for modeling, editing, debugging and transforming XML technologies.
The
X3D-Edit distribution
enables XMLSpy support for X3D editing and validation, using either X3D DTD or schema.
- X3D-XmlSpyProject.spp is an overview project for X3D specification-development work
- ContentCatalog.spp project files are provided with each example archive
-
VIM (Vi IMproved) Editor does syntax highlighting and folding (collapsing of blocks) for both XML and VRML97. Nothing specific for X3D yet.
-
VrmlPad
is a professional editor for VRML programming.
-
Viper
is a VRML97 source-code parser by
NIST.
-
SubmarineX3D
is a simple X3D Editor from University of Perugia Italy for Linux, Mac OSX and Windows.
The X3D Working Group is showing how to best provide
X3D + HTML5
support for the draft
HTML5 Recommendation.
Numerous other resources provide support for authoring X3D.
-
X3D Scene Authoring Hints
provides author guidance for producing X3D scenes.
-
The
X3D Specifications
page includes all approved documents, downloads, and related links.
Additional resources include:
-
X3D DTDs and Schemas are
available online.
-
X3D Schematron
is an additional form of XML validation used to detect problems and help assure the quality and correctness of X3D scenes.
-
HTML Object Tag for X3D
shows how to place X3D objects within an HTML page, and
newHtmlPageWithX3dObject.html
is an example HTML scene with X3D object tag to copy, edit and reuse.
-
Additional authoring templates:
newScene.x3d,
newHtmlPageWithX3dObject.html,
newECMAscript.js and
NewX3dScript.java
-
X3D Tooltips provide hints for each node and field in X3D.
Available in
-
Vapour Technology: VRML Authoring Tools for computing orientations (Dizzy, Peek, SpinDoctor and Twister)
-
Pellucid is a Java applet that simulates the VRML/X3D illumination model given a default view of a sphere, a default directional light with direction [ -1 -1 -1 ], and a default material
-
NIST Plugin and Browser Detector for server-side determination of VRML or X3D browser in use
-
ParaView parallel visualization application to visualize large data sets.
-
Tools often need to support offline validation of content that includes authoritative online urls for the XML DOCTYPE and Schema. An
OASIS specification defines how to map authoritative urls to local copies.
OasisXmlCatalogX3D.xml
is one example how an application can accomplish that.
Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics
X3D Graphics is the international standard for real-time 3D communication.
-
X3D for Web Authors
by Don Brutzman and Len Daly, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Elsevier, April 2007, 468 pages.
-
Visualizing Information Using SVG and X3D
by
Vladimir Geroimenko and Chaomei Chen, editors,
Springer, 2005.
-
Computer Graphics: From a Small Formula to Cyberworlds
by Alexei Sourin,
2nd edition, Prentice Hall, Singapore, 385 pages, 2006.
Chapter 14 discusses X3D and VRML.
-
Networked Graphics: Building Networked Games and Virtual Environments
by Anthony Steed
and Manuel Fradinho Oliveira,
Elsevier, 536 pages, 2009.
Chapter 7 discusses X3D, X3D-Edit and DIS.
-
Core Web3D
by Aaron E. Walsh and
Mikaël Bourges-Sévenier,
Prentice Hall PTR, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey USA, 1088 pages, 2000.
Several chapters discuss developmental versions of X3D.
-
VRML & X3D for virtual reality
by KyungBae Park, KyungIn Kang and SeungWook Kwak, 21 Century, ISBN-10: 8984681903, 422 pages, 2006 (in Korean).
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X3D, Who are you? Focus on examples for Web 3D design
by KyungBae Park and SeungWook Kwak, Global, ISBN-13: 9788955024135, 472 pages, 2007 (in Korean).
Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) 97
Of interest: X3D is third-generation and fully backwards-compatible with the second-generation VRML standard.
Thus all design guidelines and technical details in the following textbooks remains relevant.
-
VRML 2.0 Sourcebook
by Andrea L. Ames, David R. Nadeau, and John L. Moreland,
John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
(also see
VRML 2.0 Sourcebook examples
in X3D)
-
Annotated VRML 2.0 Reference Manual
by Rikk Carey and Gavin Bell,
Addison Wesley,
Boston Massachusetts, 1997.
-
Late Night VRML 2.0 with Java
by Bernie Roehl,
Justin Couch,
Cindy Reed-Ballreich, Tim Rohaly and Geoff Brown, Ziff-Davis Press (Macmillan Publishers), 1997.
-
VRML 2.0 Handbook
by Jed Hartman and Josie Wernecke,
Addison Wesley,
Boston Massachusetts, 1996.
-
VRML: Exploring Virtual Worlds on the Internet,
by Walter Goralski, Matthew Poli, and Peter Vogel, Prentice Hall PTR, January 1997.
-
Das Einsteigerseminar VRML
by Prof. Dr. Rolf Däßler, April 2001, BHV Publishing Group, 498 pages, in German. Available
online.
There are three conformance test suites to help improve
the quality of VRML and X3D players.
The Web3D Consortium offers compliance certification of this last suite.
X3D Conformance Testing Program
describes details.
The Web3D Consortium also supports the
Conformance working group mailing list
which includes
list archives.
Many good conversion tools exist for X3D.
Converting to/from VRML (.wrl) can also often work well,
since X3D is 3rd-generation VRML.
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Okino Polytrans
is the premier industry translation tool that can convert
many many different file formats
(including Collada)
to and from X3D, VRML97
and
VRML 1.0.
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Xj3D Open Source for X3D/VRML97 includes a
command-line X3D translator between
XML encoding (.x3d),
Classic VRML encoding (.x3dv)
and
VRML97 encoding (.wrl). These capabilities are also embedded under
Import and Export menus in
X3D-Edit.
Xj3D can also import Collada files.
-
X3D-Edit
exposes all Xj3D capabilities. It can also
import,
edit and
validate
Collada files.
-
InstantReality X3D encoding converter
is an online translator between
ClassicVrml encoding (.x3dv)
or
VRML97 encoding (.wrl)
to
XML encoding (.x3d).
-
XSLT Stylesheets convert .x3d scenes into alternate formats and encodings.
These stylesheets (and corresponding batch files) are bundled in
X3D-Edit.
-
BitManagement
capabilities include
BS Converter for 3ds max
and
BS Converter for Blender.
-
NIST VRML to X3D Translator
was originally written by
Qiming Wang.
An
updated version of the source
(and a
.zip distribution)
are maintained on SourceForge.
The translator is also bundled in X3D-Edit under the X3D/Import/VRML97 menu.
-
Blender Model Export To X3D using X3D-Edit
describes the excellent top-level support provided by
Blender.
-
Chisel VRML Optimisation Tool
with new version
autoinstaller
and
documentation
provided by
Halden Virtual Reality Centre.
Originally built by Trapezium and maintained by
NIST.
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XIOT X3D Input Output Tool library
provides an open source generic C++ toolkit to import and export X3D in its different XML encodings: ASCII and binary.
A special development was done to provide a Fast Infoset (FI) based X3D encoding.
-
The
SwirlX3D Translator
is an enhanced version of the Viewer that permits Collada and 3DS files to be imported into VRML or X3D.
-
Vivaty
has excellent utilities and converters for Google Earth KML/Sketchup, Autodesk 3DS Max, Autodesk Maya, and Unreal.
Vivaty Studio
also includes Collada import.
-
Accutrans 3D by MicroMouse Productions
provides accurate translation of 3D geometry between the file formats used by many popular modeling programs.
-
Project Rawkee: Open-Source X3D Plugin for Maya
by the
Archaeology Technologies Laboratory (ATL)
of
North Dakota State University (NDSU).
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Unreal Realm of Concepts: Unreal to X3D Exporter
by Dave Arendash
-
VRML 1.0 to VRML97 Converter
by Octaga
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Anark
is able to export product data into high-precision B-rep and lightweight mesh formats including
SolidWorks, Inventor, ACIS, CATIA V4/V5, Parasolid, STEP, NX (formerly Unigraphics), IGES, COLLADA, DWF, X3D, and VRML.
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MeshLab
is an open source, portable, and extensible system for the processing and editing of unstructured 3D triangular meshes.
-
view3dscene
supports VRML/X3D, Collada, OpenInventor 1.0, 3d Studio Max 3DS, Quake 3 MD3, Wavefront OBJ and Videoscape GEO.
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CAD Exchanger
is a product family aimed to help CAD professionals in a well known yet challenging problem: 3D CAD data conversion.
Supported formats currently include IGES, STEP, ACIS-SAT, Parasolid-XT, STL, VRML, X3D and BRep.
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Ayam
is a free open-source 3D modeling environment for the RenderMan interface with
X3D import
and
X3D export.
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Modo
by Luxology
is a sophisticated authoring tool that includes X3D export.
The X3D Examples Archive archives demonstrate how X3D nodes and scenes work.
Over 3000 .x3d example scenes are provided, available individually online or collected together
as fully complete, downloadable, and installable .zip archives.
These examples are maintained by the
Web3D Consortium
and are all protected under an
open source license,
provided free for any use.
Currently each example is provided in multiple file encodings:
XML (.x3d), ClassicVRML (.x3dv), VRML97 (.wrl) and pretty-print XHTML (.html) form.
Compressed Binary Encoding (.x3db)
and
X3D Canonicalization (C14N)
formats were added summer 2006.
Example archives start with the directory structure
www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples
in order to match the online addresses for most examples, and also to keep local archives side-by-side for easier user access to scenes.
-
Source version control for these X3D example archives:
-
Use
Netbeans,
X3D-Edit
or some other subversion client
(such as
TortoiseSVN
or
Collabnet)
to check out the version-control source and project information.
-
Decide whether to use a
sourceforge account
or
anonymous access.
-
Check out
https://x3d.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/x3d/www.web3d.org/x3d/tools/X3dEdit3.2
usually to a local directory such as
C:\www.web3d.org\x3d\tools
-
Further links and information available via the
x3d sourceforge project.
Additional example suites designed to demonstrate VRML/X3D capabilities include the following.
Additional example galleries can be found online.
The following applications are known to have X3D output capabilities.
Additional entries are welcome.
Also see
Conversions and Translation Tools on this page.
-
Maple
provides powerful math-oriented technical computing software for engineers, mathematicians, and scientists.
Maple 13 exports X3D.
-
Mathematica
is a powerful computational tool for numerics of any precision, symbolics, or visualization.
Mathematica can
export X3D and VRML.
-
Matlab
by MathWorks
is a high-level language and interactive environment for computationally intensive tasks.
Matlab includes
export support for VRML
which can easily be converted into X3D.
-
UCSF Chimera
is a highly extensible program for interactive visualization and analysis of molecular structures and related data.
Chimera exports
X3D v3.2
and
VRML97.
-
Jmol
is an open-source Java viewer for three-dimensional chemical
structures, with features for chemicals, crystals, materials and biomolecules.
Jmol can illustrate most molecular-model features via
VRML97
and
X3D (XML)
export.
-
VMD
is a molecular visualization program for displaying, animating, and analyzing
large biomolecular systems using 3D graphics and built-in scripting.
VMD is designed for modeling, visualization, and analysis of biological systems
such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipid bilayer assemblies, etc. and
may be used to view more general molecules.
Export features
include support for X3D, VRML97 and VRML 1.0.
-
The public
Chemistry Markup Language (CML) examples
in the
X3D Basic Examples Archive
show how to covert
CML models
into X3D
using a simple
stylesheet.
There is a mobile subset of the X3D vocabulary called the
X3D Interactive Profile.
Conversion tools are likely to emerge that can down-convert scenes using the
X3D Immersive Profile
or
VRML97
for lightweight mobile and embedded applications.
Currently there is a lot of dialog in the X3D Augmented Reality (AR) Working Group
about whether a new X3D Mobile Profile is possible that harmonizes capabilities
for lightweight scenes running with HTML5 on mobile devices, possibly including
essential AR and GPS capabilities.
Join the
X3D Graphics public mailing list
to join the discussion and learn more.
TODO: we need a more up-to-date way to install X3D plugins for PowerPoint.
Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics
Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) 97
The
X3D Showcase DVD
is produced twice each year the Web3D Consortium for outreach to members and interested individuals.
Questions, suggestions and comments about these resources are welcome.
Please send them to
Don Brutzman
(brutzman at nps.edu)
Master version of the X3D Resources page is available online at
http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/X3dResources.html
Updated: 22 January 2012
